Category Archives: Ch.11, Investment Basics

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

Posted on December 5, 2011 by ajkeown

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 and Class Discussion: Investors Move Toward Cash

Posted on November 14, 2011 by ajkeown

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

Posted on November 12, 2011 by ajkeown

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

Posted on November 11, 2011 by ajkeown

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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Podcast Class Assignment: Understanding Operation Twist

Posted on September 25, 2011 by ajkeown

A lot has been happening lately in the economy.  Last week the Federal Reserve announced they were going to launch something called Operation Twist.  The Fed, worried about unemployment, is trying to lower long-term interest rates, hoping that this action … Continue reading →

Posted in Ch. 8, Home and Auto, Ch.11, Investment Basics, Ch.14, Investing in Bonds, Heads Up | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Jean Chatzky on Surviving the Downturn

Posted on August 12, 2011 by ajkeown

Jean Chatzky, one of the best personal finance writers around, just wrote her first column for Newsweek.  This column is titled “How to Protect your Portfolio from Politics” and also appears with a slightly different title, “Jean Chatzky: Surviving the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ch. 2, Measuring Financial Health and Making a Plan, Ch. 5, Cash Management, Ch.11, Investment Basics, Personal Finance In The News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ponzi Schemes and Heisman Trophy Winners

Posted on August 10, 2011 by ajkeown

Ponzi schemes have been around for a long time, and there just doesn’t seem to be any end in sight to them.  The scheme is named after Charles Ponzi who became rich and famous in 1920, making, at his peak, … Continue reading →

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

The Market Drops – Is It Time For Panic?

Posted on August 9, 2011 by ajkeown

August 9th was a tough day for common stocks as the three major indexes – the S&P 500, the DJIA, and NASDAQ all fell between 5% and 7%, making August 9th the worst day on Wall Street since 2008.  In … Continue reading →

Posted in Ch.11, Investment Basics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment