4 FIN 107 Assignments for Portfolio
Personal Budget Project
Your personal budget project will be submitted here. Your budget should be typed in an excel or word document and follow the format we used in class. The budget should include your household expenses and revenues for each month of this year.
Personal Budget Update 1: January Update
Personal Budget Update 2: February Update
Personal Budget Update 3: March update
Completed Personal Balance Sheet: Using one of the forms I provided, or you can create your own, please submit a personal balance sheet for your household.
Completed Credit Report: Obtain a free credit report and post it here.
Tax Information Assignment: Click on each of the five headings (After You’ve Filed Your Federal Taxes is the first one) at https://www.usa.gov/taxes. Write a two page summary of the information found in the links. In your summary, make sure you answer the following questions:
What are some ways to reduce your tax liability?
What are dependents and exemptions?
Who qualifies for free tax return preparation?
How do you get help if all of this seems overwhelming?
Buying a Home Assignment: Click on the links under each sections (1-9) at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/buying_a_home
Read information found at this site,https://www.usa.gov/mortgages, including the resources (A Consumer’s Guide to Mortgage Refinancings is one example)
Also look through the complaint information athttps://www.usa.gov/housing-complaints
Write a one page summary of the home buying process from the first link, write a one page summary of the home mortgage process, and then one paragraph about how to make a complaint if you have a housing problem/complaint.
Buying a Car: Using the following links, write a two page double spaced summary of what you learned about buying vehicles, include what TMV stands for, what strategies you should use for negotiating, what factors are used to determine what you can afford, testing driving, wingman, etc. Also discuss the options of buying new, buying used, and leasing-include the pluses and minuses of each strategy.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0209-buying-new-car
http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/first-time-new-car-buyer-guide.html
Insurance Assignment: Read all of the information at the following website, including the hyperlinks and the videos, https://www.healthcare.gov/blog/understanding-your-health-coverage/
Click on the three headings (Buying Insurance, Personal Insurance, and Property Insurance) athttps://www.usa.gov/insurance
In two double spaced pages, write a summary of everything a person should know about health, vehicle, property, and personal insurance.
Investing Assignment: Read information found on the following website: https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/basics/investment-products/bonds
On the following site,https://www.usa.gov/saving-investing, read the section on Savings Bonds, Treasury Securities, and Things to Consider Before You Invest.
Read information athttps://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/basics/investment-products/stocks andhttps://www.investor.gov/investing-basics/investment-products/mutual-funds
In a two page summary, answer the following questions:
What is the best approach for someone wanting to start investing?
What are the differences in bonds, mutual funds, stocks, and other options available to investors? Why would an investor choose to invest in each of these options and why wouldn’t an investor choose each of these options?
How should a person change their investment strategies as their life circumstances change?
Banking Assignment: Read information about banking at the following websites:
Write a two page summary of what individuals need to consider when choosing a bank, how FDIC insurance works, what scams to be aware of, and how to make a complaint against a bank.
Retirement Planning Assignment: Read information at the following websites: https://www.usa.gov/retirement, http://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Plan-Sponsor/Types-of-Retirement-Plans-1
In two pages, summarize the steps an individual needs to take in order to have a successful retirement, describe the different retirement plans (401k as one example) and the pluses and minuses of each type of plan (or the limitations/opportunities).
Estate Planning Assignment: Read information on the following websites:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/getting-your-affairs-order
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estate-and-gift-taxes
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0305-planning-your-own-funeral
Based on this information, in two pages summarize what an individual needs to do to get their affairs in order (and what does that exactly mean), what tax implications do individuals need to be aware of concerning gifts/inheritance, and what is involved with planning your funeral.
