FIN 441/5441 - INVESTMENTS
Fall, 2013, Self – Rm. 205
MWF, 10:00 - 10:50 a.m.
ADP Session I, 5:30 - 7:40 p.m.
3 Credit Hours
Dr. Nancy Anderson
(office) 925-7094 ; (601) 991-3158
(e-mail) Nanderso@mc.edu
www.mc.edu/faculty/nanderso/
Office Hours: (My office is in Self Hall, 103D)
Monday:
8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
3:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday:
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Thursday:
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. (August 26 - October 21)
Friday:
8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
I will be happy to meet with you at another reasonable time by
appointment if these times conflict with your schedule. Otherwise, I'll be
home with Loretta.
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Overview: This course expands on material learned in FIN 341, with the concentration being in the investment
field. Students will be introduced to theories of modern investments, as well as practical information regarding
various assets/securities. The main focus of the course will be on public securities. Students will use applications
learned in FIN 341 and apply those to security valuation.
Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the student should:
Understand about the creation of financial assets and the role of the financial marketplace.
Be aware of the regulations and laws that govern our financial markets.
Have a working knowledge of the valuation of common stocks.
Have a working knowledge of the valuation of fixed income instruments.
Understand how to assess pooled funds.
Have an understanding of the derivatives market.
Have a fundamental understanding of retirement planning in the United States.
TEXT: Investments - 11th edition - Mayo (Thomson Southwestern). (ISBN: 9781133935995). You must purchase
the textbook because you will need it. Bring it to every class. End of the chapter problems will be assigned from the
text.
In addition, you will be required to read a book on investing. You must choose ONE of the following:
One Up on Wall Street by Peter Lynch (This is a little dated but offers great tips on stockpicking. He has actually
published some newer versions of this same book.)
The Boglehead's Guide to Investing by Larimore, Lindauer, LeBoef and Bogle
Secrets in Plain Sight: Business and Investing Secrets of Warrern Buffett by Matthews
Morningstar Guide to Mutual Funds: Five Star Strategies for Success by Benz
The ETF Book: All You Need to Know About Exchange Traded Funds by Ferri
The Millionaire Next Door by Stanley
If you are a graduate student, you will be required to read 2 books. Choose one from the list above. The second
book MUST by Enough by John C. Bogle. The review for the second book has a
different due date. Please consult the schedule.All books should be available as e-books.
Calculator: You will also need a financial calculator. I use Texas Instruments BAII
Plus. You may also use HP10bII. This MUST be a financial calculator with all the
finance functions. It is critical that you know how to use your calculator!!
WSJ: You will need to read The Wall Street Journal on a regular basis. You can
purchase a student subscription for $1/week this fall. Register at WSJ.com/studentoffer.
may be able to purchase a student subscription. Quizzes on WSJ will be posted on
Moodle each week.
Lectures may include material that is not in the text. As such, course attendance is
critical. You are responsible for getting the notes from another student, should you miss
a class. ANY item introduced in class is fair game for the exams.
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Course Evaluation:
The student’s final grade for this course will be based upon the combination of exam
grades, project grades, and class participation as follows:
Grading/Points:
Comprehensive Final Exam
30%
Tests (3)
40%
Book Review (s)
10%
Project
10%
Homework/In-Class Assignments
5%
WSJ Quizzes
5%
Grading Scale:
90 - 100%
A
80 – 89%
B
70 – 79%
C
60 – 69%
Below 60%
D
F
Exams: One comprehensive final exam will be given at the end of the semester.
Students who make a 90 or above (excluding any extra points) on each of the semester
exams will take a non-comprehensive final composed only of new material.
No makeup tests will be given except in cases of extraordinary hardship (you
must notify me in advance if you anticipate a problem).
NO exemptions on the final!!!
Book Review:
The book review must be 2 to 4 typed pages. Formatting and style will be graded. The student must display knowledge of
the material. For the conclusion, include a critique of the book. This is NOT a shared assignment.
