Personal Finance Tutorial

 

Updated April 27, 2013

 

Introduction

 

This brief tutorial provides information about library and online resources for company information, annual reports, stocks, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Mutual Funds, and Bonds. Personal Finance (MGT 200) students in particular can use this tutorial as an aid in the completion of the Investment Portfolio Project.  The Personal Finance project requires you to track the various company stocks and/or mutual funds and bonds for a designated time period.   Specific details about the project can be obtained from your instructor.  

 

Click on the hyperlinks to go to the appropriate section of the tutorial.

 

 

Finding A Stock

 

For the Personal Finance project, you will need to select common stock from two different companies. It is strongly advised that you choose stocks that are found in the Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500).

 

The Standard & Poor's 500 Index "consists of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index (stock price times number of shares outstanding), with each stock's weight in the Index proportionate to its market value. The "500" is one of the most widely used benchmarks of the U.S. equity performance." It is usually easier to locate information about stocks listed in the Standard & Poor's 500.

 

Click here to obtain a listing of S&P 500 stocks.

 

 

Annual Reports

 

It is strongly advised that you write, e-mail, or telephone your chosen companies at the start of the Personal Finance project to request an annual report.

 

Online sources of annual reports include:

 

 

Weekly Stock Statistics

 

For the Personal Finance project you will need to obtain weekly stock quotes from companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or NASDAQ.

 

You can choose to use either a print resource or an online resource but it is important to be consistent. Use the same source for all your statistics. You should not use a print resource one week and an online resource the next. There are some differences between the print and electronic resources in the statistics you will retrieve.

Print Resources for Stock Quotes:

 

 

Online Resources for Stock Quotes:

 

 

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)

 

Remember to be consistent about the source that you use to obtain statistics for the DJIA.

 

Print Resources for the DJIA:

Louisville Courier-Journal (Saturday edition) Business section.

Online Resources for the DJIA:

 

Mutual Funds

 

Remember to be consistent about the source you use to obtain information about your mutual fund.

 

Print Resources for a Mutual Fund:

 

 

Online Resources for a Mutual Fund:

 

 

Project students will need a prospectus for your mutual fund. It is strongly advised that you write, telephone, or e-mail early in the project to request a prospectus about your chosen mutual fund.

 

Online sources for a prospectus:

 

 

Online resource for bonds:

 

Personal Finance Students, Please Note: This site does not contain all of the information you will need to complete your project. Please speak with your instructor about specific requirements.

 

 

Note: The Louisville Free Public Library on 301 York Street, has information on bonds (along with other business resources).

 

Articles Related to Companies

 

Print resources for articles include:

 

 

Online Resources for articles include:

 

 

This ends the research guide. However, there are other online resources that may be useful to you. These sources include:

 

 

Personal Finance

 

These websites provide presentations, calculators, and other information to help you manage your current finances while planning for a stable future.