Financial planning and personal finance /
E. Thomas Garman, Raymond E. Forgue, Mariya Yesseleva-Pionka, James Murray
- Australia and New Zealand edition.
- xxiii, 653 pages ;
Includes index.
Preface About the authors Acknowledgements Part 1: Financial planning Chapter 1: Understanding personal finance 1.1 Achieving personal financial success 1.1a The five fundamental steps in the financial planning process 1.1b You must plan for financial success and happiness 1.1c You must spend less so you can save and invest more 1.1d What you will accomplish studying personal finance 1.1e Replace your obsolete knowledge 1.2 The economy affects your personal financial success 1.2a How to tell where we are in the business cycle 1.2b The business cycle 1.2c How to tell the future direction of the economy 1.2d The future direction of inflation and interest rates 1.3 Think like an economist when making financial decisions 1.3a Consider opportunity costs when making decisions 1.3b Identify marginal utility and costs in decision making 1.3c Factor your marginal income tax rate when making financial decisions 1.3d Know the tax-exempt income 1.3e Tax benefits and investment property 1.4 Perform time value of money calculations 1.4a There are only two common questions about money 1.4b Calculating future values 1.4c Finding present values is called discounting 1.5 Make smart money decisions at work 1.5a Open the new employee orientation package 1.5b Public health system 1.5c Age Pension and personal superannuation 1.6 Where to seek expert financial advice 1.6a Not every financial adviser has your best interests in mind 1.6b How financial planners are compensated 1.6c Questions to ask a financial planner Chapter 2: Career planning 2.1 Developing your career plan 2.1a Clarify your values and interests 2.1b Consider your current interests and possible career opportunities 2.1c Identify one or more desired career fields 2.1d Review your abilities, experiences and education 2.1e Know your preferred work-style personality 2.1f Take advantage of professional and social networking 2.1g Prospective employers and your credit report 2.1h Align yourself with tomorrow’s employment trends 2.1i Freelancing in the ‘gig economy’ and entrepreneurship 2.1j Finalise your career plan 2.2 Financial and legal aspects of employment 2.2a Is university worth the cost? 2.2b Place dollar values on employee benefits 2.2c Know your legal employment rights 2.3 Practise effective employment search strategies 2.3a Assemble an attention-getting curriculum vitae (CV) 2.3b How to search for and target preferred employers 2.3c Identify specific job opportunities 2.3d Write an effective cover letter 2.3e Obtain strong reference letters 2.3f Formally apply for the job 2.3g Interview for success 2.3h How to compare salary offers 2.3i Ask for the job 2.3j Wait and be patient 2.3k Negotiate and accept the job 2.3l How to move up at work 2.3m Getting paid ‘right’ in your job 2.3n Periodically update your career plan Chapter 3: Financial statements, tools and budgets 3.1 Financial values, goals and strategies 3.1a Values define your financial success 3.1b Saving is your single most important financial task 3.1c Examples of financial goals 3.1d Financial goals follow your values 3.1e Financial strategies help guide your financial success 3.1f Wealth-building principles for life 3.2 Financial statements measure your financial health and progress 3.2a The balance sheet is a snapshot of your financial status right now 3.2b How to increase your net worth 3.2c The cash-flow statement tracks where your money came from and went 3.3 Collect and organise your financial records to save time and money 3.4 Money topics to discuss with a partner 3.5 Reaching your goals through budgeting: your spending/savings action plan 3.5a Action before: set financial goals 3.5b Action before: make and reconcile budget estimates 3.5c Action before budgeting period: plan cash flows 3.5d Action during the budgeting period: control spending 3.5e Action after: evaluate budgeting progress to make needed changes Part 2: Financial management Chapter 4: Managing income taxes 4.1 Progressive income taxes and the marginal tax rate 4.1a The progressive nature of personal income tax 4.1b The marginal tax rate is applied to the last dollar earned 4.1c Use your marginal tax rate to help make financial decisions 4.1d Your effective marginal tax rate is higher 4.2 Five steps in calculating your income taxes 4.2a Determine your total income 4.2b Determine and report your gross income after subtracting exclusions 4.2c Subtract your itemised deductions 4.2d Subtract the value of offsets, rebates and credits 4.2e Calculate the balance due or the amount of your refund 4.3 Strategies to reduce your income taxes 4.3a Practise legal tax avoidance, not tax evasion 4.3b Strategy: reduce taxable income via your employer 4.3c Strategy: prune taxable investments 4.3d Strategy: make tax-sheltered investments 4.3e Strategy: defer income 4.3f Strategy: make the most of your deductions 4.3g Strategy: shift income to family 4.3h Strategy: buy and manage a real estate investment Chapter 5: Managing savings accounts 5.1 What is monetary asset management? 