The Missing Link from College to Career and Beyond, Personal Financial Management

The Missing Link is specifically designed for those who are concerned about their financial future in a complex world of credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, credit reports, FICO scoring, re-paying student loans, identity theft, the impact of love and money in a relationship, ways to buy a house or car, personal taxes, IRAs, 401(k) plans, endless investment options in stocks, bonds and mutual funds, insurance, and soaring medical and retirement costs. This book gives the reader a solid financial foundation in a world where important financial choices are made and mistakes can be costly.

After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley, Fred Selinger went on to a distinguished career in corporate finance, investment banking, and financial consulting. He has been licensed in insurance, securities and real estate. He has served as a corporate CEO and on boards of public, private, and non-profit enterprises. Now in his seventh year of teaching "Personal Financial Management" at the University of California at Berkeley, Mr. Selinger has authored his fourth updated book, "The Missing Link: from College to Career and Beyond".

Chapter 1: Introduction: Living in The Midst of a Complex World ............. 1

Chapter 2: Who Are The Millionaires? Why Not You? ............................. 11

Chapter 3: Credit, Debt, and Money: Makes the World Go Around ......... 15

Chapter 4: Credit Reports and Credit Scores:

“I Spend, Therefore I Am”............................................................. 35

Chapter 5: Contracts Can Be Dangerous To Your Health:

Read Them! ................................................................................... 43

Chapter 6: Social Security and Medicare:

The Trend is Not Your Friend ...................................................... 47

Chapter 7: Government Revenue and Expenses:

Taxes, Taxes, and More Taxes ..................................................... 57

Chapter 8: Beginning to Save: “I Get Paid First” ........................................ 73

Chapter 9: Investment Vehicles: Get in the Game....................................... 83

Chapter 10: Investing in Stocks: Not a Big Mystery ..................................... 95

Chapter 11: Investing in Bonds: Not Even a Small Mystery ....................... 115

Chapter 12: Stock Options and Grants: The Modern Day Gold Rush ....... 121

Chapter 13: Love and Money: “With This Debt, I Thee Wed” ................... 125

Chapter 14: Purchasing a Home:

To Buy or Not to Buy, That is the Question ............................... 133

Chapter 15: Renting an Apartment: The Home You Don’t Own ............... 155

Chapter 16: Homeowner’s Insurance: The Devil is in The Details ............ 159

Chapter 17: The Subprime and Adjustable Rate Mortgage Crisis:

Bad Decisions . . . . Bad Consequences ...................................... 165

Chapter 18: Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA):

A Gift From Uncle Sam .............................................................. 171

Chapter 19: 401(k) Plan: A Gift from Your Boss? ........................................179

Chapter 20: Real Estate Investing: Start Small and Build .......................... 189

Chapter 21: Student Loans: An Asset or a Liability? .................................. 199

Chapter 22: Purchasing or Leasing a Car: Let the Buyer Beware ............. 207

Chapter 23: Automobile Insurance: Steering in the Right Direction .......... 219

Chapter 24: Health Care and Insurance:

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly .............................................225

Chapter 25: Disability Insurance: They’ve Got Your Back ........................ 243

Chapter 26: Life Insurance:

Your Life May Be Worth More Than You Think ...................... 249

Chapter 27: Starting a Successful Business: Ask Yourself This . . . . ........ 255

Appendix: Tax Form 1040 and Schedules: Will I get a refund? .............. 263

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