Author: Kevin Smith
Fall 2023 FinLit Challenge #2
Fall 2023FinancialLiteracyChallenge National budgeting and investing contest for schools! Budget Game Stock Game Lessons Financial Literacy Challenge Registration is now open! Challenge Dates October 1 – November 17, 2023 4 Interactive & Fun Features Personal Budget Game Stock Game Built-in Lessons & Pop Quizzes Student & Teacher Prizes Student Prizes 10 10 students from each contest win a $50 Amazon Gift Card The Top 10 … Continue reading Fall 2023 FinLit Challenge #2
Fall 2023 FinLit Challenge
Fall 2023FinancialLiteracyChallenge Nation-Wide investing and budgeting contest for schools! Budget Game Stock Game Lessons Financial Literacy Challenge Registration is now open! Challenge Dates October 1 – November 17, 2023 4 Interactive & Fun Features Personal Budget Game Stock Game Built-in Lessons & Pop Quizzes Student & Teacher Prizes Student Prizes 10 10 students from each contest win a $50 Amazon Gift Card The Top 10 … Continue reading Fall 2023 FinLit Challenge
BofA – UNI- 5 new scams to watch out for now
With more Americans at home and online than ever before, people are increasingly using technology to work, shop and connect socially. However, this new digital reality also provides fraudsters with fresh opportunities to target you. Scams are on the rise, as sophisticated criminals try to capitalize on our changed circumstances. Fortunately, you can protect your financial and personal information by learning about the scams and … Continue reading BofA – UNI- 5 new scams to watch out for now
BofA – Non-Profit – 5 new scams to watch out for now
With more Americans at home and online than ever before, people are increasingly using technology to work, shop and connect socially. However, this new digital reality also provides fraudsters with fresh opportunities to target you. Scams are on the rise, as sophisticated criminals try to capitalize on our changed circumstances. Fortunately, you can protect your financial and personal information by learning about the scams and … Continue reading BofA – Non-Profit – 5 new scams to watch out for now
BofA – HS – 5 new scams to watch out for now
With more Americans at home and online than ever before, people are increasingly using technology to work, shop and connect socially. However, this new digital reality also provides fraudsters with fresh opportunities to target you. Scams are on the rise, as sophisticated criminals try to capitalize on our changed circumstances. Fortunately, you can protect your financial and personal information by learning about the scams and … Continue reading BofA – HS – 5 new scams to watch out for now
BofA – Non-Profit – Students: How to spot 6 common scams
As a student, you have many responsibilities such as studying for exams, holding down a part-time job and handling at least some of your own finances. While you’re doing all this, con artists may also be trying to separate you from your cash. Scammers know students often have hectic schedules and may be new to money management, making you an ideal target. Read this lesson … Continue reading BofA – Non-Profit – Students: How to spot 6 common scams
BofA – HS – Students: How to spot 6 common scams
As a student, you have many responsibilities such as studying for exams, holding down a part-time job and handling at least some of your own finances. While you’re doing all this, con artists may also be trying to separate you from your cash. Scammers know students often have hectic schedules and may be new to money management, making you an ideal target. Read this lesson … Continue reading BofA – HS – Students: How to spot 6 common scams
BofA – UNI – Students: How to spot 6 common scams
As a student, you have many responsibilities such as studying for exams, holding down a part-time job and handling at least some of your own finances. While you’re doing all this, con artists may also be trying to separate you from your cash. Scammers know students often have hectic schedules and may be new to money management, making you an ideal target. Read this lesson … Continue reading BofA – UNI – Students: How to spot 6 common scams
Career Center
Career Center Every student should be thinking about getting a job before they graduate. The Career Center is here to help you find a job. Find job postings, get certifications to help build your resume, build interest from potential employers, and get valuable information on making yourself the best candidate you can be.
