Written in an accessible style from a consumer perspective and blends academic research with professional insights. Deals with all essential aspects of financial services that affect consumers and how they can exploit opportunities. Each of the chapters contain a list of learning objectives; a range of scenarios, case studies, examples and articles to provide a "real world" context to the discussion; a key points summary with referencing and further reading and useful on-line resources, as well as, a selection of short self-review questions. Enables readers to understand how the operations, complexity and dynamism of an ever-changing financial services industry shape the financial opportunities and risks they face.

Written in an accessible style from a consumer perspective and blends academic research with professional insights. Deals with all essential aspects of financial services that affect consumers and how they can exploit opportunities. Each of the chapters contain a list of learning objectives; a range of scenarios, case studies, examples and articles to provide a "real world" context to the discussion; a key points summary with referencing and further reading and useful on-line resources, as well as, a selection of short self-review questions. Enables readers to understand how the operations, complexity and dynamism of an ever-changing financial services industry shape the financial opportunities and risks they face.

There is increasing pressure for all of us to take responsibility for our own financial security and wellbeing, but we often overlook how the benefits that come with a job can help us do that. Essential Personal Finance: A Practical Guide for Employees focuses on these valuable work benefits and shows how you can build on this important foundation to achieve financial security and your life goals. This unique book explores how making effective and practical use of these work benefits (such as pension scheme, life cover, sick pay, cheap loans, savings schemes and even financial coaching), means facing up to the behavioural biases we are all plagued with. Given that these can get in the way of even the best intentions, Essential Personal Finance tackles these biases head-on with practical ideas and tips for overcoming or harnessing them for good, and will help you to develop a positive and fruitful relationship with your money. With financial stress being a major cause of absenteeism and sick leave, low morale and lost productivity, the advice in this book also offers employers enormous benefits. By empowering employees through financial education and financial awareness, progressive employers will help them feel more in control of their lives, and experience less stress, resulting in higher morale and productivity. Offering a distinctive approach which combines academic insight with practical financial wisdom and tools, this is a must-have book for all employees. It will help you make the most of everything your job has to offer so you can worry less about money and live life to the full.

There is increasing pressure for all of us to take responsibility for our own financial security and wellbeing, but we often overlook how the benefits that come with a job can help us do that. Essential Personal Finance: A Practical Guide for Employees focuses on these valuable work benefits and shows how you can build on this important foundation to achieve financial security and your life goals. This unique book explores how making effective and practical use of these work benefits (such as pension scheme, life cover, sick pay, cheap loans, savings schemes and even financial coaching), means facing up to the behavioural biases we are all plagued with. Given that these can get in the way of even the best intentions, Essential Personal Finance tackles these biases head-on with practical ideas and tips for overcoming or harnessing them for good, and will help you to develop a positive and fruitful relationship with your money. With financial stress being a major cause of absenteeism and sick leave, low morale and lost productivity, the advice in this book also offers employers enormous benefits. By empowering employees through financial education and financial awareness, progressive employers will help them feel more in control of their lives, and experience less stress, resulting in higher morale and productivity. Offering a distinctive approach which combines academic insight with practical financial wisdom and tools, this is a must-have book for all employees. It will help you make the most of everything your job has to offer so you can worry less about money and live life to the full.

Young people face unprecedented financial challenges: rising student debt, stiff competition for jobs, barriers to home ownership, dwindling state benefits and prospects of a longer working life. Today, students need financial knowledge and skills more than ever before, not just to build their own financial security, but to create the new generation of advisers that can help all citizens navigate the complex world of personal finance. Essential Personal Finance is a guide to all the key areas of personal finance: budgeting, managing debt, savings and investments, insurance, securing a home and laying the foundations for retirement. It also provides an introduction to some of the essential foundations of a modern undergraduate finance qualification, including: The nature of financial institutions, markets and economic policy that shape the opportunities and decisions that individuals face. The range of financial assets available to households, the risk-return trade-off, basics of portfolio construction and impact of tax. The importance of the efficient market hypothesis and modern portfolio theory in shaping investment strategies and the limitations of these approaches. Behavioural finance as a key to understanding factors influencing individual and market perceptions and actions. Using financial data to inform investment selection and to create financial management tools that can aid decision-making. A comprehensive companion website accompanies the text to enhance students' learning and includes answers to the end-of-chapter questions. Written by authors who contribute experience as financial advisers, practitioners and academics, Essential Personal Finance examines the motivations, methods and theories that underpin financial decision-making, as well as offering useful tips and guidance on money management and financial planning. The result is a compelling combination of an undergraduate textbook aimed at students on personal finance and financial services courses, and a practical guide for young people in building their own financial strength and capability.

Young people face unprecedented financial challenges: rising student debt, stiff competition for jobs, barriers to home ownership, dwindling state benefits and prospects of a longer working life. Today, students need financial knowledge and skills more than ever before, not just to build their own financial security, but to create the new generation of advisers that can help all citizens navigate the complex world of personal finance. Essential Personal Finance is a guide to all the key areas of personal finance: budgeting, managing debt, savings and investments, insurance, securing a home and laying the foundations for retirement. It also provides an introduction to some of the essential foundations of a modern undergraduate finance qualification, including: The nature of financial institutions, markets and economic policy that shape the opportunities and decisions that individuals face. The range of financial assets available to households, the risk-return trade-off, basics of portfolio construction and impact of tax. The importance of the efficient market hypothesis and modern portfolio theory in shaping investment strategies and the limitations of these approaches. Behavioural finance as a key to understanding factors influencing individual and market perceptions and actions. Using financial data to inform investment selection and to create financial management tools that can aid decision-making. A comprehensive companion website accompanies the text to enhance students' learning and includes answers to the end-of-chapter questions. Written by authors who contribute experience as financial advisers, practitioners and academics, Essential Personal Finance examines the motivations, methods and theories that underpin financial decision-making, as well as offering useful tips and guidance on money management and financial planning. The result is a compelling combination of an undergraduate textbook aimed at students on personal finance and financial services courses, and a practical guide for young people in building their own financial strength and capability.