Investing Unit 2: Investing Basics
Investing Unit 2: Investment Preferences
Investing Unit 2: Risk
Financial Security: Legal Topics
Legal issues that impact financial security include topics such as: property ownership, estate planning, advance directives for health care, and guardianship for minor children.
Advance Directives
Many Americans die without a will or advanced health directives. Several factors are often cited for this lack of preparation. Many people believe that property will pass on to their heirs under state law in a manner they would like. Some just never get around to making specific legal arrangements to protect their survivors. …
Financial Security: Retirement Planning
Planning for retirement is a challenge for everyone. Again, the earlier you begin, the longer you will have to accumulate funds and capitalize on compound interest. A plan designed to meet specific retirement goals may be separate from or part of the investment building block.
Some people have given a great deal of thought to retirement, but others have not. Less than half (42%) of working Americans have made a retirement savings calculation, according to the 2006 Retirement Confidence Survey, …
Financial Security: Saving and Investing
Even though the words “saving” and “investing” are often used interchangeably, there are differences between the two.
Saving provides funds for emergencies and for making specific purchases in the relatively near future (usually three years or less). Safety of the principal and liquidity of the funds (ease of converting to cash) are important aspects of savings dollars. Because of these characteristics, savings dollars generally yield a low rate of return and do not maintain purchasing power.
Investing, on the other …
Financial Security: Home Ownership
Home ownership is an important financial goal for many people. Pride of ownership is the number one reason why people want to own their own home. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security and allows you to make an investment in your future. A home is often the largest investment, and sometimes the only investment, that some people make. However, you may wonder if buying a home is the right thing to do. Relax. …
Financial Security: Insurance
Personal insurance includes health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, liability insurance, and property insurance. The purpose of insurance is to guard against risks.
Every day we are exposed to many risks which can cause a financial loss. Accidents, property damage, illness, and death are risks we often consider. However, other risks, such as the possibility of being sued or becoming disabled and unable to work, are also important. We each have to decide how we will protect ourselves should a …
Financial Security: Children and Money
Children are not born with “money sense.” Children learn about money by example and experience, beginning at a very young age. Parents are an important influence on what and how children learn about money. It is never to early to start teaching sound money management skills. Begin teaching basic principles of money as soon as children can understand that money is needed to buy the things they enjoy.
Much of what your children learn about money is not from the …