FINANCIAL ADVOCACY (1) (BUS122)

Professor Howard Meyers

Practical and hands-on coverage of the following topics: credit reporting; credit scoring; interest and its determination (minimum payments; amortization tables); qualifying for and obtaining a mortgage; predatory lending (HOEP; RESPA: TILA; UDAP); common consumer scams (rent-to-own; pay day loans; e-duction); development of a spending plan (fixed, variable, periodic expenses); creating balance sheets and cash flow statements; methods of valuation; commercial finance terms (recourse; non-recourse; points; balloon pay­ments negative amortization; secured; unsecured; no-load; acceleration; ipso facto clauses). Students are exposed to computer programs, real life documents, simulations, and practical exercises through lecturing, Powerpoint presentations, group discussion, and problem solving in small groups. The goal is both to educate substantively and to make issues of personal and small business finance more approachable and understandable.  This course is offered in an intensive, two-day format, usually on a Friday and Saturday. Pass-fail final exam.