5.1a Who provides monetary asset management services? 5.2 Open cheque, savings and cash management accounts 5.2a Cheque/transaction accounts 5.2b Cash management accounts 5.2c Savings accounts 5.2d Term deposit accounts 5.3 Establish ownership of assets wisely 5.4 Electronic money management 5.4a Why use electronic money management? 5.4b Cards used to access your money 5.4c Liability limits for lost or stolen debit cards 5.4d Electronic funds transfer error resolution process 5.4e Avoid automatic billing, renewal and subscription services 5.4f Protect your privacy 5.4g Bitcoin is a ‘fad’ virtual currency 5.5 The psychology of money management 5.5a Managing money and making financial decisions are different 5.5b People connect strong emotions to money 5.5c How to talk about financial matters 5.5d Complications brought by remarriage 5.5e Check your overall financial health online Chapter 6: Building and maintaining good credit 6.1 Advantages and disadvantages of using credit 6.1a Advantages of using credit 6.1b Disadvantages of using credit 6.1c Identity theft 6.2 Three ways to set your own debt limit 6.2a Method 1: Continuous-debt method 6.2b Method 2: Debt payments-to-disposable income method 6.2c Method 3: Debt-to-income method 6.2d Keep student loan debt under control 6.3 Obtaining credit and building a good credit reputation 6.3a The credit application and credit report 6.3b Prescreened, invitation-to-apply or preapproved 6.3c The lender decides on the application 6.3d The lender decides on the interest rate 6.3e How to build your foundation for a good credit history 6.3f Improving your credit history improves your credit score 6.3g Credit scores 6.3h Credit monitoring is a waste of money 6.3i How to fix errors in your credit report 6.3j Time limits on adverse information in credit reports 6.3k Another person’s credit history 6.3l Effects of divorce on your credit 6.4 Dealing with overindebtedness 6.4a Signs of overindebtedness 6.4b Federal law regulates debt collection practices 6.4c Ways to get out from under excessive debt 6.4d Bankruptcy as a last resort Chapter 7: Credit cards and consumer loans 7.1 Credit cards and other types of open-end credit 7.1a Open-end credit 7.1b Two types of organisations issue open-end credit 7.1c Revolving lines of credit 7.2 Managing credit cards wisely 7.2a Credit statements 7.2b Computation of finance charges 7.2c Liability for lost or stolen cards 7.2d Correcting errors on your credit card statement 7.3 Sources of consumer loans 7.4 Instalment loans 7.4a The loan contract 7.4b Unsecured and secured loans 7.4c Variable-rate or fixed-rate loans 7.4d Alternative lenders offer high-priced loans 7.5 Calculating interest on consumer loans 7.5a Calculating an instalment loan payment 7.5b Calculation of the finance charges and APR for instalment loans 7.6 Planned buying 7.6a Prioritise your wants 7.6b Conduct preshopping research 7.6c Know the price you should expect to pay 7.6d Fit your budget to the purchase 7.7 Comparison shop to find the best buy and financing 7.7a Avoid long-term borrowing 7.7b Comparison shop between financing and leasing 7.7c Pitfalls of leasing to avoid 7.7d Make the decision at home using a decision-making matrix 7.8 Complain when appropriate Chapter 8: Obtaining affordable housing 8.1 Should you rent or buy your home? 8.1a Renting housing is less expensive in the short term 8.1b Tenants have rights even in the absence of a written lease 8.1c Owned housing is less expensive in the long term 8.1d So who pays more – renters or owners? 