Chapter 1 Overview of a Financial Plan

1.1 How You Benefit from Personal Finance

1) Most Americans will never be able to understand and develop a personal financial plan.
Answer: FALSE

2) The simple objective of financial planning is to make the best use of your resources to achieve
your financial goals.
Answer: TRUE

3) An understanding of personal finance is not necessary to judge the quality of advice that a
financial adviser may give.
Answer: FALSE

4) The first step in budgeting is to evaluate your current financial position by looking at just your
income and expenses.
Answer: FALSE

5) The value of what you own minus the value of what you owe is called your net worth.
Answer: TRUE

6) An example of an opportunity cost is the wages that you could have earned but did not
because you were in class.
Answer: TRUE

7) Various government agencies have conducted surveys that show most people have a good
understanding of personal finance.
Answer: FALSE

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8) A good understanding of the financial planning process will allow you to make informed
decisions without relying on the advice of financial advisers.
Answer: FALSE

9) A thorough understanding of this personal finance book qualifies you to become a financial
adviser.
Answer: FALSE

10) In the United States the level of savings is about

A) 50% of income earned.
B) 25% of income earned.
C) 4.5% of income earned.
D) less than 1% of income earned.
Answer: C

11) Personal finance does not include the process of planning your
A) spending.
B) financing.
C) investing.
D) spirituality.
Answer: D

12) Which item is not one of the components of a personal financial plan?
A) Setting aside money for season tickets to your favorite football team
B) Investing your money
C) Planning your retirement
D) Budgeting
Answer: A

13) A personal financial plan specifies financial goals and describes

A) saving, investing, and asset valuation.
B) spending, saving, and credit card financing.
C) spending, financing, and investment plans.
D) saving and spending only.
Answer: C

14) Opportunity cost refers to

A) money needed for major consumer purchases.
B) what you give up or forego as a result of making a decision.
C) the amount paid for taxes when a purchase is made.
D) evaluating different alternatives for financial decisions.
Answer: B

15) Which of the following is an example of an opportunity cost?

A) Renting an apartment near school
B) Taking a class instead of working at your part-time job
C) Setting aside money for paying income tax
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D) Purchasing automobile insurance
Answer: B

16) All of the following are true with regard to the demand for financial advisers except
A) many people lack an understanding of personal finance.
B) many people prefer to rely on advisers rather than making their own decision.
C) many people are just not interested in making their own financial decisions.
D) the law requires that you use advisers before making investments.
Answer: D

17) "Big spenders" focus their budgeting decisions on

A) reducing expenses.
B) increasing income.
C) spending most of their income.
D) saving most of their income.
Answer: C

18) "Big savers" focus their budget decisions on

A) reducing expenses.
B) increasing income.
C) spending most of their income.
D) saving most of their income.
Answer: D

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19) Which of the following is not an asset?
A) Your house that you rent
B) Your car that you financed
C) Your coin collection given to you by your grandfather
D) Your textbooks
Answer: A

20) Which of the following items is not a liability?

A) The balance due on your credit card
B) Your college loans
C) The wages you give up to take a class
D) An IOU to your roommate
Answer: C

21) A measure of your wealth is

A) the highest level of education you've attained.
B) the amount of your annual income.
C) the value of what you own minus the value of what you owe.
D) your tax bracket.
Answer: C

22) Which of the following is not a financing decision?

A) Should you buy Apple stock with savings
B) Should you lease a car
C) Should you take a loan and buy a car
D) Should you take a 15 or 30 year mortgage to buy a house
Answer: A

23) Which of these statements is true with regards to the 2008-2009 financial crisis?
A) More than half of the people in the United States lost their jobs.
B) The values of many homes were cut in half or more.
C) The values of most investments declined by no more than 10%.
D) Having a financial plan is of no help when economic conditions are as weak as they were
during the crisis.
Answer: B

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24) Which of the following is an example of an opportunity cost?
A) Depositing money into a savings account so you will be able to pay cash for holiday gifts
B) Buying a car which depletes your savings
C) Giving up going to a movie in order to study for your finance exam
D) Purchasing a new computer
Answer: C

