Finance - FIN

FIN 201 Introduction to Corporate Finance 3 Credits

An introduction to financial analysis. Topics covered include: financial statements, tools of financial analysis, bond and equity valuation, financial management. Pre-Requisite: ACC 201; ECO 101, 102, 255 (may be taken concurrently); MAT 131 or MAT 141 or MAT 352.

FIN 311 Intermediate Corporate Finance 3 Credits

Examination of the procedures and objectives of capital budgeting, the financing of the firm by means of debt and equity, and short-term and long-term financial management.

Prerequisite: FIN 201.

Offered: occasionally.

FIN 312 Investments 3 Credits

Introduction to the institutional features of securities trading, portfolio construction, and the capital asset pricing model. Valuation of equities and bonds and an introduction to various derivative instruments.

Prerequisite: FIN 201 & ECO 256.

Offered: fall & spring

FIN 350 Introduction to Personal Financial Planning 3 Credits

Survey of topics in wealth management and personal financial planning. Review development of the wealth management industry, including the evolution of the high-net-worth investor segment. Various aproaches to asset management, benchmarks for evaluating portfolio performance, risk tolerance, and tax and estate planning issues will be explored.

Prerequisite: FIN 312.

Offered: fall

FIN 351 Estate Planning 3 Credits

A new course that presents various aspects of estate and gift tax planning. The valuation, transfer, administration and taxation of property will be covered along with strategies to efficiently transfer wealth. Other topics include property law, wills, trusts, income, gift, and death taxation. A course required for those interested in pursuing CFP certification.

Prerequisite: FIN 350.

Offered: fall.

FIN 352 Risk Management & Insurance 3 Credits

Concepts for risk identification, assessment, and management of insurable risks. Methodologies for risk management in property and casualty insurance, life, accident and health insurance. Principles and modeling for risk pooling, policy pricing, and mortality estimation. Analysis and rationale for the reinsurance market.

Prerequisite: ECO 255 & FIN 201.

Offered: once a year.

FIN 354 Retirement Planning 3 Credits

Provides an overview of retirement planning including retirement savings need analysis, qualified retirement plan design, Social Security, Medicare, and more. In addition, group life, health, and disability insurance; non-qualified deferred compensation; and other commonly provided employee benefits are examined.

Prerequisite: FIN 312.

Offered: every fall.

FIN 412 Equity Analysis 3 Credits

The analysis and interpretation of financial information and accounting statements in order to assess security risk and return, credit worthiness, financing needs, and the valuation of the firm.

Prerequisite: FIN 312. Concurrent registration with FIN 485.

Offered: fall

FIN 414 Portfolio Analysis 3 Credits

An introduction to modern portfolio theory and management. The strategies underlying portfolio construction and evaluation will be examined. The implications of market efficiency on portfolio management will also be considered. Finance Major Assessment will be performed in this class.

Prerequisite: FIN 312.

Offered: fall & spring

FIN 420 Financial Institutions and Markets 3 Credits

This course examines various financial institutions and the markets in which they operate. The role of the Federal Reserve, commercial banks, thrift institutions, investment banks, insurance companies and pension funds will be examined. Models of interest rate determination including risk structure and term structure will be discussed.

Prerequisite: FIN 201.

Offered: every spring.

FIN 423 Fixed Income Securities 3 Credits

This course discusses the various types of fixed income securities and the markets in which they are traded. Emphasis is placed on contract evaluation, extracting term/risk structure information from pricing, evaluating investment opportunities and interest rate risk management.

Prerequisite: FIN 312.

FIN 455 Financial Modeling with Excel 3 Credits

Programming in EXCEL via construction of custom functions and macros using Visual Basic. These techniques are applied to a variety of financial models.

Prerequisite: FIN 311 or FIN 312.

Offered: Fall

FIN 458 Financial Modeling with SAS 3 Credits

Building financial models for forecasting and analyzing investment and financial products using the SAS programming language. Models in the areas of corporate finance, equities, bonds, portfolio management and derivative securities will be explored.

Prerequisite: FIN 312, ECO 256.

Offered: every fall & spring.

FIN 460 International Finance 3 Credits

Examination of the international monetary system, exchange rate determination, capital flows and various exchange rate regimes. Open economy macroeconomic policies will be discussed.

Prerequisites: ECO 101-102, FIN 201.

Offered: occasionally.

FIN 480 Derivative Securities/Options 3 Credits

Analysis of derivative instruments such as options, futures, swaps, warrants, and convertibles. Emphasis on valuation and use of derivative instruments in hedging risk.

Prerequisite: FIN 312.

Offered: spring

FIN 485 Golden Griffin Fund I 3 Credits

This is the first course in a two-semester sequence in which students become equity analysts and portfolio managers for a real money portfolio of common equity securities (the Golden Griffin Fund, "GGF"). Students screen companies in the fall semester and perform detailed financial statement and valuation analyses in the spring semester. Current macroeconomic and financial market developments are discussed weekly. Monthly written reports regarding current GGF portfolio positions are produced by the student managers beginning in the summer. Students taking FIN 485 are expected to continue into the spring semester in FIN 486. NOTE: GGF students are selected during an application process during the student's junior year.

Prerequisite: FIN 312; concurernt registration with FIN 412

Offered: fall

FIN 486 Golden Griffin Fund II 3 Credits

This is the second course in a two-semester sequence in which students become equity analysts and portfolio managers for a real money portfolio of common equity securities (the Golden Griffin Fund, "GGF"). Students screen companies in the fall semester and perform detailed financial statement and valuation analyses in the spring semester. Current macroeconomic and financial market developments are discussed weekly. Monthly written reports regarding current GGF portfolio positions are produced by the student managers beginning in the summer. process during the student's junior year.

Prerequisite: FIN 485

Offered: Spring

FIN 496 Finance Internship 1-4 Credits

Internships require an application and approval by the associate dean.

Prerequisite: student must complete a WSB Internship Application and obtain permission of a faculty supervisor, department chair, & the associate dean.

Offered: every fall & spring.

FIN 499 Independent Research 3 Credits

Study and work with a faculty supervisor. Project to be determined by faculty agreement. Independent studies require an application and approval by the associate dean.

Prerequisite: student must complete a WSB Independent Study Application Form & obtain the approval of a faculty supervisor, department chair & the associate dean.