Managing Your Personal Finances

by Ryan, Joan S.

• ISBN13: 9780538628969
• ISBN10: 0538628960
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-02-14
• Publisher: South-Western Educational Pub

Summary

Current and fresh, yet firmly rooted in proven personal financial management techniques, this text features a conversational writing style that is highly readable and understandable. Covers the individual's roles and financial responsibility as a student, citizen, family member, consumer, and employee.

Table of Contents

1 unit: career decisions
Choosing Your Career	3	(19)
Careers of the Future	4	(4)
Job Analysis	8	(4)
Coping with Change	12	(4)
Changing Career Opportunities	16	(6)
Planning Your Career	22	(20)
Why People Work	23	(1)
Factors Affecting Career Choice	23	(3)
Career Planning	26	(6)
Sources of Job Opportunity Information	32	(3)
Job Search Techniques	35	(7)
Getting the Job	42	(26)
The Letter of Application	43	(5)
The Resume	48	(6)
Letters of Reference	54	(1)
The Application Form	54	(4)
The Job Interview	58	(3)
The Thank-you Letter	61	(7)
Adapting to Your Job	68	(23)
Communicating at Work	69	(6)
Human Relations	75	(1)
Employer Expectations and Policies	76	(6)
Motivation and Needs	82	(9)
Keeping Your Job	91	(32)
Understanding and Preparing Work Forms	92	(6)
Employee Responsibilities	98	(4)
Employer Responsibilities	102	(3)
Employment Laws	105	(18)
Career Development: Acquiring Leadership Skill	113	(10)
2 unit: money management
Employee Pay and Benefits	123	(27)
Gross Pay, Deductions, and Net Pay	124	(9)
Benefits and Incentives	133	(4)
Trends in the Workplace	137	(3)
Labor Unions and Professional Organizations	140	(10)
Federal Income Tax	150	(30)
Our Tax System	151	(1)
History of Taxes	152	(1)
Components of the Tax System	153	(2)
Definitions of Terms	155	(6)
Preparing to File	161	(4)
Preparing Income Tax Returns	165	(15)
Budgets and Financial Records	180	(24)
Budgeting Income and Expenses	181	(4)
Personal Records	185	(2)
Legal Documents	187	(10)
Filing Systems for Personal Records	197	(7)
Checking Accounts and Banking Services	204	(35)
Purpose of a Checking Account	205	(1)
Opening Your Checking Account	206	(1)
Using Your Checking Account	207	(5)
Reconciling Your Checking Account	212	(2)
Endorsements	214	(2)
Types of Checking Accounts	216	(2)
Banking Services	218	(5)
Bank Fees	223	(16)
Financial Checkup 1: Assessing Your Financial Health	229	(10)
3 unit: financial security
Saving for the Future	239	(18)
Why You Should Save	240	(2)
How Your Money Grows	242	(1)
Where You Can Save	243	(2)
Savings Accounts	245	(2)
Selecting a Savings Plan	247	(2)
Saving Regularly	249	(8)
Managing Your Investments	257	(19)
Investment Essentials	258	(4)
Investment Strategies	262	(2)
Sources of Financial Information	264	(4)
Investment Options	268	(8)
Investing in Stocks	276	(23)
Types of Stock	277	(2)
Classification of Stock Investments	279	(2)
Stock Values and the Return on an Investment	281	(3)
The Securities Market	284	(1)
Investment Strategies	285	(5)
Stock Listings	290	(9)
Investing in Bonds	299	(18)
Corporate Bonds	300	(4)
Government Bonds	304	(2)
Buying and Selling Bonds	306	(4)
Bond Listings	310	(7)
Investing in Mutual Funds, Real Estate, and Other Alternatives	317	(22)
Mutual Fund Investments	318	(4)
Real Estate Investments	322	(6)
Metals, Gems, and Collectibles	328	(3)
Futures and Options	331	(8)
Retirement and Estate Planning	339	(40)
Planning for Retirement	340	(3)
Personal Retirement Plans	343	(3)
