Principles of Investing
Syllabus
Course Essential Questions
- How are sound financial and investment decisions made?
- What are the benefits and risks associated with investing?
- What are the different investment vehicles and how do they compare?
Course Learning Objectives
- Develop and apply the concept of budgeting and its principles as they pertain to investing. Characterize the basic principles of risk management and the risk-return trade-off.
- Construct strategies for diversifying investments and managing portfolios.
- Analyze financial data to make informed investment decisions.
- Design an investment plan that considers long and short-term investments.
Unit 1: Keys to Investing (Weeks 1-3)
Unit Level Essential Questions
- What is the difference between saving and investing?
- How can risk and reward impact investment strategies?
- How are goal-setting and investment strategies related?
Week 1: Thinking About Investments
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Identify investment options.
- Compare investment account types.
- Determine specific purposes for investing.
Week 2: Saving and Investing Strategies
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Calculate a monthly budget to determine investing capabilities.
- Differentiate between saving and investing.
- Develop saving and investing goals.
Week 3: Risk and Reward
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Determine your risk level to achieve your financial goals.
- Analyze financial statements.
Unit 2: Real Estate (Weeks 4-5)
Unit Level Essential Questions
- Why is buying a house considered an investment?
- What are the pros and cons of real estate investing?
- How are real estate opportunities evaluated as an investment?
Week 4: Mortgage Basics and Home Ownership
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Analyze and examine the home-buying process.
- Develop a plan for buying a home.
- Critique owning a home as an investment.
Week 5: The Business of Real Estate
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Analyze the risks and responsibilities of owning rental property.
- Explain and compare direct and indirect real estate investing.
- Identify and compile a list of pros and cons of flipping houses.
Unit 3: Financial Markets (Weeks 6-9)
Unit Level Essential Questions
- What are the characteristics of the different financial markets?
- How are financial markets affected by changing economic conditions?
Week 6: Markets and the Economy
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Identify and compare the different financial markets of investing.
- Evaluate sources of investment information.
- Examine and summarize economic impacts on financial markets.
Week 7: Stocks - Own a Piece of a Business
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Categorize stocks to examine risk and reward.
- Develop an investment strategy using key terms.
- Compute gains and losses from stock trades.
Week 8: Bonds - The Debt Security
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Differentiate bonds by type, rating, coupon rates, and risk level.
- Investigate the characteristics of investing in government bonds versus corporate bonds.
Week 9: Mutual Funds & ETFs - Investment Pools
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Investigate why people purchase investment pools.
- Determine how to evaluate investment pools.
- Analyze the benefits of investing in investment pools versus stocks and bonds.
Unit 4: Regulations and Fraud (Weeks 10-11)
Unit Level Essential Questions
- In what ways are investments and investment activity monitored and regulated to ensure safety?
Week 10: Regulations Protect
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Identify the roles of different organizations that protect financial markets.
- Investigate the extent and limits of government regulation of the financial markets.
Week 11: Beware of Fraud
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Identify the warning signs of investment fraud.
- Examine how government regulators work to stop investment fraud.
Unit 5: Portfolio Management and the Future (Weeks 12-15)
Unit Level Essential Questions
- How are portfolios and investment goals intertwined?
- When should retirement planning begin?
- What is the value of investment diversification?
Week 12: Short and Long-term Returns
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Identify and compare short-term investment options.
- Rate long-term investment options by risk and returns.
Week 13: Retirement Planning
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Calculate how time impacts investment income.
- Predict when is the best time to adjust portfolio diversifications.
- Layout a retirement investment plan to achieve goals.
Week 14: Diversifying My Portfolio
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Develop a strategy for reassessing financial goals.
- Build a diverse portfolio of investments to match a strategy.
Week 15: Taking Stock in What You Know
Weekly Learning Objectives
- Analyze and compare investment portfolios.
- Reflect on what you learned in this course.