Family Economic Issues
FCS 3450
Instructor: Jerry L. Basford
Office Hours
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By appointment
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Administrative Assistant, Tiffany Olsen 801-5858484
Park 206
 jbasford@sa.utah.edu
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Will we ever have fun in this class?
Welcome!

This is the most
important class you will
ever take in college.
 This class will teach you
the skills you will need in
order to make the most
of your resources, which
include your money,
your property, and
yourself.
Introduction

In this course you
will gain an
understanding of
how an economic
perspective can be
used to learn more
about how families
make resource
allocation decisions.
Question?
To get there you aren’t going to win
a game or the lottery

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Everyone would like to become rich quick, but
that is not how it normally happens. The
average millionaire has invested the resources
they have into furthering their education,
buying a home, or investing in their own small
business or through the stock market.
One common trait found among average
millionaires is avoiding consumer debt,
especially credit cards. This often means
being more frugal and doing without newer
cars and expensive clothing.
Course Objective

My personal goal is to
give you the tools
necessary to have a
positive impact on our
local, state, and national
economies by making
sound economic
decisions, including
becoming a millionaire by
retirement.
On to the syllabus…
This syllabus is a binding agreement. By
taking this course you agree to all of the
terms of the syllabus.
 I agree to follow the syllabus as well. If
changes are made we will discuss them
in class first.

Required Reading Packet
There is a reading packet instead of a
text book for this course
 It is required reading. You must have
access to a reading packet.

I go too quickly for you to write notes freehand….
 Assignments, exam reviews, etc.

Course Requirements
Homework
 Quizzes
 Exams
 Class Project (1)
 Reaction Papers (4)

Exams
Five exams will be offered
 The final will be not be cumulative
 Each test will consist of true/false and
multiple choice problems.
 Come prepared to all tests with pencils
and your calculator.
 Make up test will only be offered if prior
arrangements are made.
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Class Projects

Four Class Project options are available;
you must complete 2.
For Class Project 1, choose either the Power
Pay Option or the Retirement Plan Option.
 For Class Project 2, choose either the
Spending Plan Option or the Stock Market
Option.
 The project must be typed and paper copies
are due at the beginning of class.

Class Projects

All projects can be submitted
electronically.
Instructions are in the reading packet.
 This is mandatory


I do not need a hard copy of your projects.
Class Projects
Class Projects require a significant amount
of work for and A or B.
 I believe an ‘A’ to be an excellent grade.
Your work must be excellent in order to
get an ‘A’ on any assignment.
 Detailed instructions are given on each
project; please follow them carefully.
Failure to follow all of the instructions will
result in a lower grade on the project.

Reaction Papers
Write a 2-3 page paper in response to a
reading
 5 sections of the course = 4 reaction
papers

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
Detailed instructions available in your
reading packet
Electronically turn in your paper.

No hard copy needs to be turned in
Extra Credit

Do not ask if you can do all of the
assignments in order to get extra credit.
I do not believe in extra credit. So don’t
ask. I will tell you no and it makes me
mad.
Academic Misconduct

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
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
Academic misconduct in any form in this class will not be
tolerated.
This includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarizing,
misrepresenting one’s work and/or inappropriately
collaborating. Make sure you cite any sources used in
your papers and projects.
Any student who engages in academic misconduct will
receive a failing grade for the course, no exceptions. This
is a very serious issue and I will not tolerate it in my
classroom.
If you are aware of any misconduct, please inform me
immediately.
If you have any questions regarding academic
misconduct, please see the student handbook at
www.admin.utah.edu/ppmanual/8/8-10.html
Things to Note


You may take an incomplete in this course only if
you can justify to the instructor that you cannot finish
the course because of circumstances beyond your
control (e.g., a major illness) AND if the majority of
coursework (e.g. 80%) is already completed. The
prospect of earning a low final grade does not justify
the granting of an incomplete.
You may drop the course without penalty until 8/29.
You may withdraw from the course on or before
10/19 without my permission. It is your responsibility
to determine the tuition and W ramifications. Also,
remember to pay your tuition by the deadline, or
your classes will be deleted and they cannot be
reinstated.

Students who need special accommodations due to
learning disabilities should contact the instructor
during the first week of the semester. The University
of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its
programs, services and activities for people with
disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the
Things to Note
class, reasonable prior
notice needs to be given to
the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union
Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you
and the instructor to make arrangements for
accommodations. All written information in this
course can be made available in alternative format
with prior notification to the Center for Disability
Services.
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Although I will not take attendance, it is
expected that you be in class every period.
There are some things that you will get only
in the lecture that are not in the notes.
However, if you miss a class, it is YOUR
responsibility to find out what material was
covered and to get the notes from a fellow
student.
DO NOT ASK ME FOR A COPY OF MY
NOTES.
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Please bring a calculator to class every
day.
A cell phone is permitted for use in place
of a calculator.
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I will post homework to my website
located at
www.sa.utah.edu/familyfinance.
You will receive your grades each week
after an assignment/quiz, or test has
been given.
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Please show respect for me and the other
students by arriving on time to class and not
leaving early.
If you do come in late or leave early, please be
discreet.
Be polite. Don’t talk while I am and listen to others
thoughts on subjects. Take turns answering
questions. Turn off your cell phones. Texting and
surfing are inappropriate during class. Please
refrain from these activities so that you do not
distract the students around you.
You are all adults, and I know you will act like it.
Check your grades throughout the
semester.
 If there is a mistake, let me know as soon
as possible.
 It is your responsibility to track your grade.

Keep your email address current within
the University system. I send out email
updates and announcements
occasionally. For instructions on how to
forward your umail account to your
primary e-mail account go to
unid.utah.edu.
 You are responsible for all of the
information sent.
 I assume that you know all of the info
that is sent

Grading Scale
The grading scale is posted in your
syllabus and on my website.
 I round grades to the closes whole
number.

Course Topics – on to the schedule
Section 1 = Economic Principles
 Section 2 = Financial Capital
 Section 3 = Physical Capital
 Section 4 = Human Capital
 Section 5 = Risk Management
 Important Dates…
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As for me…
Raised in a small town in Colorado
 Graduated with Bachelors from Mesa
State College
 Graduated with Masters from the
University of Colorado
 Graduated with Doctorate from Walden
University

As for me…
Came to the U in 1998-Senior Financial
Analyst moved to Student Affairs in
2003.
 Married in 2010.
 Have 7 children, 5 grandchildren.
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