Financing Life

It's never too soon to start thinking about your financial future! Professor Randy Bartlett will introduce you to the essentials of personal finance and what you need to know to take charge of your money. Topics will include credit and debt management, saving for retirement, tax planning and much more.

No registration required.
Free, wheelchair accessible and open to the public.
Lunch provided for the first 50 attendees.

Fall 2012

Thursdays, from noon to 1 p.m.
Neilson Library Browsing Room

September 27: Basic Concepts

Measuring financial status—assets, liabilities, net worth; real versus nominal value; time value of money.

October 4: Managing Debt

Basic budgeting; credit card debt; student loans.

October 11: Understanding Taxes

Tax brackets and marginal rates; exclusions, adjustments, and deductions, pre- and after-tax dollars.

October 18: Financial Aspects of Home Ownership

Mortgage basics; tax advantages and issues; home ownership as a form of saving and investment.

October 25: Saving for Retirement:
"A Little Now, A Lot Later"

The magic of compound interest and exponential growth; time aspects of saving plans; taxes and retirement plans.

November 1: What To Do With Those Savings: Fundamentals of Investing

Stocks, bonds, mutual funds; risk and return; relevant tax issues.