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Franklin Township Public Schools
Syllabus
Course name: Personal Finance
Grade Levels: 11-12
Teacher: Mr. Richter
Text: None; miscellaneous handouts
Class Room and Time: D129
Course Description
This is a semester-long elective open to students in Grades 11 and 12. The student will learn
many facets of personal finance, inclusive of setting personal financial goals, relating career
planning to one’s financial goals, budgeting, saving and investing, using credit to achieve one’s
financial goals, understanding financial service providers, issues associated with purchasing a
mode of transportation and housing, and maintaining your financial position through risk
protection. Through the use of practical activities and an investment simulation, the students will
gain realistic experiences in understanding the course material.
Course Objectives
1. To understand the importance of making financial goals and the decision making process.
2. To identify the correlation of career goals and planning to the success of meeting one’s financial
goals.
3. To understand the importance of budgeting when it comes to money management and personal
finance.
4. To comprehend the difference between saving and investing and comprehend the various
investment options available to meeting your financial goals.
5. To understand the meaning of personal credit and how it can be used to help you meet your
personal financial goals.
6. To understand the various financial services available to individuals and identifying the
differences of these services.
7. To understand the issues related to possessing a car as a means of transportation to achieve one’s
personal financial goals.
8. To understand the issues related to housing to achieve one’s personal financial goals.
9. To comprehend how an individual can protect their financial balance sheet through risk
protection.
Class Assignments/Homework
Students are required to complete a given number of assignments during the class period and
outside of the class and they are to be completed on time. By being on time, assignments are to
be completed by the due date given by the teacher. Late class work will only be accepted one
day late and the student’s grade will be half of what the grade would have been if the assignment
was handed in on time. No work will be accepted beyond being one day late.
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Teaching Project
Students will participate in a teaching project at a school in Franklin Township where the
students will teach aspects of personal finance to 5th and 6th graders.
Exams
There will be a number of exams during the class that will test the student’s knowledge and
understanding of the material in each chapter.
Class Participation
Students are encouraged to participate in class and be prepared for work during the class.
Stock Market Game
Students will participate in a Stock Market Game that will introduce the process of buying and
selling of stocks and become aware of volatility in the market place.
Projects
Students will wok on a group project related to Personal Finance
Marking Period Grade Determination
Task
Tests
Assignments - Class
Assignments – Homework
Class participation
Teaching Project
Stock Market Game
Project
Percentage
30%
10%
10%
5%
10%
20%
15%
Determination of Final Grade
Work Product
Final
MP 1
MP 2
Percentage
20%
40%
40%
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Subjects Covered
Unit 1: Goals and Decision Making
1. What does it take to be a Millionaire?
2. What resources are available to meet your financial goals?
3. The economic way of thinking.
4. Making decisions about resources.
5. Decision making practice.
6. How to set and achieve goals.
7. Assessment of goals and decision making.
Unit 2: Careers and Planning
1. Exploring careers and the monetary value these careers present to individuals.
2. Matching personal characteristics to career goals.
3. Working for yourself or someone else.
4. Why some jobs pay more than others.
5. What are the job trends for the future and how do I find this information.
6. Researching potential careers and identify what is needed to have a successful career.
Unit 3: Money Management – Budgeting and Payroll
1. Funding your financial goals through planning.
2. Understanding various payroll forms.
3. Deductions from a paycheck.
4. Budgeting your finances.
5. Preparing your own budget.
Unit 4: Money Management - Saving and Investing
1. Discuss spending versus saving.
2. Savings will contribute to you meeting your financial goals.
3. Risk versus reward relationship with investing.
4. Growing your wealth through financial products.
5. Various business formations and structures.
6. How businesses raise capital to start and continue to prosper.
7. Reading stock, mutual fund and bond tables.
8. Choosing an appropriate investment for an individual.
9. Purchasing financial instruments.
10. What impacts the stock market, mutual funds and bond markets?
11. Researching investments.
12. Investment simulation.
Unit 5: Money Management - Credit
1. Paying by cash or credit.
2. Becoming more credit knowledgeable.
3. Can you have too much credit?
4. The credit application process.
5. Understanding the costs of credit and specifically interest costs.
6. Shopping for credit.
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Unit 6: Money Management - Financial Service Providers
1. What are the product and services financial institutions offer individuals?
2. Understanding checking account products.
3. Managing a checking account.
Unit 7: Consumer Skills - Purchasing an Automobile
1. What you should know about purchasing a car; both features of a car and financing.
2. Warranties and service contracts.
3. Taking out a loan or leasing a car; what is best?
4. Car insurance.
5. Making a final decision to obtain a car.
Unit 8: Consumer Skills –Housing issues
1. Are you ready to be independent?
2. How much money do I need to move into a place to live?
3. Lease details.
4. Buying a home and identifying all of the costs for making this purchase.
5. Understanding how a mortgage is constructed.
Unit 9: Risk Protection – Maintaing Your Financial Position
1. Buyers beware – “Caveat Emptor”.
2. Legal credit card protection.
3. Preventing and repairing credit issues.
4. Increasing consumer awareness.
5. Scams and schemes; know what you are purchasing.
6. Identity theft.
7. Insurance as a means to reduce your risk.