FCS 340: Money Management

Sec. 12 – MWF 9:00 – 10:00 Clarke 216

Sec. 02 – MWF 10:15 – 11:15 Clarke 216
Sec. 10 – MWF 11:30 – 12:30 Clarke 216
Tracie Simon, Instructor

Credit Hours: 3

Office and Phone: Clark Bldg., Second Floor, Room 223H

Telephone/Voice Mail: (208) 496-4037
E-mail: simont@byui.edu

Office Hours: TH 10:00 or by appointment

D&C 82: 17 – “And you are to be equal, or in other words, you are to have equal claims on the
Course properties, for the benefit of managing the concerns of your stewardships, every man according
Overview: to his wants and his needs, inasmuch as his wants are just –“

Course Students should be able to

Objectives: · magnify their financial stewardship
· use prudent financial management to more fully bless themselves, their family, and others
· use financial resources to joyfully strengthen their family and build up the kingdom of
God
· acquire skills that will guide in preparing budgets, managing debt, filing taxes, making
home and auto purchases, finding insurance, acquiring investments and improving
marriage and family relationships.

Course Goals: In the Book of Mormon, Nephi was​ ​desirous​ also that [he] might see, and hear, and know of
[the things of his father], by the power of the​ ​Holy​ Ghost, which is the​ ​gift​ of God unto​ ​all
those who diligently seek Him…(1 Nephi 10:17). This course has been prepared for students
with the desire to see, hear and know the “the things of our Father.” “For (s)he that diligently
seeketh​ shall find; and the​ ​mysteries​ of God shall be unfolded unto [you], by the power of the
Holy​ Ghost… (1 Nephi 10:19). “And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth
of all things” (Moroni 10:5).

Class The atmosphere in this class reflects the mission statement of BYU-Idaho: First, build students
Atmosphere: testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and live its principles; Second, provide
quality education for students of diverse interests and abilities; Third, prepare students for
lifelong learning, for employment, and roles as citizens/parents; and Fourth, maintain a
wholesome academic, cultural, social and spiritual environment. Please make sure all pod
chairs are facing forward unless engaged in a group activity.

University The purpose of a BYU-Idaho education is to help students become disciple leaders, lifelong
Outcomes: learners, creative and critical thinkers, effective communicators, skilled professionals, engaged
citizens. The intent of each outcome is clarified below:
Students become ​disciple leaders​​ as they: 1) understand and commit to live the
principles of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ; 2) demonstrate leadership skills and the
ability to cooperate with others.
Students become ​lifelong learners​​ as they: 1) locate, evaluate, and appropriately use
needed information; 2) master strategies to continually gain and apply knowledge and skills in
new situations.
 Students become ​creative and critical thinkers​​ as they: 1) apply reflective reasoning,
logic and quantitative analysis to new ideas, opinions, and situations; 2) analyze problems and
challenges from fresh perspectives that offer innovative solutions.
Students become ​effective communicators​​ as they: 1) present ideas and arguments
clearly through oral, written, and visual form; 2) listen, understand, and effectively engage
others in varied settings.
Students become ​skilled professionals​​ as they: 1) develop deep learning in a discipline
and broad skills leading to self-reliance; 2) develop professional and ethical values and
practices.
Students become ​engaged citizens​​ as they: 1) fulfill family, religious, and civic
responsibilities; 2) develop empathy for their fellow men and understanding of world religion,
culture, history, literature, sciences, and the arts.

It is expected that students will observe the Code of Honor: specifically – be honest, live a
chaste and virtuous life, obey the law and all campus policies, use clean language, respect
others, abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and substance abuse, participate
regularly in church services, observe dress and grooming standards, and encourage others in
their commitment to comply with the Honor code. This expectation is met as students live a
life of honor, heeding the promptings of the Spirit, raising the bar of personal righteousness,
and fostering a spirit of integrity, sacrifice, consecration, love, service, and willing obedience.