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – Chapter 1 Exam
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – Chapter 2 Exam
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – Chapter 3 Exam
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – Chapter 3 Vocab Quiz
Complete the following short vocabulary quiz. Click ‘CONTINUE TO EXAM’ to start the exam for this chapter. Continue To Exam
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – Chapter 2 Vocab Quiz
Complete the following short vocabulary quiz. Click ‘CONTINUE TO EXAM’ to start the exam for this chapter. Continue To Exam
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – Chapter 1 Vocab Quiz
Complete the following short vocabulary quiz. Click ‘CONTINUE TO EXAM’ to start the exam for this chapter. Continue To Exam
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-09 Resources
3-09 Resources Ok new investor, you should be ready to begin. You can now leave the bleachers, put on a uniform, cross the white lines, and play. Stay focused, positive, and realistic. You might not make the Majors right away, but you can enter the investment world armed with solid knowledge, upon which you can expand by practice and repetition at a virtual trading simulation. … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-09 Resources
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-08 Set Goals and Targets
3-08 Set Goals and Targets You should have a “game plan” for your investing life. Just as you plan your workday, vacation, college financing, golf matches, and other areas of your personal and professional life, you need a plan, objective, and goal for your investment activities. Spend some quality time with yourself, thinking about what you really want to accomplish. Stating that you simply want … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-08 Set Goals and Targets
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-07 How to Record Gains and Losses
3-07 How to Record Gains and Losses Unfortunately, when it comes time to file your tax return, the IRS wants to know how much money you made or lost in your brokerage account. Your brokerage firm will even report to the IRS your total proceeds from all of your sales of stocks, but they don’t report your gains and losses. The reason they don’t report … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-07 How to Record Gains and Losses
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-06 Short Selling
3-06 Short Selling So far, we’ve talked about how to make your first trades – buying a stock you think will get more valuable. But what about if you are SURE a stock is about to tank? Wouldn’t it be great if you could make profit in both directions? With short selling, you can! What Is Short Selling? “Selling Short” is a way for an … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-06 Short Selling
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-05 Buying on Margin
3-05 Buying on Margin When you are opening a real brokerage, you will be asked if you want to open a Margin Account. Buying on margin means that you purchase securities using some of your own cash and you take a loan from your broker to complete the purchase. The collateral for the loan is the stocks or cash you already own. The difference between … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-05 Buying on Margin
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-04 Order Terms
3-04 Order Terms Now that you know some of the basic order terms, you can use Limit, Stop, and Trailing Stop orders to start building your portfolio, keeping an eye out for good deals and protecting yourself against loss. But when you go to actually place your order, there is one more option that pops up – “Duration”. “Duration” is also called the “Order Term” … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-04 Order Terms
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-03 Types of Orders-Market, Limit, Stop
3-03 Types of Orders-Market, Limit, Stop Once you have the ticker symbol for the company you wish to trade, you are ready to place your first order. Go to your virtual trading account and you’ll see several options for order type—market, limit, stop, and trailing stop. You have already found the symbol to trade “LUV” and you can enter any quantity of shares to buy. … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-03 Types of Orders-Market, Limit, Stop
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-02 Understanding Stock Quotes
3-02 Understanding Stock Quotes A stock quote gives essential information about a particular stock at a point in time. The quote normally includes information such as the name of the company, the ticker symbol, the price, the day’s high and low prices, and the trading volume. Details Usually when you get a stock quote, you see lots of other information about that company and that … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-02 Understanding Stock Quotes
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-01 How to Look Up a “Ticker Symbol”
3-01 How to Look Up a “Ticker Symbol” The first thing you must understand about trading stocks is that the exchanges have assigned each stock a unique “ticker symbol” for identification purposes. When researching stocks, getting quotes, and placing trades, you usually have to know the ticker symbol. Stock ticker symbols are usually 1 to 5 letters long. (Occasionally they contain a “.” or a … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 3-01 How to Look Up a “Ticker Symbol”
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -3-00 Chapter 3: Making Your First Trade
3-00 Chapter 3: Making Your First Trade Now that we covered the basics of different types of investments and why prices move, it is time to start “Learn by doing” and make your first trades. Best of all, you have your practice brokerage account to use, so you can try out your first investing strategies on real stocks with real prices, but with virtual money! … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -3-00 Chapter 3: Making Your First Trade
