Assignment task:
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. Need Assignment Help?
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
2. Action Plans with Module Integration
3. Risk Analysis and Mitigation
4. Written Reflection
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
Develop three S-M-A-R-T goals in the following categories:
1. SAVING Goal - A goal focused on building savings or investments
2. SPENDING Goal - A goal related to a major purchase or spending plan
3. SHARING Goal - 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
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
- 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
- Address tax implications of your financial goals
- Incorporate relevant tax planning strategies
- Identify potential tax advantages or disadvantages
Module 4: Financial Services
- 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
- 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
- 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
Identify and analyze at least three potential risks associated with your financial goals. For each risk:
- Describe the nature of the risk
- Assess the potential impact on your financial goals
- Outline specific strategies to mitigate or manage the risk
Component 4: Written Reflection
Submit a brief reflection document (1-2 pages, double-spaced) addressing:
- What you learned from creating this portfolio
- How you plan to implement these financial goals in your life
- Areas where you feel you need additional financial education or resources
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