Employer Pensions and Government Benefits	346	(3)
Estate Planning Tools	349	(7)
Taxation of Estates	356	(23)
Financial Checkup 2: Assessing Your Financial Security	363	(16)
4 unit: credit management
Credit in America	379	(24)
The History of Credit	380	(4)
The Vocabulary of Credit	384	(1)
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Consumer Credit	385	(2)
Kinds of Credit	387	(6)
Sources of Credit	393	(10)
Credit Procedures and Laws	403	(22)
Credit Records	404	(2)
Creditworthiness	406	(2)
Getting Started with Credit	408	(2)
Credit Applications	410	(1)
Credit Ratings	411	(1)
Credit Reports	412	(2)
Credit Laws	414	(5)
Credit Discrimination	419	(6)
Cost of Credit	425	(20)
Responsibilities of Consumer Credit	426	(2)
Why Credit Costs Vary	428	(1)
Computing the Cost of Credit	429	(7)
Avoiding Unnecessary Credit Costs	436	(9)
Problems with Credit	445	(30)
Solving Credit Problems	446	(3)
Bankruptcy Laws and Their Purpose	449	(5)
Major Causes of Bankruptcy	454	(2)
Advantages of Bankruptcy	456	(1)
Disadvantages of Bankruptcy	457	(18)
Financial Checkup 3: Managing Spending and Credit Use	465	(10)
5 unit: resource management
Personal Decision Making	475	(24)
The Personal Decision-Making Process	476	(3)
Economic Needs and Wants	479	(5)
Factors That Influence Spending Decisions	484	(4)
Marketing Strategies That Influence Spending Decisions	488	(11)
Housing	499	(29)
Housing Alternatives	500	(3)
Living Arrangements	503	(6)
Renting Your Residence	509	(7)
Landlord/Tenant Responsibilities	516	(2)
Buying Your Residence	518	(3)
Making the Move	521	(7)
Real Estate Principles	528	(24)
Real Estate Ownership	529	(5)
The Process of Buying a Home	534	(4)
Real Estate Investments	538	(6)
The Financial Benefits of Real Estate	544	(2)
The Risks of Owning Real Estate	546	(6)
The Automobile	552	(24)
Buying a Car	553	(5)
Leasing a Car	558	(1)
Cost of Operating a Car	559	(2)
Extending the Life of Your Car	561	(5)
Consumer Protection for Car Buyers	566	(10)
Family Decisions	576	(35)
Marriage: a New Beginning	577	(4)
Family Financial Decisions	581	(2)
Vacation Planning	583	(5)
Divorce: Expensive and Difficult	588	(2)
Death: a Final Plan	590	(21)
Financial Checkup 4: Managing Your Resources	597	(14)
6 unit: risk management
Personal Risks and Insurance	611	(17)
How Insurance Works	612	(1)
Insurance Terminology	613	(1)
Risks	614	(2)
Risk Management	616	(3)
Planning a Personal Insurance Program	619	(9)
Property and Liability Insurance	628	(19)
Homeowners Insurance	629	(7)
Automobile Insurance	636	(5)
Umbrella Liability Insurance	641	(6)
Health and Life Insurance	647	(36)
Health Insurance	648	(5)
Income Protection Insurance	653	(2)
Life Insurance	655	(28)
Financial Checkup 5: Managing Personal Risks	666	(17)
7 unit: consumer rights and responsibilities
Role of the Consumer in the Marketplace	683	(22)
Characteristics of the Marketplace	684	(2)
Essentials of a Free Enterprise System	686	(2)
Fraudulent and Deceptive Marketing Practices	688	(7)
The Responsible Consumer	695	(10)
Consumer Protection	705	(20)
Significant Federal Consumer Legislation	706	(4)
Sources of Consumer Protection	710	(6)
State and Federal Information Numbers	716	(4)
Public Officials	720	(5)
Legal Protection	725	(28)
The Legal System	726	(4)
Court Proceedings	730	(5)
Finding a Remedy	735	(18)
Case Problems: Exploring Ethical Issues	746	(7)
Appendix A 1040EZ Tax Tables	753	(6)
Appendix B 1040A Tax Tables	759	(8)
Appendix C The Internet	767	(5)
Photo Credits	772	(1)
Glossary	773	(20)
Index	793