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-11 Resources
2-11 Resources Don’t forget to check out a research platform like Zacks so you can compare stocks on your own. Zacks Rank uses a proprietary ranking system to evaluate stocks on a scale from 1 to 5; their #1 Strong Buy stocks have beaten the market in 26 of the 31 years they have been used. Now you should be a bit more familiar with … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-11 Resources
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-10 Buying Individual Stocks Versus Investing in Mutual Funds
2-10 Buying Individual Stocks Versus Investing in Mutual Funds As a newer investor, you should also be aware that you can save some research time by investing in mutual funds instead of individual stocks. Mutual funds contain a mix and diversity of stocks in which you will spread out one investment into many small blocks of shares. Mutual funds and ETFs (exchange traded funds) have … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-10 Buying Individual Stocks Versus Investing in Mutual Funds
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-09 Why Stocks Are a Good Choice to Earn High Returns
2-09 Why Stocks Are a Good Choice For Investing In this course, we generally advocate that stock market investing is an excellent choice to receive consistently high Return on Investment (ROI). This does not mean we think everyone should be “stock picking” – but that stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs generally provide the best return in the long run. Earlier in Chapter 1, we showed … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-09 Why Stocks Are a Good Choice to Earn High Returns
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -2-08 Brokers and How to Choose the Right Ones
2-08 Brokers and How to Choose the Right Ones When you are ready to start buying your own stock, you won’t withdraw some cash from the ATM, head to New York, and look for someone with paper shares to sell. Instead, you would open an account with a stock brokerage, where you will make your trades. What is a Brokerage? Brokerages exist to allow individuals … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -2-08 Brokers and How to Choose the Right Ones
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-07 The Danger of Trying to Time the Market
2-07 The Danger of Trying to Time the Market The mere perception that a market is becoming Bearish is not a predictor of disaster. Fortunes have been made in A prolonged period of pessimism and falling stock prices that seems to feed on itself and generates even more pessimism and even lower stock prices. Bear Markets. The trick is to know when one is coming … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-07 The Danger of Trying to Time the Market
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-06 Bull vs. Bear Markets
Business and economic popular news will often refer to “Bull” or “Bear” markets. You probably already have some idea what this means – “Bull” markets tend to be going up, while “Bear” markets tend to be going down. What is a Bull Market? A “Bull Market” means that investors are optimistic that stock prices are generally increasing, and that the market as a whole is … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-06 Bull vs. Bear Markets
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-05 Market Timing and Moving
2-05 Market Timing and Moving Now that you know what the stock market is and what role the Stock exchanges are simply organizations that allow people the ability to buy and sell stocks. Stock Exchange plays, let’s take a step back and look at how stock prices and the economy move. As you might expect, timing is extremely important in investing because you must learn … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-05 Market Timing and Moving
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-04 Public versus Private Companies & IPOs versus Secondary Market Securities
2-04 Public versus Private Companies & IPOs versus Secondary Market Securities Now that you know what an exchange is, it’s necessary to make a very important distinction between what shares trade on exchanges and what shares don’t. Most companies are private companies and don’t trade on exchanges. The barber shop and the florist on the corner, the guy that cuts your grass, and the plumber … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-04 Public versus Private Companies & IPOs versus Secondary Market Securities
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-03 Other Stock Exchanges
2-03 Other Stock Exchanges In addition to the New York Stock Exchange, there is also the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and NASDAQ. In the past, the NASDAQ was for smaller companies that were just getting started, and it was prestigious for them to move up to the NYSE or AMEX. These smaller companies included a few you might have heard of, like Apple Computer (AAPL),Intel … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-03 Other Stock Exchanges
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-02 A History Lesson – Wall Street
2-02 A History Lesson – Wall Street Wall Street” is a street in New York City, near the southern end of Manhattan Island. It is the home of the New York Stock Exchange, and the biggest center of stock trading and finance in the world. History The first European colony in what we now know as New York was actually dutch – the city’s original … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-02 A History Lesson – Wall Street
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-01 What Are Stock Exchanges?
