Course Outlines

Learning Resources

Required Learning Resources Personal Finance, 4th Canadian Edition by Madura and Gill, Pearson Canada, ISBN 978-0-13-472471-3. Financial calculator (Texas Instruments BA2 Plus is recommended).

Access to a computer and internet.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria	%	Comments
Quizzes	40	10 quizzes – 1 review quiz for each lecture
Midterm Exam (2 hours)	30	Lectures 1 to 5
Final Exam (2 hours)	30	Cumulative – Lectures 1 to 5 and 7 to 11
Total	100

Attendance Requirements

Regular presence and participation in on-line courses is seen as integral to student success and is therefore monitored. Unexcused non-participation via prescribed forms of electronic communication cannot exceed 10% of the time prescribed for the course. A student who fails to participate regularly as required by the course will be considered to have unexcused absences. Unexcused absences in excess of 10% of the time prescribed for this course may result in the assignment of a failing grade.

In case of illness or other unavoidable absence, students must communicate with the instructor, or the appropriate Program Head, as soon as possible (preferably in advance) indicating the reason for the absence. Students who are seeking accommodation for a medical absence must have a BCIT-approved medical certificate (https://www.bcit.ca/files/healthservices/pdf/studentmedicalcertificate.pdf). For other absences, students must be prepared to provide appropriate supporting documentation.

A student who has unexcused absences in excess of 10% of the time prescribed for the course by the Withdrawal Deadline is considered to have ‘Vanished’ and will be assigned a grade of ‘V’. In these cases, no further work will be graded.

These requirements are set out in accordance with BCIT Policy 5101 Student Regulations: https://www.bcit.ca/files/pdf/policies/5101.pdf. More information regarding withdrawals from PTS courses is available here: https://www.bcit.ca/pts/pts_withdrawals.shtml.

If absent from a lecture where a review quiz is conducted, the student will NOT have an opportunity to take a “make-up” quiz.

Other information

COURSE OUTLINES: This course outline may assist you in the future to receive credit for all or part of a course from another post-secondary institution or from a professional program. It is strongly recommended that this course outline be safely filed for future reference.

ATTENDANCE:

Regular presence and participation in on-line courses is seen as integral to student success and is therefore monitored. Unexcused non-participation via prescribed forms of electronic communication cannot exceed 10% of the time prescribed for the course. A student who fails to participate regularly as required by the course will be considered to have unexcused absences. Unexcused absences in excess of 10% of the time prescribed for this course may result in the assignment of a failing grade.

In case of illness or other unavoidable absence, students must communicate with the instructor, or the appropriate Program Head, as soon as possible (preferably in advance) indicating the reason for the absence. Students who are seeking accommodation for a medical absence must have a BCIT-approved medical certificate (https://www.bcit.ca/files/healthservices/pdf/studentmedicalcertificate.pdf). For other absences, students must be prepared to provide appropriate supporting documentation.

A student who has unexcused absences in excess of 10% of the time prescribed for the course by the Withdrawal Deadline is considered to have ‘Vanished’ and will be assigned a grade of ‘V’. In these cases, no further work will be graded.

These requirements are set out in accordance with BCIT Policy 5101 Student Regulations: https://www.bcit.ca/files/pdf/policies/5101.pdf. More information regarding withdrawals from PTS courses is available here: https://www.bcit.ca/pts/pts_withdrawals.shtml.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL: Students who choose to stop attending the course are strongly recommended to officially withdraw from the course by following the withdrawal process outlined here: https://www.bcit.ca/pts/pts_withdrawals.shtml. Failure to officially withdraw from the course may result in a final grade of V (Course Abandonment) being assigned. A final grade of a V results in a 0% for the course being calculated into a student’s grade point average (GPA).