25) Josh has decided to take a course at the local community college that could help him get a
promotion at work. The course begins at 5 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m. on Monday nights. Josh
normally works until 5 p.m. each day, but because of the drive time to the community college, he
will need to leave work at 3 p.m. on class days. Josh currently earns $18.50 per hour. His
employer contributes 10% of Josh's gross earnings to a 401(k) retirement plan. If the class meets
16 times, what is Josh's total opportunity cost for the class?
A) $592.00
B) $800.00
C) $651.20
D) None
Answer: C
Explanation: C) 2 hours × $18.50 = $37.00 × 10%+ $3.70; $37.00 + $3.70 = $40.70/class × 16
classes = $651.20

26) A worker making $20 per hour decides to take a day of unpaid leave from work to attend a
graduation ceremony. The worker ordinarily works and 8-hour day and is subjected to a total tax
rate of 20%. What is the worker's total opportunity cost from the day of unpaid leave?
A) $8.00
B) $128.00
C) $112.00
D) $160.00
Answer: B
Explanation: B) $160 × 5% = $8; $160 × 70% = $112; $112 + $8 = $120

27) The wages that you forego when you leave work early to attend class are an example of a(n)
________.
Answer: opportunity cost

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28) Amanda has cash of $100, a car worth $5,000, and books worth $200. Her liabilities include
a car loan of $2,000 and a credit card balance of $100. What is the total of her assets, liabilities,
and net worth?
Answer: Assets of $5,300, liabilities of $2,100, and a net worth of $3,200.

1.2 Components of a Financial Plan

1) A complete financial plan consists of budgeting, taxes, financing, and investing.

Answer: FALSE

2) If you do not have access to money to cover cash needs, you may have insufficient liquidity.
Answer: TRUE

3) Liquidity cannot be enhanced using sound money and credit management.

Answer: FALSE

4) Money management decisions include deciding how much credit to obtain to support your
spending and what sources of credit to use.
Answer: FALSE

5) Credit should be used only when necessary, since it usually involves borrowed funds that you
will need to pay back with interest.
Answer: TRUE

6) Your financial plan should include a plan for protecting your assets and income through
insurance coverage.
Answer: TRUE

7) One of the considerations that determines your investment choices is the level of risk you are
willing to tolerate.
Answer: TRUE

8) People do not need to determine how much money to set aside for retirement and how those
funds should be invested until they near their retirement age.
Answer: FALSE

9) Effective estate planning will ensure that your wealth is distributed according to your wishes,
but will do nothing to reduce the potential taxes your estate is subject to.
Answer: FALSE

10) Retirement planning should begin

A) as early as possible in order that you accumulate sufficient funds for retirement.
B) as soon as you start working full time.
C) a few years before you plan on retiring.
D) you do not need to plan since social security and your firm's pension will be sufficient.
Answer: A

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11) A complete financial plan includes all of the following except
A) managing liquidity.
B) budgeting and tax planning.
C) investing money.
D) spiritual training.
Answer: D

12) ________ is the process of forecasting future expenses and savings.

A) Budgeting
B) Planning
C) Predicting
D) Fortune-telling
Answer: A

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13) ________ involves having access to funds to cover any short-term cash deficiencies.
A) Investment
B) Money
C) Liquidity
D) Risk
Answer: C

14) ________ management involves decisions regarding how much money to retain in a liquid
form and how to allocate funds among short-term investment instruments.
A) Investment
B) Money
C) Credit
D) Liquidity
Answer: B

15) ________ management involves decisions regarding how much credit you need to support
spending and which sources of credit to use.
A) Investment
B) Money
C) Credit
D) Liquidity
Answer: C

16) Which of the following is a credit management decision?

A) Purchasing a used car with cash
B) Investing your savings in the stock market
C) Obtaining a student loan to attend college
D) Putting money into your retirement account
Answer: C

17) Which of the following is an example of money management?

A) Putting your money in a savings account at your bank
B) Shopping around for the credit card with the best interest rate
C) Deciding to delay buying a new car until you can pay cash
D) Paying off a loan early to reduce the interest charges
Answer: A

18) A plan for ________ is needed to determine how much you could afford to borrow, the
length of the loan, and how to select a loan that charges competitive interest rates.
A) buying
B) financing
C) spending
D) saving
Answer: B

19) Which of the following is not a way that insurance is designed to protect your wealth?
A) Protecting the assets that you own
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B) Limiting your exposure to potential liabilities
C) Protecting your income
D) Protecting your investments from downturns in the stock market
Answer: D

20) What is the core purpose of buying insurance?

