brumsey final

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Overview

The Financial Literacy Portfolio is a capstone project that demonstrates your understanding and application of personal financial management concepts from Modules 1-6. Using the S-M-A-R-T goal framework introduced in Chapter 1, you will develop three personal finance goals and create a comprehensive action plan for achieving them. This project allows you to apply course concepts to your own financial situation (or a hypothetical one) while demonstrating your ability to create a cohesive financial plan.

Worth: 165 Points

Due Date: July 14, 2025

Learning Objectives

Through this assignment, you will:

· Apply the S-M-A-R-T goal framework to develop meaningful financial objectives

· Synthesize concepts from Modules 1-6 into a cohesive financial plan

· Demonstrate understanding of financial planning, money management, taxation, financial services, consumer credit, and purchasing strategies

· Analyze potential risks associated with financial decisions and develop risk mitigation strategies

· Create a professional presentation that effectively communicates your financial plan

Assignment Components and Point Distribution

This assignment consists of three main components, presented through a PowerPoint presentation and a brief written reflection:

1.
S-M-A-R-T Financial Goals (45 points)

2.
Action Plans with Module Integration (75 points)

3.
Risk Analysis and Mitigation (25 points)

4.
Written Reflection (20 points)

Deliverables

You will submit TWO items via Canvas:

1.
PowerPoint Presentation containing your S-M-A-R-T goals, action plans, and risk analysis

2.
Written Reflection document (1-2 pages, double-spaced)

Assignment Details

Component 1: S-M-A-R-T Financial Goals (45 points)

Develop three S-M-A-R-T goals in the following categories:

1.
SAVING Goal (15 points) – A goal focused on building savings or investments

2.
SPENDING Goal (15 points) – A goal related to a major purchase or spending plan

3.
SHARING Goal (15 points) – A goal focused on donating money, time, or skills to a charitable cause

Each goal must follow the S-M-A-R-T format:

·
Specific: Clearly define what you want to accomplish

·
Measurable: Include concrete criteria for measuring progress

·
Achievable: Realistic given your financial circumstances

·
Relevant: Aligned with your overall financial objectives

·
Time-bound: Set a specific timeframe for completion

Component 2: Action Plans with Module Integration (75 points)

For each of your three S-M-A-R-T goals, develop a detailed action plan with 3-5 specific steps. Your action plans must incorporate concepts from Modules 1-6:

Module 1: Personal Financial Planning (15 points)

· Incorporate personal financial statements (income statement and balance sheet)

· Apply time value of money concepts to goal planning

· Consider economic factors that might impact your goals

Module 2: Money Management (15 points)

· Include budgeting techniques relevant to your goals

· Apply appropriate financial ratios to assess feasibility

· Outline cash flow management strategies

Module 3: Taxes in Financial Planning (15 points)

· Address tax implications of your financial goals

· Incorporate relevant tax planning strategies

· Identify potential tax advantages or disadvantages

Module 4: Financial Services (10 points)

· Identify appropriate financial accounts or services to support your goals

· Compare financial institutions or products based on features and benefits

· Address security and protection of financial assets

Module 5: Consumer Credit (10 points)

· If applicable, outline responsible credit usage related to your goals

· Address impact on credit score or creditworthiness

· Analyze cost of credit and repayment strategies

Module 6: Consumer Purchasing (10 points)

· Apply wise buying strategies for major purchases

· Include product/service research methods

· Address consumer protections relevant to your goals

Component 3: Risk Analysis and Mitigation (25 points)

Identify and analyze at least three potential risks associated with your financial goals. For each risk:

· Describe the nature of the risk (7 points)

· Assess the potential impact on your financial goals (8 points)

· Outline specific strategies to mitigate or manage the risk (10 points)

Component 4: Written Reflection (20 points)

Submit a brief reflection document (1-2 pages, double-spaced) addressing:

· What you learned from creating this portfolio (7 points)

· How you plan to implement these financial goals in your life (7 points)

· Areas where you feel you need additional financial education or resources (6 points)

PowerPoint Presentation Guidelines

Your PowerPoint presentation should effectively communicate all three main components of your Financial Literacy Portfolio (S-M-A-R-T goals, action plans, and risk analysis). Follow these guidelines to create a professional and comprehensive presentation:

Structure and Organization

· Include a title slide with your name and course information

· Create a table of contents or agenda slide

· Use clear section dividers for each component

· Follow a logical flow and organization

Required Sections (Minimum Slide Requirements)

Your PowerPoint must include the following sections with the specified minimum number of slides:

S-M-A-R-T Goals Section (Minimum 3 slides)

· At least one dedicated slide for each S-M-A-R-T goal (Saving, Spending, Sharing)

· Each goal slide must clearly display all five components (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)

Action Plans Section (Minimum 6 slides)

· At least two slides for each goal’s action steps with specific references to concepts from Modules 1-6

· Include visual flowchart or timeline showing implementation sequence

· Include financial calculations, where applicable (e.g., savings projections, budget allocations)

· Demonstrate integration of concepts from each module

Risk Analysis Section (Minimum 3 slides)

· At least one slide for each risk identified

· Include assessment of potential impacts

· Detail mitigation strategies

· Include a risk priority matrix or other visual risk assessment tool

Conclusion Section (Minimum 1 slide)

· Summary of key takeaways

· Next steps for implementation

Presentation Design

· Use a professional, consistent design theme

· Include effective visuals to enhance understanding (charts, graphs, tables, icons)

· Ensure appropriate font size and readability

· Limit text per slide (use bullet points rather than paragraphs)

· Create visual representations of financial concepts

· Use proper citation of sources when applicable

· Check for spelling and grammatical errors

· Include detailed notes in the notes section of each slide explaining your thinking