Question #1

Briefly describe the basic operations of- and the products and services offered by-each of the following financial institutions: (a) commercial bank, (b) savings and loan association, (c) savings bank, (d) credit union, (e) stock brokerage firm, and (f) mutual fund.

Question #2

Michelle and Ken Dunn, both in their mid-20s, have been married for 4 years and have two preschool-age children. Ken has an accounting degree and is employed as a cost accountant at an annual salary of $62,000. They're now renting a duplex but wish to buy a home in the suburbs of their rapidly developing city. They've decided they can afford a $215,000 house and hope to find one with the features they desire in a good neighborhood.

The insurance costs on such a home are expected to be $800 per year, taxes are expected to be $2,500 per year, and annual utility bills are estimated at $1,440-an increase of $500 over those they pay in the duplex. The Dunns are considering financing their home with a fixed-rate, 30-year, 6% mortgage. The lender charges 2 points on mortgages with 20% down and 3 points if less than 20% is put down (the commercial bank the Dunns will deal with requires a minimum of 10% down). Other closing costs are estimated at 5% of the home's purchase price. Because of their excellent credit record, the bank will probably be willing to let the Dunns' monthly mortgage payments (principal and interest portions) equal as much as 28% of their monthly gross income. Since getting married, the Dunns have been saving for the purchase of a home and now have $44,000 in their savings account.

a. How much would the Dunns have to put down if the lender required a minimum 20% down payment? Could they afford it?

b. Considering only principal and interest, how much would their monthly mortgage payments be?

c. What home insurance coverage amount would you recommend?  Any additional home insurance endorsements you would recommend?

d. Considering the Dunns do not have any life insurance, what amounts and type(s) would you recommend for the couple?

Question #3

a. Describe credit scoring and explain how it's used in making a credit decision. 

b. What steps can you take to establish a good credit rating? 

c. What are some key factors you should consider when choosing a credit card?

Question #4

a. Describe the DJIA, S&P 400, S&P 500, NASDAQ Composite, Russell 2000, and Dow JonesWilshire 5000 indexes. Which segments of the market does each measure track? 

b. Describe the concept of asset allocation and note how it works.

Question #5

Elena Diaz is 57 years old and has been widowed for 13 years. Never remarried, she has worked full-time since her husband died-in addition to raising her two children, the youngest of whom is now finishing college. After being forced back to work in her 40s, Elena's first job was in a fast-food restaurant. Eventually, she upgraded her skills sufficiently to obtain a supervisory position in the personnel department of a major corporation, where she's now earning $58,000 a year.

Although her financial focus for the past 13 years has, of necessity, been on meeting living expenses and getting her kids through college, she feels that now she can turn her attention to her retirement needs. Actually, Elena hasn't done too badly in that area, either. By carefully investing the proceeds from her husband's life insurance policy, Elena has accumulated the following investment assets:

Other than the mortgage on her condo, the only other debt she has is $7,000 in college loans.

Elena would like to retire in 8 years, and she recently hired a financial planner to help her come up with an effective retirement program. He has estimated that, for her to live comfortably in retirement, she'll need about $37,500 a year (in today's dollars) in retirement income.

a. After taking into account the income Elena will receive from Social Security and her company-sponsored pension plan, the financial planner has estimated that her investment assets will need to provide her with about $15,000 a year to meet the balance of her retirement income needs. Assuming a 6% after-tax return on her investments, how big a nest egg will Elena need to earn that kind of income?

b. Suppose she can invest the money market securities, stocks, and bonds (the $72,600) at 5% after taxes and can invest the $47,400 accumulated in her tax-sheltered IRA and 401(k) at 7%. How much will Elena's investment assets be worth in 8 years, when she retires?

c. Elena's employer matches her 401(k) contributions dollar for dollar, up to a maximum of $3,000 a year. If she continues to put $3,000 a year into that program, how much more will she have in 8 years, given a 9% rate of return? [Do not factor in the amount she already has in her 401k.]

d. Assuming she has not done any estate planning, what would you recommend she do immediately?  Explain.