EXAMINATIONS: A student who fails to write an examination on the scheduled date and time will receive a zero on that examination. Exceptions may be made for documented medical reasons or extenuating circumstances. In such a case, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor immediately. It is the student’s responsibility to be proactive and contact the instructor. Missed examinations may be required to be written through the BCIT Test Centre (http://www.bcit.ca/testcentre/), and as such subject to an examination re-scheduling fee. See following:

Missed Exams and Assignments due to Illness:

BCIT Policy 5103, Student Evaluation, states: ...Occasionally BCIT students are absent from a mid-term or final examination or for other important forms of evaluation due to serious medical reasons or for other unavoidable causes. The procedure to be followed is described in Procedure 5101, Implementation of Student Regulations... Final examinations and mid-terms notwithstanding, programs may limit the number of tests, quizzes or examinations a student may miss. Details of these limits, and the consequences associated with exceeding them, will be documented in the course outline....

Procedure 5101-PR1 sets out the following procedure: ...a student who misses an exam or evaluation due to a medical reason or other unavoidable cause will be provided with an opportunity to make up for that missed exam or evaluation, but only under the following conditions: (a) The student must notify the instructor that he/she will miss the exam or evaluation as soon as possible, preferably prior to the time when the exam or evaluation is scheduled to occur. (b) For medical related absences the student must produce a BCIT-approved medical certificate, obtained at the student's own expense, to show that an examination or evaluation was missed due to medical reasons. The BCIT Student Medical Certificate form is available on the BCIT website. (c) For other unavoidable absences the student should be prepared to provide supporting documentation. When the program department has validated that the conditions previously stated have been met, the program department will employ one of the following options: (a) The program department will provide the student with another opportunity to write the same or replacement examination, or perform some other form of evaluation, this may include writing an exam at the Burnaby Test Centre (approximate invigilation cost of $50), or (b) The program department will devise another means of judging the student's mastery of the learning outcomes, or (c) The program department will calculate an aegrotat grade for the student if the conditions for aegrotat have been met. (ref. BCIT Policy 5103, Student Evaluation).

Consistent with these policies, in this course, students should be advised that:

(a) The only acceptable medical certificate is the Student Medical Certificate approved by BCIT and found at the following URL:http://www.bcit.ca/files/healthservices/pdf/studentmedicalcertificate.pdf No other doctor's note will be acceptable.

(b) Students who fail to submit to their instructor, on a timely basis, a Student Medical Certificate that justifies academic accommodation on account of illness for a missed test or assignment deadline, will be summarily awarded a zero on the missed evaluation. Timely notice should be as soon as possible, but never be more than 7 calendar days after the missed event.

(c) The policy of the program department is that should a student miss a mid-term or final exam, the Student Medical Certificate and the academic accommodation requested by the student must be validated and approved by all three of the Instructor, the Program Head, and the Associate Dean, before an accommodation plan will be considered. In the case of missed evaluations due to illness other than the mid-term and final exams, the Instructor may alone validate the Student Medical Certificate and approve an accommodation plan.

(d) Students who have missed a final exam due to illness, and who have also, previously in the term, missed other tests, quizzes, assignment deadlines, or exams, may be required to write a comprehensive final exam, of a duration of up to double the scheduled time of the final exam that has been missed.

(e) Students who have notificed the instructor within 7 days of the missed exam and have received the permission of their instructor and the academic coordinator to re-write an exam may be asked to write their exam at the Burnaby Test Centre and will incur a cost of approximately $50 for invigilation supervision.

Instructors are asked to promptly notify the program head or the academic coordinator of any student who misses an examination together with any supporting documentation.

PHOTO IDENTIFICATION: To write exams, students are required to produce photo-identification at examination centres. Photo identification must be placed on the desk before an exam will be issued to the student and must remain in view on the desk while writing the exam for inspection by invigilators. Students should bring a BCIT OneCard or alternatively two pieces of identification, one of which must be government photo I.D. such as a driver’s license.

CHEATING, PLAGIARISM AND DISHONESTY: Acts of cheating, plagiarism and dishonesty are not tolerated; the degree of punitive action may range from a written warning to withdrawal from the program. These penalties may also be applied to a student who knowingly contributes to the act of dishonesty, cheating and plagiarism. (Refer to the current BCIT Policies.)

Programmable calculators and calculators with alphabetic capability will not be allowed in exams. English language dictionaries may be allowed in exams provided they are presented to the exam invigilator prior to the exam.

