Course Objective
The primary objective is to provide a framework for personal financial management.
Topics to be covered include budgeting, financial planning, managing credit, taxes, insurance, investments, and retirement planning.
Course Materials
- Textbook (recommended): Personal Finance by Kapoor, Dlabay, Hughes, Hart. 12th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2017
- Lecture Notes - will be available on the web
- Recommended periodicals and newspapers: Economist, Wall Street Journal,
CNN Money
- Books for fun:
- Movies for fun: Wall Street, Boiler Room,
Rogue Trader, Trading Places,
The Big Short
There are assigned readings for each class. I expect that students come to class prepared for
the materials that will be covered that day (the required readings are identified as Lecture# for lecture notes
and PF# for the chapter in the textbook). I may make cold calls on students to answer questions. I do not expect
perfect answers from you, the thought process is way more important. I also strongly encourage students to ask
questions - in many cases an insightful question is more valuable than a correct answer. You will also receive
an extra point to your score on the Final Exam for catching each of my mistakes (believe me, you will have many
chances). There is a limit of one point per person per lecture though.
Course Requirements
There will be three to four individual written assignments, one midterm, and a final exam.
Assignments are to be completed on McGraw-Hill Connect. Late assignments will not be accepted.
The lowest grade on your assignments will be dropped. The midterm and the final exam will be closed-book.
You can bring one standard size (8.5 x 11) cheat-sheet (both sides) for the midterm and two standard
size (8.5 x 11) cheat-sheets (both sides) for the final exam.
Grading
Your grade will be based on your class participation, assignments, the midterm and the final exam. The weights are given below:
Grades will be curved based on the weighted average scores. If your Final Exam grade
is better than the midterm, I will replace your Midterm grade with the Final Exam Grade. Don't hesitate letting me know
if you think that you were adversely affected by a grading error (you do not have to report any grading errors in your
favor).
Attendance
Attendance is expected (and taken) for every class. If you have to miss a class, you do not
have to ask for my permission. Just remember that class attendance may add up to 1% bonus to your grades.
Academic Integrity
Students have the responsibility to know and strictly observe the University of Arkansas Academic Integrity
regulations as described at
http://honesty.uark.edu/students/index.php. Violators will be sanctioned according to the
Academic Integrity Sanctions guidlines as described at http://honesty.uark.edu/sanction-rubric/.
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