8.2 What does it cost to buy a home? 8.2a Pay upfront costs at the settlement 8.2b Your monthly costs include both principal and interest 8.2c Taxes and insurance 8.2d Make a decision to buy (if it makes sense) based on all costs 8.3 The steps in home buying 8.3a Step 1: Get your finances in order 8.3b Step 2: Get preapproved for a mortgage 8.3c Step 3: Search for a home online and in person 8.3d Step 4: Agree to terms with the seller 8.3e Step 5: Formally apply for a mortgage loan 8.3f Step 6: Prepare for the settlement 8.3g Step 7: Sign your name on settlement day 8.3h Buying a foreclosed property 8.4 Financing a home 8.4a The mathematics of mortgage loans 8.4b Three factors that affect the mortgage payment 8.4c Types of mortgage loans 8.4d Other housing financing arrangements 8.5 Selling a home 8.5a Should you list with a real estate agent or try to sell a home yourself? 8.5b Selling carries its own costs Part 3: Income and asset protection Chapter 9: Managing property and liability risk 9.1 Risk and risk management 9.1a People often misunderstand the concept of risk 9.1b Apply the risk-management process 9.2 Understanding how insurance works 9.2a Hazards make losses more likely to occur 9.2b Only fortuitous and financial losses are insurable 9.2c The principle of indemnity limits insurance payouts 9.2d Ways to pay less for insurance and still maintain sufficient coverage 9.2e Risk is reduced for the insurer through the law of large numbers 9.2f Each insured benefits even if one does not suffer a loss 9.2g How companies select among insurance applicants 9.2h Who arranges insurance? 9.3 Homeowner’s insurance 9.3a Coverages 9.3b Homeowner’s insurance and natural disasters 9.3c Buying homeowner’s insurance 9.4 Car insurance 9.4a Losses covered 9.5 Buy specialised protection for other loss exposures 9.5a Umbrella liability insurance 9.5b Flood and earthquake insurance 9.5c Professional liability insurance 9.5d Floaters 9.6 How to collect on your property and liability losses 9.6a Step 1: Contact your insurance agent about your loss 9.6b Step 2: Document your loss 9.6c Step 3: File your claim 9.6d Step 4: Sign a release Chapter 10: Planning for health care expenses 10.1 Medicare and you 10.1a Health care today in Australia 10.1b Health care and the ACC in New Zealand 10.1c The Medicare levy and surcharge 10.1d Health insurance rebates and lifetime health cover 10.1e Private health insurance in Australia 10.1f Private health insurance in New Zealand 10.1g Scientific advances and health insurance 10.1h Ambulance cover 10.2 Types of health care plans 10.2a Employer-provided group health care plans 10.2b The four health insurance tiers 10.3 Your health insurance benefits and limits 10.3a What types of care are covered? 10.3b Who is covered? 10.3c How much is the premium? 10.3d Making changes in health care plans 10.4 Planning for long-term custodial care 10.4a Levels of care 10.4b Things to consider if purchasing long-term care insurance 10.5 Disability income insurance 10.5a Government disability insurance 10.5b Who needs disability insurance? 10.5c What is your level of need? 10.5d What policy provisions best meet your needs? 10.6 Advance directive documents 10.6a A living will specifies end-of-life medical treatments 10.6b A substitute decision maker designates someone to make health care decisions 10.6c The enduring power of attorney appoints someone to handle legal and personal finances Chapter 11: Life insurance planning 11.1 How much life insurance do you need? 11.1a What financial needs must be met upon your death? 11.1b Three ways you can meet these financial needs 11.1c What dollar amount of life insurance do you need? 11.2 There are only two types of life insurance 11.2a Term life insurance is pure protection 11.2b Some cash-value life insurance has a fixed return 11.3 Understanding your life insurance policy 11.3a Policy terms and provisions unique to life insurance 11.3b Policy features unique to cash-value life insurance 11.3c Settlement (or payout) options specify how to pay the death benefit 11.3d Delete ‘Mum’ as the beneficiary on life insurance policies 11.4 How to buy life insurance 11.4a Integrate your life insurance into your financial plan 11.4b Buy life insurance from a financially strong company 11.4c Fair prices for term life insurance 11.4d When buying life insurance, get a great price online 11.4e Or contact a local insurance agent 11.4f Sales commissions can amount to 90 per cent of the annual premium 11.4g Signs of an unethical life insurance agent Part 4: Investments Chapter 12: Investment fundamentals 12.1 Starting your investment program 12.1a Before you invest 12.1b Prioritise your investing goals 12.1c Get the money to invest 12.1d Investing is more than saving 12.1e What long-term investment returns are possible? 