Overview:

This wide-ranging course allows students to build competencies in personal investing; determine risk/reward tradeoffs; and manage an actual portfolio. Understand the mechanics and protections built into our stock market system. Insights are applied to your personal life with a variety of hands-on projects.  Students with limited financial experience are encouraged to complete FINA-102 Personal Finance before taking this course.

Catalog Course Description:

This course introduces students to stock market investing; including security market operations, common and preferred stocks, bonds, derivatives, mutual funds, and portfolio management. A framework is created for students to assess and monitor investments. Critical-thinking is employed to evaluate companies as potential investments. Students with limited financial experience are encouraged to complete FINA-102 Personal Finance before taking this course.

Textbooks:

Lum, Leslie. Personal Investing: An Interactive Approach. South-Western College Pub. 2003. ISBN 0-324-10154-6

Biafore, Bonnie. Better Investing Stock Selection Handbook. National Association of Investors Corporation. 2003. ISBN 0-9678130-4-2

Topics Covered:
· The Investing Marketplace
· Understanding Risk and Return
· Bond Fundamentals
· Purchasing Common Stocks
· Diversification and Sectors
· Fundamental Analysis and Stock Screening
· The Stock Selection Guide©
· Ratio Analysis
· Derivative Investing (Options)
· Investing Psychology
· Mutual Funds
· Portfolio Management and Asset Allocation

For a detailed syllabus email the instructor.

Frank Ellis home page