1. Your parents are retired and have expressed concern about the really low interest rates they’re earning on their savings. They’ve been approached by an advisor who says he has a “sure-fire” way to get them higher returns. What would you tell your parents about the low-interest-rate environment, and how would you advise them to view the advisor’s new prospective investments?
2. You’re getting married and are unhappy with your present bank. Discuss how you should go about choosing a new bank and opening an account. Consider the factors that are important to you in selecting a bank—such as the type and ownership of new accounts and bank fees and charges.
3. If you put $6,000 in a savings account that pays interest at the rate of 4 percent, compounded annually, how much will you have in five years? (Hint: Use the future value formula.) How much interest will you earn during the five years? If you put $6,000 each year into a savings account that pays interest at the rate of 4 percent a year, how much would you have after five years?
4. Debbie Snyder has just graduated from college and needs to buy a car to commute to work. She estimates that she can afford to pay about $450 per month for a loan or lease and has about $2,000 in savings to use for a down payment. Develop a plan to guide her through her first car-buying experience, including researching car type, deciding whether to buy a new or used car, negotiating the price and terms, and financing the transaction.