Finance & Economics   

Part of the Anthro is Fun series, this class focuses on two of the most important aspects of world-wide human culture: How we obtain food and how we exert power in our society. We will explore the ways that humans, through prehistory and around the world today, share food resources. Do we grow it, buy it, steal it, trade for it? We will also explore how humans share power around the world.

Many Americans are only dimly aware that capitalism is alive and well in "communist" China. But China is now an overwhelmingly capitalist country, emerging as a formidable rival to the United States. How is China doing it? In this course, we compare the US and Chinese models of capitalism and government, their respective strengths and weaknesses, and the factors that may determine the long-term future of each country. Which will be stronger? Which will be more stable? Which will be more influential?

Have you ever heard radio hosts say, "I hate annuities," "Annuities are bad," or "Annuities have lots of fees"? This class is designed to demystify what you may have heard about annuities. For example, you may not know that there are four main types of annuities, that some annuities have zero fees, that some annuities are liquid, or that some annuities act much like a CD. Annuities can be complex investment products, and they may not be for everyone. Learn the pros and cons of the various annuities.

Have you ever heard radio hosts say, "I hate annuities," "Annuities are bad," or "Annuities have lots of fees"? This class is designed to demystify what you may have heard about annuities. For example, you may not know that there are four main types of annuities, that some annuities have zero fees, that some annuities are liquid, or that some annuities act much like a CD. Annuities can be complex investment products, and they may not be for everyone. Learn the pros and cons of the various annuities.

This course is designed to assist you in planning the transfer of your wealth to spouses, children, grandchildren, and any other people or organizations you want to benefit from your estate. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of different methods for wealth transfer to enable you to make better decisions regarding your own estate. Plan on both lecture and discourse, as many exciting things can be learned from information and experiences of participants. I look forward to taking this journey with you.

You may know in the back of your mind that someday you will be responsible for settling the estate of a parent, spouse, sibling, or other loved one. What does it mean to be named as an estate executor or trustee? What will you be responsible to do, on your own and with professionals? This class will summarize the major responsibilities of the executor/trustee, and will provide a number of related tips and resources. Ample time will be available for Q&A.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received over 2.8 million fraud complaints in 2021, accounting for $5.8 billion in financial losses, a $2.4 billion increase from 2020. The most common types of fraud were imposter scams; online shopping scams; and fake sweepstakes, prizes, and lotteries. The FTC cited that 25% of all reported losses originated from social media platforms, and investment-related fraud totaled $1.6 billion. The class will cover some of the most common financial scams, discuss tactics fraudsters use, and outline how to avoid falling prey to them.

This class will discuss how tax law changes, rising interest rates, and a changing economy may affect your investments and retirement plans. We will share the financial market perspectives of respected economists and explore the investment trends and best practices in a constantly changing economic landscape. We will discuss various investment vehicles, such as mutual funds, index funds, ETFs, alternative investments, and others. The class will finish by highlighting the principles of financial planning and how they can be applied to your personal retirement goals.