Students are encouraged to strengthen their commitment to the BYU–Idaho Honor Code by
maintaining appropriate behavior, dress, and grooming standards while on campus.
[Note: Children are not allowed to be present in BYU-Idaho classes due to space restrictions,
fire code compliance, and the need to limit distractions. Students have the responsibility to
arrange for childcare away from classrooms and study areas so as to preserve and enhance
learning opportunities for all students.]

Cell phone etiquette: Turn off and put cell phone in backpack during class to avoid distractions. Leaving class to
take a phone call is considered an absence. If an emergency arises and you need your cell
phone on, please advise the instructor.

President Monson​ had a system for his study that he later shared with many college students"
"Have discipline in your preparations. Have checkpoints where you can determine if you're on
course. Study something you like and which will make it possible for you to support a
family....You can't get the jobs of tomorrow until you have the skills of today....Make certain as
you prepare that you do not procrastinate."

Teaching Methods: This course is an interesting mixture of readings, discussions, calculations, case studies,
internet exercises, involvement projects, and being your own Personal Financial Planner.
Textbook chapter in-class discussions are based on information prepared by students prior to
attending class. Be sure to complete ALL pre-preparation activities BEFORE class; otherwise,
you will be unable to participate effectively. Always take time to complete ponder/prove
exercises to engage in deep, spiritual learning.

Note​​: Go to​ ​http://www.buyi.edu/AcademicLearning​, or go to McKay Library 272 for

information about how the writing, reading, and study skills centers can help you increase
success in all of your classes. To schedule a tutor for a specific class, log on to Tutor Request
under Student Services and follow the instructions.

Required Texts Hill, E. Jeffrey and Sudweeks, Bryan L. ​Fundamentals of Family Finance​. Second Edition.
And Materials:
Assignments: Each week you will have a series of assignments to complete. Specific details about each of
these assignments will be found in I-learn. These assignments include:
· Application assignment on topic covered (points vary)
· Mock Stock Market Assignments (points vary)
· Budget Assignments (points vary)

Grading: The final course grade will be based on I-Learn submissions, exams, attendance, participation,
projects, and professionalism. A letter grade will be based on the following percentile:

94-100% A 74-76% C
90-93% A- 70-73% C-
87-89% B+ 67-69% D+
84-86% B 64-66% D
80-83% B- 60-63% D-
77-79% C+ Below 60% F

· A​​ represents consistently outstanding understanding, application, and integration of

subject material and extensive evidence of original thinking, skillful use of concepts,
and ability to analyze and solve complex problems.
· B​​ represents considerable or significant understanding, application, and
incorporation of the material which would prepare a student to be successful in next
level courses, graduate school, or employment.
· C​​ represents sufficient understanding of subject matter. The student demonstrates
minimal initiative to be prepared for class. Sequenced courses could be attempted, but
mastering new materials might prove challenging.
· D​​ represents poor performance and initiative to learn and understand and apply
course materials. Retaking a course or remediation may be necessary to prepare for
additional instruction in this subject matter.
· F​​ represents failure in the course.

Late work: Late work is not accepted in this course. However, sometimes life happens and students need a
little extra time on an assignment. For this reason, I will allow ONE assignment to be turned in
late, NO QUESTIONS ASKED (​NQA​​)! You will just need to make a note in the assignment
box when you submit the assignment, AND email me and let me know that you will be using
your ​NQA​​ option when submitting that late assignment. ​NQA’s must be submitted within
one week of the original due date.

Extra Credit: E​​xtra credit is available by going the “extra mile” on some assignments. These extra credit
opportunities are outlined in the assignment descriptions

Attendance/ Attendance is required for the​ ​entire​ ​class period and taken at the beginning of class before the
Tardiness: prayer. Leaving class early for whatever reason is considered an absence. If an occasion arises
and students are running late, it is preferred they come after class has started rather than miss
the entire hour. Arriving after the instructor’s welcome is considered a tardy; 3 tardies = 1
absence. No tardies/ absences results in a 1/3 grade increase at the end of the semester (A- to A
J); more than 3 absences results in a 1/3 grade decrease at the end of the semester (A to A- L);
more than 6 absences results in a full grade decrease at the end of the semester (A to B -LL).
Students with more than 9 absences are “unofficially withdrawn” from the course at the end of
the semester and will receive an F grade. It is important that students manage attendance well.