2-01 What Are Stock Exchanges? In the last lesson, we used a simple example of 10 buyers and 10 sellers who got together in the same room to make trades of one company’s stock. In the real world, there are hundreds of millions of people and companies trading trillions of shares of millions of company’s stocks – getting everyone in the same room would be … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-01 What Are Stock Exchanges?
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-00 Chapter 2
2-00 Chapter 2: How the Stock Market Works and Why It Moves Now that we are introduced to some of the basic types of investments, we can look into how the stock market actually works, and why prices move. To understand the basics of the stock market, we need a quick refresher on some core economics – the laws of Supply and Demand. Supply and … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 2-00 Chapter 2
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-13 Resources
1-13 Resources Congratulations, you are through the first chapter! This is a glossary review and some extra resources for more information before we continue on to the chapter exam. Glossary Bank accounts – a depository account at a bank that acts as a secure way to store your money and withdraw it later. Checking Accounts – a type of bank account you would use for … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-13 Resources
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-12 Recent Performance of Investments
1-12 Recent Performance of Investments Now that we have looked at several different types of investments, we can compare how they have performed over time. In this case, we will pretend we invested $10,000 in Stocks, Gold, Commercial Real Estate, Residential Real Estate, and a Savings Account in January of 2010, and pulled our money out at the end of May, 2021. This is how … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-12 Recent Performance of Investments
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-11 Real Estate
1-11 Real Estate If you are a homeowner, your home is probably where you keep most of your wealth. Everyone hopes to be able to sell their home for more than they paid for it – which means that every homeowner is a real estate investor! “Real Estate Investing” means making money based on buildings or properties. There are four main ways to be a … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-11 Real Estate
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -1-10 Foreign Currency and Foreign Stocks
1-10 Foreign Currency and Foreign Stocks You just got some insider information – Nintendo is about to announce a new Zelda game, coming out on their new console. Gamers are getting pumped up, this is a sure-fire hit. As a savvy investor, you think now might be a good time to invest in Nintendo! But wait, Nintendo is not listed on major US exchanges – … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -1-10 Foreign Currency and Foreign Stocks
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-09 Gold and Other Precious Metals
1-09 Gold and Other Precious Metals When we covered commodities, we mentioned iron and copper, but not Gold and Silver. That is because Precious Metals operate by different rules than other commodities – and are very different to investors. This is because unlike iron or copper, which is just used as inputs for other industry powering the economy, Gold, Silver, Platinum and other precious metals … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-09 Gold and Other Precious Metals
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-08 Commodities
1-08 Commodities So far, we have talked about what the average “retail investor” thinks about when investing – bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. But the world is a big place, and there are bigger ways to invest! Besides the stock market, the biggest investment markets in the world are for commodities – raw materials that form the basis for the economy. What Are … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-08 Commodities
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-07 Bonds
1-07 Bonds Unlike Stocks are “equity investments” which means that individuals that own stock shares of a company actually own part of that company. stocks, which are equity instruments, A debt obligation of a company, the U.S. Treasury Department, or a city where the borrower receives funds (usually in increments of $1,000), makes semi-annual interest payments based on the coupon rate, and eventually repays the … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-07 Bonds
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -1-06 ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds)
01-06 ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) ETFs are a cross between mutual funds and stocks. ETFs are simply a portfolio of stocks or [ts]bonds[tm]A debt obligation of a company, the U.S. Treasury Department, or a city where the borrower receives funds (usually in increments of $1,000), makes semi-annual interest payments based on the coupon rate, and eventually repays the borrowed amount ($1,000) to the lender at the … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -1-06 ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds)
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -1-05 Mutual Funds
