INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Smithtown High School East

Career and Technical Education Department

Course #5119

Grades 9 – 12

Half Year, Half Credit

Course Overview:

Introduction to Financial Management offers the high school student an opportunity to build a fiscally smart foundation.  It is essential in our fast moving society to have a working knowledge of the fundamentals of basic financial planning and money management.  In this course you will learn how to prepare a personal financial plan; a personal budget; propose a personal savings and investing plan; select strategies to use in handling credit and managing debt; demonstrate how to use various financial services; understand insurance plans that will minimize your personal or financial loss and examine how a career choice and lifestyle affect your financial plan.  The exploration of these principles will be studied and applied in an active, “hands-on” participative environment, through class projects, Internet simulations, and general classroom lectures.  The class concludes with a final exam.

Course Topics include:  Financial Planning—Setting Goals, Banking and Credit, Budgeting—Making Money Work for You, Good Debt/Bad Debt—Using Credit Wisely, Savings and Interest, Financial Services, Insurance, and Investments.