Author Archives: ajkeown

Class Discussion, Class Assignment, and Video: Making Your Financial Resolution Work

Teaching Tip:  This assignment works equally well as a written assignment and as a class discussion.  If used as a class discussion, it works well to show the video “Keeping Your Financial Resolutions” which is just over 3 minutes long, … Continue reading

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Class Assignment: The Rising Age Gap in Financial Well-Being, Part 2

In Chapter 11 we discuss investment basics and look at accumulating wealth through investing.  Obviously that involves an understanding of Principle 8: Risk and Return Go Hand in Hand, and how to budget and start the saving process as described … Continue reading

Posted in 10 Principles of Personal Finance, Ch. 2, Measuring Financial Health and Making a Plan, Ch.11, Investment Basics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Class Discussion or Written Assignment: The Rising Age Gap in Financial Well-Being, Part 1

Principle 10: Just Do It!, introduced in Chapter 1, talks about the importance of not procrastinating – of getting started saving when you’re young and building up your wealth.  Unfortunately, that’s much easier said than done, and as a recent … Continue reading

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Class Discussion: How does your holiday spending compare to the average?

Teaching tip:  This is one of those class discussions where there isn’t a right or wrong answer, just opinions.  One way to start it out is to have everyone answer a number of questions dealing with what they think the … Continue reading

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Class Discussion, Class Assignment, and Video: Some Financial Mistakes to Avoid Right Now

Teaching Tip:  This assignment works equally well as a written assignment and as a class discussion.  If used as a class discussion, it works well to show the video from Today Money featuring Suze Orman titled “Financial Mistakes to Avoid … Continue reading

Posted in 10 Principles of Personal Finance, Ch. 1, Financial Planning Process, Ch.11, Investment Basics, Ch.14, Investing in Bonds | Leave a comment

Finance in the News & Class Assignment: Credit Reports and the Job Market

As we learned in Chapter 6, your credit report and score have a major impact on the interest rate you will pay when you borrow money.  In addition, as we learned in Chapter 10, your credit score can also impact … Continue reading

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Class Discussion and Video: How to Save $10,000 in a Year

Teaching Tip:  One good way to present this material is to show the Wall Street Journal video “Saving $10,000” in class (which is about 3 minutes long) and then open up a class discussion, follow that with a written assignment … Continue reading

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Finance in the News and Class Discussion: Investors Move Toward Cash

To say the least, it’s been a troubling time in the stock market over the past few years.  As a result, many young investors are moving out of common stocks and into cash just when they shouldn’t be.  Earlier we … Continue reading

Posted in Ch. 1, Financial Planning Process, Ch. 5, Cash Management, Ch.11, Investment Basics | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finance in the News & Class Discussion: Gen Y (those 18 to 35) Financially Conservative , Worried about Debt, Optimistic About the Future, and Open for Help

In Chapter 1 we introduce the “Ten Principles of Personal Finance.”   Two of these are Principle 8: Risk and Return Go Hand in Hand and Principle 9: Mind Games, Your Financial Personality, and Your Money.  These principles discuss the fact … Continue reading

Posted in Ch. 1, Financial Planning Process, Ch.11, Investment Basics, Ch.12, Securities Markets, Ch.13, Investing In Stocks | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finance in the News & Class Discussion: Now May Be a Time for Risk-Taking

In Chapter 1 we introduce the “Ten Prinicples of Personal Finance”, and number 8 on that list is Risk and Return Go Hand–in-Hand.  It’s hard to make much of a return if you aren’t willing to take on some risk … Continue reading

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