PROGRAM APPROVAL: Students planning to complete a Financial Management part-time studies program should complete an Application for Program Approval form to declare a program of study after the program’s first course. Receiving Program Approval ensures that BCIT is aware of the student’s intent to complete a program as it’s currently outlined. Program Approval also enables students to request changes to the prescribed program and guarantees credit for courses that are part of the program will be honoured despite changes in program requirements.

NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS TO COMPLETE A COURSE: Students must successfully complete a course within a maximum of three attempts at the course. Course withdrawals (W), Late Withdrawals (LW), Course Abandonment (V), Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR), and course failures are recorded as an attempt at the course. Students with two attempts in a single course will be allowed to repeat the course only upon special written permission from the Associate Dean. Students who have not successfully completed a course within three attempts may not be eligible to graduate from the appropriate program.

BCIT STUDENT REGULATIONS POLICY: For information relating to BCIT Student Regulations policies please refer to Policies 5101, 5102, 5103 and 5104 available for viewing at http://www.bcit.ca/about/administration/policies.shtml

Course Schedule and Assignments

Lecture	Textbook	Lecture Objectives
1 Wednesday September 9	Chapters 1 & 3	Financial Planning – Overview / Financial Statements Benefits from an understanding of personal finance Components of a financial plan Developing the financial plan Working with net worth and cash flow statements Creating a budget Financial ratios
2 Wednesday September 16	Chapter 2 Quiz – Lecture 1	Applying Time Value Concepts The time value of money Future and present value of a dollar amount Future and present value of an annuity Interest rate conversion Calculate NPV and IRR [not in text] Solve unknown interest rate problems [not in text] Solve irregular cash flow problems [not in text]
3 Wednesday September 23	Chapters 5, 6, & 7 Quiz – Lecture 2	Managing Financial Resources Money management Types of financial institutions Savings alternatives Credit – Background / Bureaus / Cards Debt management Personal loans Purchasing a home Mortgage options
4 Wednesday September 30	Chapter 4 Quiz – Lecture 3	Using Tax Concepts For Planning Background on taxes Total / Net / Taxable income Deductions and credits Completing a personal income tax return Marginal tax rates versus average tax rate Tax planning strategies

5 Wednesday October 7	Chapter 8 Quiz – Lecture 4 Quiz – Lecture 5	Wealth Protection – Auto & Homeowner’s Insurance Background on Insurance Managing risk Insurance companies, agents and brokers Auto insurance Homeowner’s insurance Umbrella liability insurance Mid Term Exam review
6 Wednesday October 14	MID TERM EXAM	30% of Final Grade
7 Wednesday October 21	Chapter 9 Mid Term Exam Review	Wealth Protection – Health & Life Insurance Background on health and life insurance Canada’s health care system Disability insurance Critical illness insurance Long-term care insurance Life insurance Insurance needs analysis Contents of an insurance policy
8 Wednesday October 28	Chapters 10 & 11 Quiz – Lecture 7	Personal Investing – Investing Fundamentals / Stocks Saving versus Investing Investing versus speculating Types of investments Investment return and risk Investment diversification Asset allocation Stock exchanges Stock quotations Trading Stocks Stock analysis and company valuation

9 Wednesday November 4	Quiz – Lecture 8	Personal Investing – Bonds / Investment Funds Background on bonds Types of bonds Other fixed-income securities Bond investment return Bond valuation Bond investment risk Bond investment strategies Background on pooled investments Mutual funds Investment fund risk and return Exchange-traded funds Segregated funds
10 Wednesday November 18	Chapter 14 Quiz – Lecture 9	Retirement Planning Sources of retirement income Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Employer-sponsored retirement plans Individual retirement savings plans Retirement income conversion options Retirement income planning strategies Estimating future retirement needs
11 Wednesday November 25	Chapter 15 Quiz – Lecture 10 Quiz – Lecture 11	Estate Planning Background on estate planning Wills Probate fees and taxes at death Dying intestate Powers of attorney Representation agreements Planning strategies for death Planning strategies for incapacity Final Exam review
12 Wednesday December 2	FINAL EXAM	30% of Final Grade. Final exam is cumulative.