Personal Financial Planning and Investment for People Living in China
Intensive and in-depth course (suitable for beginner to intermediate-level students)
Taught by Reecha Goyal.  Click here for Reecha's profile.

Would you like to feel more confident in the financial decisions you make?  Whether you want to invest on your own or work more effectively with your financial advisor, this course will demystify financial and accounting jargon, provide strategies for setting achievable goals, and identify sound financial advice.  You will also learn to assess risk as it pertains to asset allocation, manage cash flows, evaluate your insurance needs, and explore the essentials of retirement, education, and estate planning.  The course will cover how to value stocks and bonds and manage a portfolio, as well as evaluate alternative investments like real estate and hedge funds.  We will also cover the basics of mutual funds, tax efficiency, the psychology of investing and the market impact of economic events and trends.  And because you live in China, the course will touch on the opportunities and risks of investing in Chinese markets and the potential for offshore structures.  The goal of this course is to offer a straight-forward and unbiased introduction to personal finance to help you formulate or revise your overall approach to personal finance and make the most of your money.

Course Structure

Introduction to Financial Planning, Investment Fundamentals
Valuation of Net worth, Time value of money, Protect your wealth
Mutual Funds, Bonds, NAV Computation, Portfolio Management
Principles of Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Managing Risk
Basic of Retirement Planning, Estimating Retirement needs
Fundamentals of security market and Technical analysis of Security Market
Understanding about currencies, Commodity and gold market
Derivatives, Futures, Options and Swaps
Banking with regard to Investments

Course Details:

1. Investment Fundamentals
Time 2.5 hrs
This course explains to users how to get a general picture of their personal financial situations and begin the process of investing.  There will be a real life project to have clarity on financial terms.

OBJECTIVES:
* Make plans for financial goals
* Balance diversification and risk
* Make budget plans for investment funds
* Understand Inflation

TOPICS:
* Making Realistic Plans
* Maximizing Small Savings
* Managing Risk
* Diversification
* Starting Out Slowly
* Checking Up on Yourself


2. Concepts and Modes of Analysis
Time 2.5 hrs

* What is Simple Interest?
* What is Compound Interest?
* What do you mean by time value of money?
* Present Value and Future Value
* Annuities
* Risk Management


3. Mutual Funds and Bonds
Time 2.5 hrs
This course explains how to choose and invest in Mutual funds and Bonds

OBJECTIVES:
* Distinguish between types of funds
* Analyze mutual funds
* Choose mutual funds
* Buy and sell shares in mutual funds

TOPICS:
* Introducing Mutual Funds
* what is NAV
* Stock Funds
* Bond Funds
* Analyzing Mutual Funds
* Fund Evaluations and Online Research
* Choosing a Mutual Fund
* Reviewing Fund Investing


4. Advanced Investment Fundamentals
Time 5 hrs

* Study of Income Statement
* Study of Balance sheet
  - Use of Common size analysis of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet to understand the business strategies that a company is employing.
  - Use horizontal analysis to determine if a given company's performance is within industry standards.
  - Calculate trend percent to reveal patterns in a company's financial information, given a scenario.
* Ratio Analysis
Liquidity – Use liquidity ratio (Current and Quick) analysis to interpret financial information about a company.
Investment/shareholders – information to enable decisions to be made on the extent of the risk and the earning potential of a business investment
Gearing – information on the relationship between the exposure of the business to loans as opposed to share capital
Profitability – how effective the firm is at generating profits given sales and or its capital assets
Financial – the rate at which the company sells its stock and the efficiency with which it uses its assets


5. Stocks
Time 5 hrs
This course explains how to choose and invest in stocks.

OBJECTIVES:
* Explain the benefits of buying stocks
* Describe the major stock markets
* Distinguish between the types of stocks available
* Choose stock candidates
* Understand the risk of trading in stock
* Trade stocks

TOPICS:
* Introducing Stocks and Stock Market
* Different products in the stock market
* Learning the Types of Stocks
* Getting Started
* Reading the Stock Pages
* Trading Stocks


6. Life Insurance & Retirement Planning
Time 1.5 hrs
This course explains how to prepare for the future with solid investing strategies for retirement planning and insurance coverage.

OBJECTIVES:
* Invest for retirement
* Choose a life insurance policy
* Choose disability insurance

TOPICS:
* Different stages of lifecycle
* Planning for Retirement
* Life Insurance
* Disability Insurance

This course provides an introduction to long-term investment strategy.


7. General Insurance, Real Estate and Banking
Time 1.5 hrs
This course explains about Medical and Health Insurance.  It will cover estate planning and principles of consumer banking& Introduction to online banking.

OBJECTIVES:
* Study the importance of Medical Insurance
* Home Insurance
* Define the most commonly-used estate planning terms
* Explain how interest rates work
* Negotiate better rates on accounts and loans
* Choose the best checking account
* Explain the advantages of online banking

TOPICS:
* Understanding Checking Accounts
* Avoiding Fees and Service Charges
* Understanding Rates
* Considering Banking Options
* What Is an Estate?


8. Derivatives, Futures and Options
Time 4.5 hrs

Overview:
This course introduces the learner about the Derivative products most notably Forwards, Futures and options which were used in ancient time to cover the risk against fluctuation in commodity prices.  However since their emergence, these products have become very popular known as financial derivatives.

Lesson:
Introduction to Derivatives
Understanding the Index number and Construction of Index Numbers
Type of Indexes
Forward Contracts
Introduction to Futures and Options
Difference between trading securities and trading futures on individual securities
Strategies of Hedging and Arbitrage
Contract specification for Index and Stock Futures
Contract specification for Index and Stock Options
Black-Scholes Option Pricing


For each class, we will have an assignment at the end of the class to be discussed in the next class and there will be a quiz on the assignment discussed.

Course Title: Personal Finance
Tuition Fee: RMB 3200
Materials Fee: RMB 200

Spring Session 2013: March 3rd to May 6th

Section A: Monday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from March 4th to May 6th (Course Code: PF103)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section B: Sunday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from March 3rd to May 5th (Course Code: PF104)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Fall Session 2013: October 13th to December 16th

Section A: Monday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)
10 weeks from October 14th to December 16th (Course Code: PF103)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section B: Sunday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)
10 weeks from October 13th to December 15th (Course Code: PF104)
Location: ELC Learning Center

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE

Registration Procedure:
First register online to reserve your place.  You will receive a confirmation email with further details and instructions.  Payment must be made on site at the ELC Learning Center during the payment dates shown below (you can come in person or send someone).

Tuition fee payment for the Fall Session 2013 will take place Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, September 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th.  The payment hours are 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Payments will be received in the Registration Office at the ELC Learning Center.  Payment must be received on time to complete your enrollment and maintain your reservation in the class(es) for which you have registered.

Register early to reserve your place, as many classes fill up quickly.  If the course for which you are registered does not reach the minimum enrollment requirement, you will be notified of the cancellation before the payment dates.  As such, we receive payments only for courses which are proceeding as scheduled.  Please note, we do not offer trial lessons or discounts of any kind.  Refund Policy: No refunds will be issued after the start of the term.