1-05 Mutual Funds A mutual fund is a type of investment where a money manager takes your cash and invests it as he sees fit, usually following some rough guidelines. For example, the Fidelity Group has a fund that specializes in finding high dividend paying [ts]stocks[tm]Stocks are “equity investments”, which means that individuals that own stock shares of a company actually own part of that … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW -1-05 Mutual Funds
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-04 Stocks
1-04 Stocks Stocks are “equity investments” which means that when you own shares of a company you own part of that company. For example, if you own 1,000 shares of Apple Computer stock and Apple has 1,000,000 shares that are “issued and outstanding,” then you own 0.1% of the company. If Apple were then to be sold to another company for $50,000,000, then each share … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-04 Stocks
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-03 Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
1-03 Certificates of Deposit (CDs) With a [ts]CD[tm]An investment choice at most banks where you agree to deposit a specific amount of money for a fixed period of time (this is called the maturity). By agreeing to keep your money at the bank for a certain length of time, the bank usually pays you an interest rate higher than savings and Money Market accounts.[te], you … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-03 Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 01-02 Basic Bank Accounts
01-02 Basic Bank Accounts Bank accounts are issued by banks, credit unions, and savings & loan institutions as a secure way to store your money and make it easily accessible later (without carrying around all your cash everywhere you go). If you are sitting with your first $500, you usually have two options for accounts: a Savings Account, or a Checking Account. Before we get … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 01-02 Basic Bank Accounts
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-00 Chapter 1
1-00 Chapter 1: Introduction To Investing Whether you have $1,000 or $1,000,000 in savings, education is the key to empowering yourself to take charge of your financial future. In this course you will learn about the different broad investment choices you have available. Specifically, you will learn how the stock market works, how to evaluate stocks, bonds and options and how to build and manage … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-00 Chapter 1
Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-01 Understanding Investment Choices
1-01 Understanding Investment Choices The first time Tiger Woods grabbed a golf club he couldn’t hit the ball perfectly straight 300 yards and the first time Michael Jordan touched a basketball he couldn’t dunk it, so don’t think that you will be able to earn a 100% return in the first year. Before Tiger could hit a golf ball 300 yards, he had to learn … Continue reading Inv101 – WSS/HTMW – 1-01 Understanding Investment Choices
Basic Research and Comparing Stocks
How to conduct basic investing research and buy your first stock
BOA – Buying a Car Non-Profit
Buying a car? Here are the key terms to know about auto loans Buying a car can leave you feeling like auto dealers are speaking a whole new language when they talk about things like a down payment, depreciation, direct lending or dealer financing. Follow this map to understand these terms and learn how financing a car can impact your budget. Check out this infographic, … Continue reading BOA – Buying a Car Non-Profit
BOA – Buying a Car College
Buying a car? Here are the key terms to know about auto loans Buying a car can leave you feeling like auto dealers are speaking a whole new language when they talk about things like a down payment, depreciation, direct lending or dealer financing. Follow this map to understand these terms and learn how financing a car can impact your budget. Check out this infographic, … Continue reading BOA – Buying a Car College
BOA – Buying a Car HS
Buying a car? Here are the key terms to know about auto loans Buying a car can leave you feeling like auto dealers are speaking a whole new language when they talk about things like a down payment, depreciation, direct lending or dealer financing. Follow this map to understand these terms and learn how financing a car can impact your budget. Check out this infographic, … Continue reading BOA – Buying a Car HS
BOA – Balance Family Savings Non-Profit
How to balance your family’s savings priorities Saving for one is hard enough, but family savings multiply the challenge. You have short-term desires versus long-term goals, plus unexpected expenses that can pop up regularly. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Balance Family Savings College
How to balance your family’s savings priorities Saving for one is hard enough, but family savings multiply the challenge. You have short-term desires versus long-term goals, plus unexpected expenses that can pop up regularly. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Balance Family Savings HS
How to balance your family’s savings priorities Saving for one is hard enough, but family savings multiply the challenge. You have short-term desires versus long-term goals, plus unexpected expenses that can pop up regularly. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
ClimbUSA – What is a Dividend
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ClimbUSA – Racial Wealth
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Financial Literacy Post-Test
Financial Literacy Post-Test Before the game finishes – there is one last quiz to take: the Financial Literacy Post-Test. This will help show what you’ve learned over the course of the game.