12.1f Capital gains plus dividends equals one’s total return 12.1g Your investing future looks promising 12.1h Creating wealth just takes starting early 12.2 Identify your investment philosophy and invest accordingly 12.2a You must learn to handle investment risk 12.2b Investors demand a risk premium 12.2c What is your investment philosophy? 12.2d Should you take an active or passive investing approach? 12.2e Identify the kinds of investments you want to make 12.2f Deal only with financial advisers who are fiduciaries 12.3 Risks and other factors affect the investor’s return 12.3a Random risk is reduced by diversification, eventually 12.3b Market risk 12.3c Types of investment risks 12.3d Transaction costs reduce returns 12.3e Leverage may or may not increase returns 12.4 Accept the realities of the market and avoid investing mistakes 12.4a Long-term investors understand bull and bear markets and corrections 12.4b Long-term investors accept substantial market volatility 12.4c Long-term investors do not practise market timing 12.4d Long-term investors avoid trading mistakes 12.4e Market timing loses money 12.4f Avoid herd behaviour 12.4g Ignore 24-hour financial news chatter 12.5 Four safe and effective strategies for long-term investors 12.5a Strategy 1: Buy and hold anticipates long-term economic growth 12.5b Strategy 2: Portfolio diversification reduces portfolio volatility 12.5c Strategy 3: Dollar-cost averaging buys at ‘below-average’ costs 12.5d Strategy 4: Asset allocation keeps you in the right investment categories for your time horizo 12.6 Creating your own investment plan Chapter 13: Investing in shares and bonds 13.1 The role of shares and bonds in investments 13.1a Ordinary shares 13.1b Preference shares 13.1c Bonds 13.1d An illustration of shares and bonds: Running Paws Cat Food Company 13.2 How to evaluate ordinary shares 13.2a Use beta to compare a share to similar investments 13.2b Most investors use fundamental analysis to evaluate shares 13.2c Some investors use technical analysis to evaluate shares 13.2d Evaluate shares using corporate earnings 13.2e Calculating a share’s potential rate of return in five steps 13.3 Use the internet to evaluate and select shares 13.3a Begin by setting criteria for your share investments 13.3b Investor education is widely available online 13.3c Why use online share calculators? 13.3d Set up your portfolio online 13.3e Use share-screening tools 13.3f Get a sense of the history of a share 13.3g Go to the source for company information 13.3h Use share analysts’ research reports 13.3i Read research newsletters 13.3j Be aware of economic trends 13.3k Pay attention to securities market indexes 13.3l Securities exchanges (share markets) 13.3m Looking up a share price 13.3n Using portfolio tracking to watch your investments 13.4 Buying and selling shares 13.4a Opening a brokerage account 13.4b Broker commissions and fees 13.4c How to order share transactions 13.4d Margin buying and selling short are risky trading techniques 13.5 Investing in bonds 13.5a Corporate bonds 13.5b Government securities 13.5c Evaluating bond prices and returns 13.5d Pricing a bond in today’s market Chapter 14: Managed and exchange traded funds 14.1 Why invest in managed funds? 14.1a The net asset value is the price you pay for a managed fund share 14.1b Managed fund dividend income and capital gains distributions 14.1c Managed fund services 14.1d Managed and exchange traded funds are similar 14.2 Managed fund objectives 14.2a Income objective 14.2b Growth objective 14.2c Growth and income objective 14.3 Managed fund investing fees and charges 14.3a Management fees 14.3b Performance fees 14.3c Use websites to compare managed fund fees 14.3d What’s best? 14.3e Invest in index funds and ETFs for the lowest fees 14.4 How to select the funds in which you should invest 14.4a Step 1: Review your investment philosophy 14.4b Step 2: Review your investment goals 14.4c Step 3: Eliminate funds inappropriate for your investment goals 14.4d Step 4: Choose low fee funds 14.4e Step 5: Determine if investment advice is needed 14.4f Step 6: Screen and compare funds that meet your investment criteria 14.4g Step 7: Monitor your managed fund portfolio Chapter 15: Real estate and alternative investments 15.1 How to make money investing in real estate 15.1a What to do before investing in real estate 15.1b Question 1: Can you make current income while you own? 15.1c Question 2: Can you profit when you sell the property? 