Personal Finance

In this unit, students will reflect on their personal values and how they can influence their financial decisions. They will also explore how values can differ from one person to another. Students will also be introduced to the concept of cognitive bias and how it can cause someone to make irrational decisions, particularly around money.

In this unit, students will look at the difference between checking and savings accounts and compare different savings vehicles, such as a savings account, a CD, and a money market account.  They will also consider the important criteria to consider when selecting a savings account. They will also begin to examine different savings strategies and rules of thumb.

In this unit, students will learn about aspects of a checking account, including overdraft protection, the FDIC, bank statements, balancing a checkbook, debit cards, and banks vs. credit unions. They will explore common banking fees and how to avoid them. Functions such as online bill pay, online banking, and other electronic means that affect bank accounts will be explored.

In this unit, students will learn the importance of budgeting and some basic budgeting strategies.  They will learn the difference between gross and net pay and how to navigate their needs vs. wants. They will complete different simulations to reinforce the concepts.

In this unit, students will learn the major types of credit and their characteristics. They will learn basic credit vocabulary, including principal, interest rate, cosigner, and collateral. They will define net worth and how it is calculated.  Students will examine predatory lending (payday loans) and how it can cause borrowers to fall into a cycle of debt.

In this unit, students will learn about the credit report, the three reporting agencies, and how to address errors on the report.  They will learn about a credit score and the five factors that make it up.  This unit also explores credit cards, how to choose the right card for you, and how to manage credit.

In this unit, students will identify the most common costs associated with attending college and will be able to explain the difference between a college’s sticker price and net price.  They will analyze different types of federal and private student loans and compare them.  Students will explore the FAFSA, how repayment of student loans works, and what to do if they default on a student loan.

In this unit, students will identify reasons for investing, including outpacing inflation, and how to analyze how compounding builds wealth over time.  Students will be able to explain what the stock market is and why companies and investors choose to participate in it.  Students will learn about what stocks and bonds are and how they can make money from investing in them.  Students will also look at risk and return, and how to evaluate a stock's performance over time.

In this unit, students will learn how everyone risks financial loss and how insurance shares that risk.  Students will be able to identify factors that impact insurance premiums.  They will learn about the relationship between premiums, deductibles, and coverage limits. Students will also look at how the insurance industry uses risk pooling and math to provide insurance coverage and make a profit.