Project:
Each student must select one investment for a written analysis. This may be ANY public security. No duplicates within
the class are allowed. Students must get approval from the professor for the selected investment. Students will produce a
2 - 4 typewritten report. Formatting and style will be graded. Some of the items that should be covered with the report
include:
Asset class and reason for choosing this particular class. List the symbol
and its current price.
Type of security and how it may be purchased, including costs of access
through various channels of distribution.
If this is a pooled asset, list and discuss the components of the pool. If it
is an individual security, do a SWOT analysis of the company or
institution.
Detail recent performance of the security.
Make a recommendation-- buy, sell or hold.
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Homework/In-Class Assignments:
Homework is critical to your success in this course. Each assigned set of problems must be duplicated. At the
beginning of class, one set is turned in for a grade. Keep one set for class review. Homework is graded by portion
completed. It must be turned in by the beginning of class, or you will be awarded a 0. The course may also include some
in-class assignments, at the discretion of the professor.
Current Event Quizzes:
Each student will be expected to read The Wall Street Journal regularly. Weekly quizzes on articles will occur. These
will be posted on Moodle and must be completed before the start of class on Thursday (ADP) or Friday (MWF). Expect
these to be posted by noon on the day preceding the due date.
Rewards and Penalties:
Each student will have a trading account during the semester. This will be through the website, Market Watch. This is a
free stock market simulation. The professor will send a link to the game and post information on Moodle. The game is set
to begin September 3rd and will conclude November 29th. All students must execute at least 5 trades during the semester.
Failure to do so will result in a 2 point penalty on the final exam.
Each account will have $100,000 as a beginning balance. Students placing in the top 20% of the class will receive an
additional 5 points on the final exam. The second 20% will receive 4 points. The next 20% will receive 3 points. The next
20% will receive 2 points, and the bottom 20% will receive 1 point.
Academic Integrity:
Mississippi College students are expected to be scrupulously honest. Dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism, will be
regarded as a serious offense subject to severe penalties including, but not limited to, loss of credit and possible
dismissal. See the 2007-2008 Mississippi College Tomahawk, or University Policy 2.19 for specific information.
Attendance:
Attendance is required and accurate records will be kept. Mississippi College policy states that, whether the absences are
excused or unexcused, any student who misses more than 4 classes in an ADP course and more than 11 class meetings in
a MWF full semester course will receive a grade of F in the course. You do have the right to appeal. Students who miss
more than the allotted classes may lose point in the assignment category. Be on time for class. If you are not present
when roll is called, you will be counted absent for the day. You must then notify me at the end of the class period in
order to receive attendance credit. Three tardies equal one absence.
Disability Accommodation:
In order for a student to receive disability accommodations under Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, he
or she must schedule an individual meeting with the Director of Student Counseling Services immediately upon
recognition of their disability (if their disability is known they must come in before the semester begins or make an
appointment immediately upon receipt of their syllabi for the new semester). The student must bring with them written
documentation from a medical physician and/or licensed clinician that verifies their disability. If the student has received
prior accommodations, they must bring written documentation of those accommodations (example Individualized
Education Plan from the school system). Documentation must be current (within 3 years). The student must meet with
SCS face-to face and also attend two (2) additional follow up meetings (one mid semester before or after midterm
examinations and the last one at the end of the semester). Please note that the student may also schedule additional
meetings as needed for support through SCS as they work with their professor throughout the semester. Note: Students
must come in each semester to complete their Individualized Accommodation Plan (example: MC student completes fall
semester IAP plan and even if student is a continuing student for the spring semester they must come in again to complete
their spring semester IAP plan).
Odds and Ends:
No headwear of any type is permitted during exams.
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Cell phones, PDAs or other electronic devices must be turned off and put away during class.
Cell phones or PDAs may not be used as calculators for quizzes/exams.
No use of translators. You may use a translation BOOK.
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