15.2 Take advantage of beneficial tax treatments 15.2a Depreciation is a tax deduction 15.2b Interest may also be a tax deduction 15.2c Capital gains tax rules 15.2d Home rental income 15.3 Pricing and financing real estate investments 15.3a Pay the right price 15.3b Financing a real estate investment 15.4 Disadvantages of real estate investing 15.5 Investing in collectibles, precious metals and gems 15.5a Collectibles 15.5b Gold and other precious metals 15.5c You can invest in gold in several ways 15.5d Investing in other metals – silver, platinum, palladium and rhodium 15.5e Precious stones and gems 15.5f Speculate by trading in currencies 15.5g Alternative coins and cryptocurrencies 15.5h Scams abound in collectibles, precious metals and gems 15.6 Investing in options and commodity futures contracts 15.6a Options allow you to buy or sell an asset at a predeterminedprice 15.6b Buying and selling commodities futures contracts Chapter 16: Managed funds/superannuation 16.1 Understanding government pensions 16.1a Age Pension eligibility criteria 16.1b Your taxes pay Age Pension and Medicare benefits 16.1c It takes 10 years to qualify for the Age Pension retirement benefits 16.1d Obtain an estimate of your Age Pension retirement benefits 16.2 Choosing a managed superannuation fund 16.2a Performance 16.2b Fees 16.2c Insurance 16.2d Investment options 16.2e Comparison of superannuation funds 16.2f Type 1: Accumulation funds are most common today 16.2g Type 2: Defined-benefit plans are yesterday’s standard 16.3 Managing your super 16.3a Additional super contributions 16.3b Spouse contributions 16.3c Nominating your beneficiaries 16.3d Conditions of release 16.3e Consolidating your super accounts 16.3f Self-managed super funds 16.3g Additional KiwiSaver contributions 16.3h Early KiwiSaver withdrawals 16.3i Transfers between Australian super and KiwiSaver 16.4 Retirement advice for investors 16.4a Diversification and modern portfolio analysis 16.4b Financial advice for DIY investors Chapter 17: Retirement and estate planning 17.1 Setting a retirement savings goal 17.1a What happens if you don’t save for retirement? 17.1b How to find the money to save 17.1c Projecting your annual retirement expenses and income 17.1d An illustration of retirement needs 17.1e Suggestions for funding Erik’s retirement goal 17.2 Do not outlive your money 17.2a Figure out how many years your money will last in retirement 17.2b Some people buy an annuity to ‘guarantee’ a portion of their retirement income 17.3 Retirement lifestyle planning 17.3a Stages of retirement 17.3b Working past pension age 17.4 Downsizing 17.4a Free up capital by downsizing your home 17.4b Reverse mortgages 17.4c Selling a business and succession planning 17.5 Estate planning 17.5a Start right now by setting up a checklist for your estate planning 17.5b Using trusts 17.5c Digital assets Chapter 18: Estimating social security benefits 18.1 Qualifying for social security benefits 18.2 Medicare, income and asset test and Australian residency 18.2a Income and asset tests 18.2b Residency requirements 18.3 Types of social security benefits available in Australia 18.3a JobSeeker Payment 18.3b Parenting Payment and the Family Tax Benefit 18.3c ABSTUDY and Austudy 18.3d Disability Support Pension 18.3e Carer Payments and Carer Allowance 18.3f Youth Allowance 18.3g Australian Government Age Pension 18.3h Superseded benefits 18.3i Other allowances and supplements 18.3j Department of Veterans’ Affairs benefits and payments 18.3k Staying up-to-date 18.4 Income support for working-age New Zealanders 18.4a Jobseeker support 18.4b Student allowance – StudyLink 18.4c Disability Allowance and Supported Living Payment 18.4d Parenting 18.4e Carers 18.4f Other allowances 18.5 New Zealand Superannuation 18.5a Qualifying age and residence for NZ Super 18.5b Receiving overseas pensions in New Zealand Appendix A: Present and future value tables Glossary Index
Financial Planning and Personal Finance 1st Edition is the most comprehensive text on the market, covering both professional Financial Planning and Personal Finance. Using a structured, step-by-step approach, you will learn about financial planning from a professional and personal perspective: how to save and invest, manage loans, file taxes, and decrease credit card debt. Real-life scenarios covering a wide range of financial challenges enable you to appreciate the relevance of key concepts, and useful perspectives from personal finance and financial planning experts helps you apply those concepts. Maths-based examples illustrate the critical importance of achieving long-term financial goals through investing. Get up to speed with a variety of digital financial management tools with expert, up-to-date coverage of FinTech, and access helpful resources via your instructor.--Provided by VitalSource