Money Management Skills

Exploring the tension between conscious decision-making and the automatic emotional response of limbic systems; this tension affects many approaches to financial management, including one's innate aversion to loss and investment confidence.

Reconsidering one's approach to finances; life cycle theory is a framework for making financial decisions at different stages in life; it offers guidance for saving, borrowing and investing; making sure one gets the most out of their money.

Making wise investment choices; a few rules of thumb everyone needs to make solid financial choices; reviewing the basics of investment and risk; the importance of diversification; a simple theory for building a profitable investment portfolio.

Investment options include liquid assets such as cash and checking accounts; long-term assets are mutual funds, stocks and bonds; fees and returns one expects from each type of instrument; tax obligations; build a long-term investment plan.

When used appropriately, debt is a powerful tool; it is important to recognize bad habits such as impulsiveness; getting an overview of credit and credit history; surveying the variety of loans available, from credit cards to auto loans to mortgages.

Paying for college often involves taking on student loans; a high school student or a parent preparing to pay for their child's tuition; learning the key risks of student loans; seeing what tax advantages one might apply toward a college education.