A) Protect your wealth and assets
B) Make sure you make money on any claim
C) Insurance is an expense a careful investor needs to minimize
D) Make sure you leave an estate when you are gone
Answer: A

21) Which of the following does not protect your assets and/or income?
A) Money insurance
B) Disability insurance
C) Automobile insurance
D) Life and health insurance
Answer: A

22) Potential investments include all of the following instruments except

A) stocks and bonds.
B) mutual funds.
C) real estate.
D) lottery tickets.
Answer: D

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23) Which of the following would not be considered an investment?
A) A new television set
B) An art collection
C) A savings account
D) A mutual fund of stocks and bonds
Answer: A

24) Retirement planning should take place

A) when you retire.
B) shortly after you retire.
C) well before you retire.
D) at any time.
Answer: C

25) From a financial standpoint when should a person start retirement planning and saving?
A) When he or she first starts receiving a salary
B) At 45-50 years of age
C) At 50-55 years of age
D) At 55-60 years of age
Answer: A

26) Estate planning

A) protects your wealth against unnecessary taxes.
B) shelters your wealth against all taxes.
C) ensures that your wealth is distributed in the manner that the court determines.
D) involves saving to purchase a large country estate.
Answer: A

27) The act of determining how wealth will be distributed before or upon death is
A) estate planning.
B) retirement planning.
C) not needed for most people.
D) liquidity planning.
Answer: A

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28) ________ is the uncertainty surrounding the potential return on an investment.
Answer: Risk

29) Your ability to access funds to cover any short-term cash deficiencies is your ________.
Answer: liquidity

30) During his ________ your Uncle Harvey decides to cut you out of his will.
Answer: estate planning

31) Most investments are subject to ________, which is the uncertainty surrounding their
potential return.
Answer: risk

32) List the six components of a financial plan.

Answer: (a) Budgeting and tax planning
(b) Managing liquidity
(c) Financing your large purchases
(d) Protecting your assets and income
(e) Investing your money
(f) Planning your retirement and estate

1.3 How Financial Plan Decisions Affect Your Cash Flows

1) The major source of cash outflow for most people is the income they receive from employers.
Answer: FALSE

2) Which of the following is not a decision that you would probably encounter in managing your
budget?
A) What expenses you should anticipate
B) How much money you should attempt to save each month
C) How you will allocate your estate among your heirs
D) How long you will take to pay off a specific loan
Answer: C

3) The first step in developing your financial plan is

A) establish your financial goals.
B) pay off all your credit cards.
C) buy a cool car then begin saving money.
D) get a good job.
Answer: A

4) Budgeting helps set goals by estimating ________ on a monthly basis to determine how much
to save and spend.
A) assets and income
B) liabilities and expenses
C) income and expenses
D) net worth and income
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Answer: C

5) A budget does not

A) require thinking and planning.
B) require an evaluation of your current financial position.
C) help you account for all your income and expenses.
D) require the preparation of a will.
Answer: D

6) When estimating expenses for a budget,

A) last month's and last year's expenses are not a good starting point.
B) many of the same expenses do not occur each month.
C) large unusual expenses such as car or hospital bills should be included.
D) estimating your future assets is a good starting point.
Answer: C

7) If your income exceeds the amount you spend, you should ________ your investments or
________ loans.
A) reduce; repay existing
B) reduce; obtain more
C) increase; repay existing
D) increase; obtain more
Answer: C

8) To increase your savings,

A) income must be increased.
B) expenses must be increased.
C) income must be decreased.
D) net worth must be decreased.
Answer: A

9) Which of the following would not be a factor in evaluating your current financial position?
A) Income
B) Expenses
C) Possible lottery winnings
D) Assets
Answer: C

10) Your net worth will not be increased by which of the following actions?
A) Increasing your savings from 10% to 15% of your earnings
B) Receiving a $100 birthday present from your grandmother
C) Buying a new home entertainment system and putting the entire amount on your credit card
D) Receiving an inheritance
Answer: C