In-Class Write down whatever the instructor puts on the board; there is a better chance it
Note-taking:
 will be on the test. Be sure to write down the details that connect or explain the main points.
Leave blank spaces for items or ideas you may miss. Don't hesitate to ask the instructor
questions if certain points are confusing. Do not stop taking notes during discussion periods.
Go over your notes soon after class (within 24 hours) to increase your retention. Don't try to
record every word, use abbreviations. This will help you to not fall behind. Use the financial
records system assembled in class to keep all notes, assignments, handouts for future reference.

Participation: A critical piece of student reading and class attendance is participation in your course council.
Students bring comments/questions from Chapter Readings to class for discussion and
implementation, as well as information from outside resources that relate to the weekly topic.
A portion of each class focuses on an activity practicing the principles discussed in class to
build toward content achievement. The instructor collects in-class activities for evaluation.
Participation activities cannot be made up. If students miss class, a participation activity is
missed as well.

[Note: Please refrain from working on assignments or other “stuff” while in this class. It
lessens the ability to learn and is disrespectful to the instructor; a sign that students are not
paying attention and are disengaged/disinterested in learning. Also, please take care of physical
needs i.e. bathrooms, drinks, eating, sleeping before class begins to avoid disrupting class by
exiting and returning to the classroom. Throw trash away either before or after class.]

President Monson s​ ays, “I tried to be attentive in any lecture in the classroom and to pretend
that I would be called upon to present the same lecture to others. While this practice is very
hard work, it certainly helps during test week… It is not the number of hours you put in, but
what you put in the hours that count."

Exams: Four (4) exams are taken throughout the semester. All exams are objective and are taken in the
Testing Center (exams open Tues; close Thurs). No makeup exams are available. Start
preparing for exams after the very first class period. ​The final exam will be comprehensive.

Management Always use campus computers to submit assignments and not your home computer due to
Evaluation: Internet service interruptions. Campus wireless services for laptops are unreliable as well. It is
justifiable to resubmit an assignment if a campus computer fails, not as justifiable if students
use laptops, or didn’t manage well and missed a deadline. Call x1411 if I-Learn is a problem.

Support Services: BYU-Idaho does not discriminate against persons with disabilities in providing its educational
and administrative services and programs, and follows applicable federal and state law. This
policy extends to the University’s electronic and information technologies (EIT).

Students with qualifying disabilities should contact the Disability Services Office at
disabilityservices@byui.edu or 208-496-9210. Additional information about Disability
Services resources can be found at​ ​http://www.byui.edu/disabilities​.

BYU-Idaho prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in its education programs or
activities. Prohibited sex discrimination includes incidents of sexual harassment (including
sexual violence), dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking (collectively
“sexual misconduct”).

As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment for my

students and for the campus as a whole. University policy requires that I report all incidents of
sexual misconduct that come to my attention. If you encounter sexual misconduct, please
contact the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@byui.edu or 208-496-9200. Additional information
about sexual misconduct and available resources can be found at​ ​www.byui.edu/titleix​.
 Tutor: There will be a tutor available for this course. The contact information for the tutor will be
emailed out once the hiring process has been completed. It will also be posted in Ilearn.

FCS Education Standard 1:​​ Knowledge of Subject Matter – The teacher understands the central concepts,
Standards: tools of inquiry, and structures of the content area(s) taught and creates learning experiences
that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for learners.
Knowledge 9:​​ the teacher understands consumer economic issues and behavior for
managing individual and family resources to achieve goals at various stages of the life cycle.

