FIN - Finance

A study of the four functions of managerial finance: the capital budgeting decision process, capital structure decision process, evaluation and control of long-range financial decisions, and working capital management. The impact of these financial decisions on the firm's risk level is analyzed. Prerequisite: BUS-100 and ACC-201 or Admission to the CAPS BSA or BSBA program.

A general course dealing with the problems of the consumer in the American economic system; a practical study of personal consumption, buying habits, health and medical care, and housing; an introduction to investment; an introduction to insurance. No prerequisite.

During this course students will learn to interpret financial statements used to make informed business decisions while demonstrating a working knowledge of financial markets, institutions, and investment banking. Financial assets will be evaluated from a biblical perspective as the student integrates the time value of money, risk return considerations, and the cost of capital into capital investment decisions and capital budgeting.

The student will evaluate accounting and financial statements from a leadership perspective and biblical worldview. Through the lens of leadership decision making, the student will learn how accounting data is generated and processed and how operational and capital budgets as well as financial markets affect company success in the marketplace.

A study of the investment alternatives available to individual and institutional investors. Emphasis is placed on stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and money market securities. The student's risk preferences and the risk level of investment alternatives a reanalyzed. Prerequisites: FIN-210 and Admission to the Business Division.

This course introduces students to the varied ownership and leasehold interests available in real estate. In addition, students are introduced to mechanisms which are used to handle the legal issues associated with real estate; methods for marketing real estate; approaches available for the financing of real estate; and the systems used for managing real estate assets. The keys to successful negotiation are integrated throughout the course. The emphasis is on residential real estate, but commercial real estate development is covered as well. Prerequisites: FIN-210 and Admission to the Business Division.

An opportunity for advanced students to obtain valuable work experience and gain expertise in relating classroom material to actual business endeavor. A professional-quality paper analyzing one or more business applications will be prepared under departmental faculty supervision. Prerequisites: FIN-210 and Admission to the Business Division.

Service-Learning is an educational experience in which students participate in organized service activities that meet identified community and/or university needs. Prerequisite: Admission to the Business Division

The course introduces the principles of financial planning. The student will learn the financial planning process, how to analyze a client's situation, create financial and cash flow statements, and develop an appropriate strategy within a financial plan, via a case study written for this course. Additional topics include learning the CFP Code of Ethics, the role of financial institutions and their services, financing strategies, economic concepts, and the impact of business and consumer protection law. Throughout this course, the student will integrate biblical wisdom and the Virtuous Business Model into a review of personal financial planning.

The course incorporates a unique case situation to learn how the foundations of risk management impact the financial planning process. The student will analyze and evaluate risk exposure to develop strategic solutions for health care cost management, disability income insurance, long-term care insurance, life insurance, taxation of life insurance, business uses of insurance, insurance needs analysis, and insurance company and policy selection. Throughout this course, a biblical perspective of risk management will be applied.

The course incorporates a unique case to learn the investment planning process. Students use various quantitative measures to analyze and evaluate the characteristics, returns, and risks of investment vehicles, client portfolios' formulation, and diversification to recommend sound investment strategiess. Throughout the course, the student will develop a comprehensive, biblical perspective of investing. The student will also evaluate and apply the Virtuous Business Model to their career in financial planning.

This course incorporates a unique case situation to learn the income tax system for individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities. The student will review income tax law fundamentals and calculations, tax compliance, income taxation of trusts and estates, basis, tax reduction management techniques, and charitable contribution rules to develop sound tax plans for clients. Additional topics include the Alternate Minimum Tax, passive activity, at-risk rules, business entity selection and the tax implications of special circumstances. Throughout this course students apply biblical principles to income tax planning.

The course incorporates a unique case situation to analyze client retirement and benefit needs and the impact of social security to recommend strategic solutions. The student will differentiate between retirement plans, evaluate the rules and tax implications of retirement plans, recommend retirement plans for businesses, and select suitable client investments. Additional topics include regulatory considerations, distribution rules and taxation, retirement income and distribution strategies, and business succession planning. Throughout this course, the student will develop a comprehensive, biblical perspective of retirement and benefits planning.

This course synthesizes the principles and practices of financial planning. Students create and present a comprehensive financial plan for a unique case situation that considers the fundamentals of financial planning, risk management, income tax, retirement, employee benefits, investment, and estate planning. Creating and presenting a comprehensive financial plan is a requirement to take the CFP exam. Students will also integrate biblical principles of leadership, discipleship, stewardship, decision-making, question-asking, and goal-setting involved in the financial planning process. Prerequisite: FIN-420

This course incorporates a unique case situation to learn estate planning. The student will consider property titling mechanisms, tax implications, sources of estate liquidity, types, features and taxation of trusts, wealth transfer strategies, gift and estate tax compliance, and postmortem estate planning techniques to create an estate plan. Throughout the course, the student will develop a comprehensive, biblical perspective of wealth within the context of estate planning and wealth transfer.

An examination of additional investment alternatives available to individual and institutional investors including options, futures, and convertible securities. Technical analysis and portfolio management theory are examined. Prerequisites: ACC-201, ACC-202, BUS-100, ECO-211, ECO-212, FIN-340, and the appropriate major area gateway course(s).

An examination of capital budgeting under uncertainty, the capital asset pricing model, lease versus buy decisions, and mergers and acquisitions. The impact of these financial decisions on the firm's risk level is analyzed. Prerequisites: FIN-210 and Admission to the Business Division.

This course is designed to move beyond a basic understanding of investment vehicles and focuses on using these vehicles in the area of financial planning for the present as well as for the future. Retirement and estate planning, legal considerations of investment vehicles, and an in depth understanding of various investment classes are only a few of the topics considered. A student who successfully completes this class should be well prepared to take the Series 7 brokerage licensing examination. Prerequisites: FIN-330 and Admission to the Business Division.

An opportunity for advanced students to pursue further study in a finance field of interest in which they have exhausted catalog offerings. Prerequisites: FIN-210 and Admission to the Business Division.

A seminar course intended to develop the senior finance major's professional presentation skills as he/she prepares and delivers the results of the research in FIN-498 from the previous semester. Prerequisite: FIN-498.