11) The income in your budget is not affected by

A) your education.
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B) your career decisions.
C) the tax laws.
D) the standard of living you experienced as a child.
Answer: D

12) Which of the following is not a decision involved in managing your liquidity?
A) Deciding how much money to keep in savings
B) Choosing between credit cards
C) Determining how much money to save versus how much to spend
D) Building and maintaining a monthly/yearly budget with allocations to expenses and
investments
Answer: B

13) Which of the following is not a decision involved in managing your financing?
A) Whether to obtain a 3 year versus 4 year loan on a new car
B) Whether to obtain a 15 year versus 30 year loan on a new home
C) Whether to pay off an existing loan
D) Whether to invest income in a savings account or in a stock
Answer: D

14) Cash flows are affected by financial planning decisions. Which of the following is not
correct?
A) Insurance payments are a cash outflow
B) Investing in stock is a cash outflow
C) Buying on time results in a cash inflow
D) Income is a cash inflow
Answer: C

15) Cash flows are affected by financial planning decisions. Which of the following is correct?
A) Car payments you make are cash outflows
B) Investments you make in stock are cash inflows
C) Your routine monthly expenses are cash inflows
D) Your income is a cash outflow
Answer: A

16) Your financial position is highly influenced by all of the following except
A) the amount of education you pursue.
B) the current pay level you receive.
C) the current economy.
D) the bonus check your best friend just received.
Answer: D

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17) Your decision about one component of your financial plan can affect all other components.
Which statement is true?
A) The amount of insurance you choose to carry has no effect on your investing decisions.
B) There will never be any trade-offs to consider when making decisions about your financial
plan.
C) If you make poor investment decisions, you may have to work longer than planned.
D) You should contribute all of your extra money to your retirement account even if it means
you don't have money available for products and services today.
Answer: C

18) Jessie has $4,000 in a bank account, $2,800 in a 401(k) plan at work, a car with a current
value of $28,000, and a house that she purchased for $92,000 that has a current value of
$118,000. The current balance of her home mortgage is $81,000, she has one credit card with a
$3,000 balance, and a school loan with a balance of $6,000. What is Jessie's current net worth?
A) $62,800
B) $46,800
C) ($242,800)
D) ($62,800)
Answer: A
Explanation: A)
$4,000 + $2,800 + $28,000 + $118,000 = $152,800
$3,000 + $81,000 + $6,000 = $90,000
Net worth $62,800

19) Jakob received a $1,000 a year raise in January, sold stocks in March for $6,000 that were
originally purchased for $4,000, and in July had a $100 monthly increase in mortgage payments
on his adjustable rate mortgage. The increased mortgage payment started in July and was in
effect for the remainder of the year. What was the total impact on Jakob's cash flow for the year?
A) $1,000
B) $5,400
C) $6,400
D) $7,600
Answer: C
Explanation: C)
Raise $1,000
Sale of stock $6,000
Increased mortgage payments (600)
Net cash inflows $6,400

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1.4 Developing the Financial Plan

1) Goals should be set as high as possible regardless of reality because they may eventually be
obtainable.
Answer: FALSE

2) Goals with a time frame of five or more years into the future are called intermediate-term
goals.
Answer: FALSE

3) If you set realistic goals rather than unrealistic ones, your plan becomes a more useful one.
Answer: TRUE

4) Your budget is influenced by your income, which in turn is influenced by your education and
career decisions.
Answer: TRUE

5) In addition to the text, Web sites and financial magazines are good sources for help in
financial planning.
Answer: TRUE

6) If prepared properly, financial plans are set for life and should not need to be adjusted.
Answer: FALSE

7) Which of the following is not a reason to set realistic financial goals?

A) So you have something to refer to every time you get paid
B) So you have a high likelihood of achieving them
C) If the goal is too onerous you will be unwilling to follow the plan
D) If you fail you will be discouraged and lose interest in planning
Answer: A

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8) Which of the following is not a relevant consideration when identifying alternatives for
achieving your financial goals?
A) Choosing a large versus small university
B) Pursuing additional education
C) Choosing a state versus private university
D) Choosing a major for study that enhances earning power
Answer: A

9) Which of the following goals would be easiest to measure?