BOA – Lessons Complete! Non-Profit
Lessons Complete! Congratulations, you have finished all the lessons in the Financial Life Simulation! We hope you have enjoyed using the Financial Life Simulation Tool. If you any have questions about a particular bank product or service, be sure to do your research and make informed choices. Bank of America and Northeastern University are not recommending or endorsing any specific product or service to the users … Continue reading BOA – Lessons Complete! Non-Profit
BOA – Documents you need to do your taxes Non-Profit
Documents you need to do your taxes Taxpayers spend 12 hours on average preparing their tax returns, according to IRS estimates. Yet, you can save time, cut back on stress and have an overall easier experience by gathering the documents you’ll need before it’s time to dive in. Check out this infographic, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – This way to a home of your own Non-Profit
This way to a home of your own If it’s your first time buying a home, this guide shows the steps for making one of the most important purchases of your life Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Buying a home within your comfort zone Non-Profit
Buying a home within your comfort zone Before you go hunting for a home, it’s important to calculate a comfortable mortgage payment Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – 9 questions to ask mortgage lenders Non-Profit
9 questions to ask mortgage lenders Knowing what to ask could save you money in the long run. Read this short lesson and return here for a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Buy vs Lease Non-Profit
The pros and cons of buying vs. renting a home Wondering if you should rent or buy? Understanding all the costs that go into renting or buying a home will set you up to make the right decisions for you. Watch this video, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Delaying student loan repayment with deferment or forbearance Non-Profit
Delaying student loan repayment with deferment or forbearance If you’re in a situation where you simply don’t have the income to repay a loan, you may be able to put off the repayments until things change. Watch this video to learn more, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – 3 car questions Non-Profit
Shopping for a car? 3 questions that need answers When you need a new car, the decisions you make on three important issues will help determine your monthly payments and how much you pay for the car overall. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue! Tip: Check Question 2 for a breakdown!
BOA – New or Used Car Non-Profit
Comparing the cost of new and used cars Choosing between buying a new or used car may not be as simple as it seems. Find out what matters beyond simple sticker price. Watch this video, then return here for a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Employee Benefits Non-Profit
New job? Make the most of your employee benefits HS New jobs bring new names, faces and responsibilities. In the rush of acclimating to the work environment, you might overlook details like direct deposit forms, insurance coverage and retirement plans. But it’s important to make the most of all your new job’s benefits—from Flexible Spending Accounts to tuition reimbursement programs to 401(k) plans. To help … Continue reading BOA – Employee Benefits Non-Profit
BOA – Balance Transfer Non-Profit
What is a balance transfer and how does it work? A balance transfer moves a balance from a credit card or loan to another credit card. Transferring balances with a higher annual percentage rate (APR) to a card with a lower APR can save you money on the interest you’ll pay. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – How many credit cards should you have? Non-Profit
How many credit cards should you have? These days, having multiple credit cards is common—but is it a good idea? Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – What is APR? Non-Profit
What is APR? You may have seen the term APR, or annual percentage rate, used in reference to everything from mortgages and auto loans to credit cards. Understanding how banks calculate APRs and how they work can help you make more informed credit card decisions. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – 4 strategies to pay off credit card debt faster Non-Profit
4 strategies to pay off credit card debt faster If you carry credit card balances month to month, paying off that debt fast might be easier than you think. The key is developing a good plan and sticking to it. These four strategies can help you decide which course to take to quickly pay off any credit card debt. Read this short lesson, then return … Continue reading BOA – 4 strategies to pay off credit card debt faster Non-Profit
BOA – What is a credit score and how is it calculated? Non-Profit
What is a credit score and how is it calculated? Your credit score affects many areas of your financial life, from getting approved for a credit card to the interest rate you’ll pay on your mortgage. It’s important to understand the number and how it is calculated so you can set yourself up for financial success. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer … Continue reading BOA – What is a credit score and how is it calculated? Non-Profit
BOA – Healthy Credit Non-Profit
Building credit and keeping yours healthy Building good credit takes work, but it can be done. Find out five things you can do to build a healthy credit score while avoiding the pitfalls. Watch this video then return here for a quiz question to continue!
