Personal Financial Literacy

Differentiate between needs and wants in evaluating spending decisions.

Investigate the student's money personality, including spending and saving propensity.

Demonstrate an understanding of the value and benefits of charitable giving.

Develop financial goals for the short, medium, and long term that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time based.

Reconcile a bank statement with personal records to ensure the accuracy of deposits, withdrawals, and transfer activities.

Track income and expenses and develop an income statement.

Develop a budget that incorporates short-, medium-, and long-term financial goals.

Identify assets and liabilities.

Construct a balance sheet or net worth statement.

Evaluate the impact of unplanned spending on a budget.

Identify benefits such as health insurance contributions, retirement benefits, sick leave, vacation pay, flexible spending account, health savings account, workers compensation, life insurance, and disability insurance.

Identify taxes that are deducted from paychecks, including Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and federal income taxes.

Calculate gross and net pay using information on a paycheck.

Analyze costs and benefits of owning versus renting housing.

Analyze costs and benefits of owning versus leasing a vehicle.

Compare total costs of alternative methods of payment such as rent-to-own, store credit, installment agreements, cash, bank credit card, and debit card.

Apply strategies for making informed decisions about purchasing consumer goods such as comparing prices per unit, looking for sales or promotions, and negotiating price.

Develop a short-term saving strategy to achieve a goal such as establishing and maintaining an emergency fund.

Develop an intermediate-term saving and investing strategy to achieve a goal such as accumulating a down payment on a home or vehicle.

Explain the tax benefits of charitable contributions.

Develop a long-term investing strategy to achieve a goal such as a financially secure retirement.

Discuss the role of financial institutions and markets in saving and investing.

Demonstrate the impact of compound growth over time.

Evaluate the costs and benefits of various savings options such as bank savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market mutual funds.

Evaluate risk and return of various investment options, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

Identify costs of retirement such as living expenses, health care expenses, and long-term care expenses.

Identify and explain sources of income during retirement, including Social Security, individual savings, and employer-sponsored plans.

Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of saving early and at a sufficient level to achieve financial security in retirement.

Compare and contrast sources of credit such as banks, merchants, peer-to-peer, payday loans, and title loans.

Compare and contrast types of credit, including revolving and installment credit, and collateralized loans versus unsecured credit.

Evaluate the impact of credit decisions on monthly budget, income statement, and net worth statement.

Discuss how character, capacity, and collateral can adversely or positively impact an individual's credit rating and the ability to obtain credit.

Describe how to access and interpret a sample credit report and score.

Describe the importance of monitoring credit reports regularly and addressing mistakes.

Identify factors that could lead to bankruptcy such as medical expenses, job loss, divorce, or a failed business.

Appraise the impact of borrowing decisions on credit score, including consequences of poor credit management and bankruptcy.

Examine the components of the cost of borrowing, including annual percentage rate (APR), fixed versus variable interest, length of term, grace period, and additional fees such as late payment, cash advance, and prepayment penalties.

Explain strategies to reduce total cost of borrowing such as making a higher down payment and additional principal payments.

Differentiate between the use and cost of debit and credit cards.

Identify risk as potential loss of assets or earning potential.

Apply risk management strategies, including avoiding, reducing, retaining, and transferring risk.

Define insurance terminology, including premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and policy limits.

Explain the costs and benefits of different types and sources of health insurance such as individual health plans, employer-provided health plans, and government-provided health plans.

Explain the costs and benefits of disability and long-term care insurance.

Explain the costs and benefits of life insurance, including term insurance and whole life insurance.

Explain the costs and benefits of property insurance, including homeowner's and renter's insurance.

Explain the costs and benefits of automobile insurance and factors that impact the price of insurance, including the type of vehicle, age and sex of driver, driving record, deductible, and geographic location.

Explain the costs and benefits of supplemental types of insurance such as extended warranties, mortgage protection life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment life insurance, car loan payoff coverage, debt cancellation coverage, and credit life coverage.

Identify ways to protect personal information and reduce risk of identity theft.

Recognize common schemes and scams such as investment, pyramid, phishing, check cashing, and home renovation scams.

Demonstrate an understanding of how to use consumer protection agencies such as the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Financial Protection Board, or the Texas State Securities Board to research and report fraud.

Explain the importance of guardianship of minor children, wills, and beneficiary designation.

Explain the importance of a power of attorney, living will, and medical directive.

Analyze the relationship between education and training and earnings.

Identify types of costs associated with college, postsecondary education, and training.

Compare costs among postsecondary education and training institutions such as public universities, private universities, certification programs, and community colleges.

Analyze the quality of education investment using measures such as academic reputation, selectivity and rigor in a chosen area of study, average starting salary of students graduating in chosen field, and likelihood of student graduation.

Understand how, why, and when to complete grant and scholarship applications and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Research various sources of funds for postsecondary education and training, including student loans, grants and scholarships, and other sources such as work-study and military programs.

Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various sources of funds for postsecondary education and training, including student loans, grants and scholarships, and other sources such as work-study and military programs.