A) Reduce debt payments
B) Save funds for an annual vacation
C) Save $100 a month to create a $4,000 emergency fund
D) Invest for a comfortable retirement
Answer: C

10) By establishing high and unrealistic financial goals, you will probably
A) improve the likelihood of achieving at least some success.
B) become discouraged and lose interest in planning.
C) increase the viability of your plan.
D) impress your spouse or significant other.
Answer: B

11) Goals with a time frame of between one and five years are classified as
A) short-term.
B) long-term.
C) intermediate.
D) unrealistic.
Answer: C

12) Which of the following would be classified as a short-term goal?

A) Purchasing a house in three years
B) Buying new clothes this month
C) Retiring in ten years
D) Paying for your two-year-old child's college education
Answer: B

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13) Which of the following would be a long-term goal?
A) Paying off a school loan in three years
B) Purchasing a car within six months
C) Saving enough money to retire in 20 years
D) Paying for two years of college
Answer: C

14) If you are interested in achieving a long-term savings goal, then

A) you are not concerned with paying off your current debt.
B) you will try to save a small amount because that is better than saving nothing at all.
C) you will buy a new car because your best friend just bought one.
D) you believe that 'retail therapy' is the answer to your occasional depression.
Answer: B

15) Which of the following could save a smaller proportion of their earnings to achieve the same
level of wealth as the others?
A) Social workers
B) School teachers
C) Medical doctors
D) All would save the same percentage of earnings to reach the same level of wealth
Answer: C

16) On which of the following Web sites should you question the accuracy of the information
provided?
A) The Internal Revenue Service's web site lists current tax rates and rules used for tax planning
B) The Securities and Exchange Commission's web site explains new regulations for
stockbrokers
C) A major bank's web site lists new retirement plans rules used for retirement plans
D) A free chat room lists recommended stocks for you to buy
Answer: D

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17) Which of the following would not help protect you from unethical or incompetent advice
from a financial adviser?
A) Educating yourself on various financial products
B) Asking questions of other clients
C) Relying on the adviser as to when to buy and sell
D) Knowing your risk tolerance
Answer: C

18) Which of the following statements is not true regarding education and financial position?
A) Your financial position is highly influenced by the amount of education you pursue.
B) Higher education always guarantees a higher income.
C) The more education you have, the higher your earnings will likely be.
D) Before you choose a major, you should consider your skills, interests, and the career paths
that will be available to you.
Answer: B

19) Your financial plan is usually strongly influenced by

A) your parents.
B) your tolerance for risk and your self-discipline.
C) your peers.
D) your age.
Answer: B

20) Since career choices affect your income, you should choose the career that
A) that pays the highest salary even if you dislike the work.
B) that will be enjoyable and will suit your skills.
C) that will be the easiest to find employment in.
D) that requires the least amount of training or education so you can begin working as quickly as
possible.
Answer: B

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21) The financial crisis of 2008-09 affected the financial position of individuals in all of the
following ways except which of these?
A) There was a reduction in new job opportunities.
B) Employers could not afford to give their employees a raise.
C) The value of many investments declined.
D) The demand for homes increased because more homeowners were trying to sell their homes.
Answer: D

22) Which of the following is not a step in developing a financial plan?

A) Establish your financial goals
B) Consider your current financial position
C) Identify and evaluate alternative plans that could achieve your goals
D) Put your plan away for six months to a year and then review it for accuracy
Answer: D

23) After your financial plan is developed it should be

A) locked in a safe for keeping so it isn't stolen.
B) reviewed every five years.
C) monitored and updated annually.
D) sold to others.
Answer: C

26) Why is it important to monitor and revise your financial plan from time to time?
A) Your financial position changes over time as does your personal, job and family situation
B) As you get older you will want to lower your goals
C) So that you remember the goals you were striving for
D) You may decide enjoying consumption now is more important than saving for retirement
years
Answer: A

27) Why is it important to understand how taxes impact your personal financial planning?
A) Taxes paid reduce your net income and cash flow available to save as well as the returns on
your investments.
B) Not paying taxes can result in penalties and jail time.
C) It is not that important since savings are not taxable.
D) It is only important if you are in a 25%+ tax bracket.
Answer: A

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