Recent Web site Updates
We are continually updating the information on this Web site to make it more useful and correct. Following are some of the recent changes that may be helpful for you to know about. They include updates for February 2009, Eight Basic Lessons and Seminars, Learning Tool Updates, and Planned Improvements to the Web site.
Updates for February 2009
We have updated the material on the Web site for 2008. We have added updated 2008 annual limits related to financial planning in both the manuals and the Web site. we have updated each of the eight personal finance manuals, including the Complete College Course Manual which I use in my undergraduate and graduate classes.
Eight Basic Lessons and Seminars
We have added Eight Basic Lessons on Personal Finance to this Web site which are still in the review stages. These lessons can be found at Eight Basic Lessons on the Principles of Financial Self-reliance. We are currently working to get these lessons approved by the Marriott School of Management.
We have taught these eight lessons in a number of different churches here in Utah. We have also taught three different seminars in Utah to help individuals understand the principles of financial self-reliance and how to incorporate those principles into their lives through the use of Learning Tool 31A: Debt Free Planned Spending Spreadsheet. The flyer and PowerPoints from the seminars are found at the above link for the eight lessons. We have also added the beginnings of a multi-language capability, with categories available in both English and Spanish. Other languages will be forthcoming.
The next seminar is scheduled in early 2009. Information on the previous seminar can be found at Flyer for the Upcoming Debt Free Spending Seminar.
Four New Teaching Tools
We have added four new teaching tools recently, and have updated the remainder of the learning tools for June of 2008. The first two relate to teaching people to plan their finances and develop spending plans (budgets). These tools were developed as part of the Eight Basic Lessons on the Principles of Financial Self-reliance. The last two tools were developed to help in the investing process.
The first new learning tool is Learning Tool 31A: Debt Free Planned Spending Spreadsheet This Excel worksheet helps you plan your spending, prioritize your debt, spend your money a year in advance, record your spending for twelve months (your monthly budgets), and evaluate your spending. This program was developed with the help of Keith Russell and is currently available in both English and Spanish. Other translations are in progress.
The second new learning tool is Learning Tool 31B: Debt Free Planned Spending Spreadsheet Instructions and FAQs. This document explains how to use Learning Tool 31A and answers questions to help make the spreadsheet more useful.
The last two tools help in the investing process. The third new learning tool is Learning Tool 32: Taxes on Security Earnings including Qualified Dividends. This Excel worksheet helps you determine the different types of taxes on security earnings so you can invest more tax-efficiently. It also includes a Tab to help you see if your stock dividends will qualify as qualified dividends on which you will gain a preferential Federal Tax benefit.
The final new learning tool is Learning Tool 33: Calculating After-tax Security Returns. This Excel worksheet helps you calculate your before-tax and after-tax security and portfolio returns on different types of securities, i.e., bonds, stocks, mutual funds, etc. in your portfolio.
Planned Improvements to the Web site
We should have each of the eight Personal Finance manuals updated for 2008 data by the end of the year. This will help insure that you are learning using up-to-date information.
In addition, we are working to include audio files of each of the sections of this Web site, which should be completed by December of 2008. This will allow you to download the various audio sections to your MP3 player or computer, and which will aid those who are visually impaired of who would rather listen than read.
Thanks
Thank you for your interest in this Web site. If there are other things you would like to see in this location, please contact the webmaster at personalfinance@byu.edu.
