It is time for the best part of the class, investments! In this presentation, we introduce some fundamental concepts of investing and how to get started investing. Our second presentation will then present an overview of the various major types of investments. Which investment or investments are the best for you? That is a difficult question to answer. In the next several presentations, we will learn the advantages and strengths and the disadvantages and weaknesses of the major investment...

In the United States of America, health care is a thorny issue that divides our nation. Our cost per person is approximately twice that of all other industrialized countries. Any attempts to try to contain the costs or change the system are met with fierce resistance. The problem is not going away so let us hope that we can begin to have a responsible dialog and work together to find solutions. (Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Sorry, I can't help being cynical. Oh, by the way, please...

What You Don't Know About Your Automobile Insurance Can Hurt You! Your insurance agent tells you that you have "full coverage" automobile insurance and you now believe that no matter what happens, you will be covered by your insurance company. This is a dangerous myth! No insurance offers unlimited coverage. In this presentation, you will learn the limits to your bodily injury and property liability coverage, the most important form of automobile insurance. We will also discuss some other...

"Insurance: The Necessary Evil" is something you normally only hear if you work in the insurance industry. However, no description could be more appropriate. Insurance is both absolutely necessary and potentially very detrimental to our financial well-being. In the next three chapters, we will learn the reasons we need – and don't need – insurance and why we must always keep our backs to the wall when we deal with the insurance industry. This first presentation discusses homeowners and...

If you are like most Americans, the largest expense item on your cash flow statement will be your rent or mortgage payment. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renting versus owning. The choice is not always clear, no matter what the real estate industry says.

Do you believe that you would be happy if you were rich? We explore this idea as well as discuss just a few of the Culture of Consumption scandals that permeate our country. Along the way, you may learn some tricks about how to save money, sometimes serious amounts of money. It all comes down to the fundamental question: Do we own our possessions or do our possessions o

What is a credit score and how is your credit score calculated? How can you help protect yourself from identity theft? What are the warning signs of debt problems and what is bankruptcy and when is it an appropriate course of action? We discuss these and other topics and conclude with an example of a typical consumer debt problem and show exactly how long and how much it will take to erase the debt.

What is credit? What is consumer credit? What are the benefits and detriments of using credit. Forgive me for taking on the role of Southern Baptist Fire-'n'-Brimstone Backwoods Preacher but I literally see red when we get to this chapter. There is an entire industry whose main aim is to stick their needle into your arm and suck your blood ... for the rest of your life! Learn how to protect yourself from their wily schemes and strategies. We also learn a method to safely build your credit...

Do you reconcile your checking account with your bank or credit union? If you are like the majority of Americans, you do not. In this chapter, we will learn how to reconcile your account along the other issues related to banking. We will discuss banks versus credit unions, deposit versus non-deposit institutions, savings and checking accounts, as well as a few other unusual ways that people manage their money.