Course Outline:​​ ​The instructor reserves the right to make any necessary and appropriate changes.

DATE PREPARATION TEACH PONDER/

ONE ANOTHER PROVE
(Due Before Class) (Class Discussions) (​Assignments due at 11:59 p.m.
on date shown below.​​)

Week 1 Sep 17 Read: Introductions

Syllabus
Textbook Introduction:
Fundamentals of
Family Finance

Sep 19 Chapter 1: Time Value of Financial Vocabulary

Money

Sep 21 Financial Plan Due: Budget #1; Stock Market

#1; Family Financial Plan

Week 2 Sep 24 Chapter 2: Budgeting, Budgeting

Net Worth, and more

Sep 26 Budgeting

Sep 28 Net Worth Due: Budget #2 , EC Financial

Records

Week 3 Oct 1 Chapter 11: Tips for

Frugal Living Saving Money on Food

Oct 3 Transportation &

Household expenses

Oct 5 Recreation and More ​Due: Meal Plan & Grocery List

Week 4 Oct 8 Chapter 3: Cash Emergency Funds Exam 1 opens Tues. Oct. 9 -
Management and More Closes Thurs, Oct 11;
Introduction & Chapters 1, 2, 11

Oct 10 Cash Management

Oct 12 Financial Institutions Due: Cash Management*

Week 5 Oct 15 Chapter 4: Credit and Credit and Debt
Loans

Oct 17 Credit Cards

Oct 19 Consumer Loans ​Due: Credit Card Comparison

Week 6 Oct 22 Chapter 7: Total Cost of owning a

Understanding and car
Financing Major Family
Purchases: Buying a Car

Oct 24 Financing a Car

Oct 26 The purchasing Process Due: Comparison Shopping*

Week 7 Oct 29 Chapter 8: Housing options Exam 2 opens Tues. Oct. 30;
Understanding and closes Thurs, Nov. 1; Ch 3-4; 7
Financing Major Family
Purchases: Buying a
Home

Oct 31 Steps to buying a home

Nov 2 Mortgage Financing Due: Housing Market

Budget #3; Stock Market 2

Week 8 Nov 5 Chapter 6: Risk Life Insurance

Management and Health Insurance
Insurance

Nov 7 Guest Speaker

Nov 9 Home & Auto Insurance Due: Insurance Investigation

Week 9 Nov 12 Chapter 5: Tax Planning Why Taxes?/Types of

taxes

Nov 14 Income Taxes

Nov 16 Income Taxes

Week 10 Nov 19 Taxes (cont) Guest Speaker Due: Tax Planning Strategies

Nov 21 NO CLASS

Nov 23 NO CLASS
 Week 11 Nov 26 Chapter 9: Investing Principles of Successful Exam 3 opens Tues. Nov. 27;
for the Long Term Investing closes Thurs. Nov. 29; Chapters
5-6, 8

Nov 28 Asset
Classes/Guidelines for
basic investing

Nov 30 Guest Speaker Due: Investment Plan; Stock

Market #3; ​Budget #4

Week 12 Dec 3 Chapter 10: Retirement Retirement Options

Planning

Dec 5 Social Security

Dec 7 Estate Planning Due: Retirement Analysis

Week 13 Dec 10 Chapter 12: Work and Choosing a Career:

Family Balancing work/life

Dec 12 Chapter 13: Marriage Marriage and Money

and Money

Dec 14 Chapter 14: Children and Children and Money Due: FHE Lesson Plan
Money

Week 14 Dec 17 Chapter 15: Consecration Due: Family Financial Plan

Consecration (Revised); Financial Advice

Dec 19 TESTING DAY Exam 4 opens Mon. Dec. 17

closes Wed. Dec. 19; Chapters 9 -
15 & Comprehensive of all
semester chapters
*​ Assignments marked with an “*” require you to go out and visit businesses in the community. Please plan
accordingly.