BOA – How to build credit from scratch Non-Profit
How to build credit from scratch With some solid first steps and a focus on paying your bills on time, you’ll be on your way to building a solid credit score. Watch this video and return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Tips for planning an affordable vacation Non-Profit
Tips for planning an affordable vacation A vacation offers much-needed relaxation and fun, but if you’re not careful, your travel budget can spiral out of control. Thankfully, you can find ways to save in your vacation budget by being smart about flight and hotel discounts, meal costs and more. Check out this infographic, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Debunking the myths: 7 facts about credit cards Non-Profit
Debunking the myths: 7 facts about credit cards Does paying less than the minimum count as a missed payment? Should you avoid having a high credit limit? Knowing the facts can help you make smart choices. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Pay down debt or save? 5 questions to help you decide Non-Profit
Pay down debt or save? 5 questions to help you decide You probably know that carrying too much debt for too long isn’t good for your finances. And you may also know that you should have money put away for emergencies and other important goals. So how do you decide what’s more important—paying down debt or building up your savings? Read this short lesson, then … Continue reading BOA – Pay down debt or save? 5 questions to help you decide Non-Profit
BOA – 10 online and mobile security tips Non-Profit
10 online and mobile security tips We’re living our lives online—from banking to shopping to posting on social media—and proper internet security is more important than ever. While it may seem obvious, safeguarding your information can be as simple as consistently reviewing your bank accounts and reporting any suspicious activity. But there are other things you also can do to stay safer online. Read this … Continue reading BOA – 10 online and mobile security tips Non-Profit
BOA – Emergency cash: What are your options? Non-Profit
Emergency cash: What are your options? When financial difficulties arise, you may need money fast. If you don’t have an emergency fund or other savings to tap into, you may feel as if there are no good options. By carefully weighing your choices, you can make sure you secure the best possible terms for your situation, with the least risk. Read this short lesson, then return here … Continue reading BOA – Emergency cash: What are your options? Non-Profit
BOA – 8 simple ways to save money Non-Profit
8 simple ways to save money Sometimes the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. This step-by-step guide can help you develop a simple and realistic strategy, so that you can save for all your short- and long-term goals. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Savings account or CD: Which is right for you? Non-Profit
Savings account or CD: Which is right for you? Have money to set aside and save for your short- and long-term goals? Savings accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs) are two great options. Both help keep your money safe while giving you the chance to earn interest. Break them down to figure out what’s right for you. Check out this infographic and return here to … Continue reading BOA – Savings account or CD: Which is right for you? Non-Profit
BOA – 7 common bank fees explained Non-Profit
7 common bank fees explained If you’ve ever felt like your bank charged you for something and you didn’t see it coming, this list is for you. Here’s a rundown of seven of the most common fees banks charge—and tips to avoid them. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Your bank account: 10 questions to ask Non-Profit
Your bank account: 10 questions to ask What looks on paper like a no-fee or low-cost account may not actually be the one that’s best suited to your needs. Here are 10 questions to ask to help figure out if your account is right for you. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue! Tip: Check the 9th point … Continue reading BOA – Your bank account: 10 questions to ask Non-Profit
BOA – 8 tips for getting the most out of your checking account Non-Profit
8 tips for getting the most out of your checking account A checking account is probably the account you’ll use most often every day to pay bills, access cash, transfer funds and probably to deposit your paycheck. Whether you’re paying tuition at school or setting up direct deposit for your first job, knowing a few tips can help you manage your money and get the … Continue reading BOA – 8 tips for getting the most out of your checking account Non-Profit
BOA – Credit vs. debit: What’s the difference? Non-Profit
Credit vs. debit: What’s the difference? Credit and debit cards may look similar, but their features and uses are very different. Knowing when and how to use each can help you build a stronger credit history and keep your debt levels down. Read this short lesson, then return here to answer a quiz question to continue!
BOA – Options for people who don’t like to budget Non-Profit
Options for people who don’t like to budget Creating a budget may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Learn about the tools and techniques that can help simplify budgeting and help you reach your financial goals. After watching this short video about tips on making it easier to set a budget, then return here and answer a quiz question to … Continue reading BOA – Options for people who don’t like to budget Non-Profit