Investing, Income, and Protection

This unit helps students move from basic money management to active planning for wealth accumulation and income security. Students learn to interpret economic news, evaluate advisors and investment vehicles, and apply tax, insurance, and risk-management strategies that protect earnings and support long‑term goals.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze economic indicators and media coverage to identify bias, assess market conditions, and determine short- and long-term implications for personal financial decisions
• Evaluate when to hire a financial advisor by comparing service models, costs, fiduciary responsibilities, and suitability for individual goals
• Develop and apply a diversified personal investing plan using mutual funds and ETFs that aligns asset allocation with risk tolerance, time horizon, and income objectives, and justify fund selection using expense ratios and performance metrics
• Demonstrate strategies to secure and protect income—including insurance choices, disability and health planning, tax‑reduction approaches, emergency planning, and ethical charitable decisions—by assessing trade-offs and impacts on household budgets