INTRODUCTION TO FINANCE expands student understanding of finance. Students develop their knowledge and skills in such areas as business law, communication skills, compliance, customer relations, economics, financial analysis, financial information management, human resources management, marketing, professional development, and selling. Emphasis is placed on the analysis and purchase of securities and investments, as well as the need for effective customer relationship management and information management in finance.

INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Business Law
Discuss legal considerations in the finance industry (BL:133) (SP)
Discuss the effect of tax laws and regulations on financial transactions (BL:134) (SP)
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Communication Skills
Write business letters (CO:133) (CS)
» MKTC.05.05.f
Write informational messages (CO:039) (CS)
» MKTC.05.06.d
Write inquiries (CO:040) (CS
» MKTC.05.05.h
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Customer Relations
Demonstrate a customer-service mindset (CR:004, HR LAP 32) (CS)
» FINC.10.01.b, MKTC.12.01.b
Reinforce service orientation through communication (CR:005) (CS)
» MKTC.05.07.b, MKTC.05.07.c
Respond to customer inquiries (CR:006) (CS)
Adapt communication to the cultural and social differences among clients (CR:019) (CS)
» MKTC.05.07.d
Interpret business policies to customers/clients (CR:007) (CS)
» MKTC.05.07.e
Handle difficult customers (CR:009, EI LAP 1) (CS)
Handle customer/client complaints (CR:010) (CS)
Identify company’s brand promise (CR:001) (CS)
» FINC.10.02.a, MKTC.12.02.a
Determine ways of reinforcing the company’s image through employee performance (CR:002) (CS)
» FINC.10.02.b, MKTC.12.02.b
Explain the responsibilities of finance professionals in providing client services (CR:012) (CS)
Discuss the nature of customer relationship management (CR:016) (CS)
» FINC.10.03.a, MKTC.12.03.a
Explain the role of ethics in customer relationship management (CR:017) (SP)
» FINC.10.03.b, MKTC.12.03.b
Describe the use of technology in customer relationship management (CR:018) (SP)
» FINC.10.03.c, MKTC.12.03.c
Use Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology (CR:024) (SP)
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Economics
Describe the nature of taxes (EC:072) (SP)
» FINC.02.04.b, MANC.02.04.b, MKTC.02.04.b
Analyze the impact of specialization/division of labor on productivity (EC:014) (SP)
» FINC. 02.05.b, MANC.02.05.b, MKTC.02.05.b
Explain the concept of organized labor and business (EC:015) (SP)
» FINC. 02.05.c, MANC.02.05.c, MKTC.02.05.c
Explain the impact of the law of diminishing returns (EC:023) (SP)
» FINC. 02.05.d, MANC.02.05.c, MKTC.02.05.d
Discuss the measure of consumer spending as an economic indicator (EC:081) (SP)
» FINC.02.06.b, MANC.02.06.b, MKTC.02.06.b
Describe the economic impact of inflation on business (EC:083) (SP)
» FINC.02.06.e, MANC.02.06.e, MKTC.02.06.e
Explain the concept of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (EC:017) (SP)
» FINC.02.06.d, MANC.02.06.d, MKTC.02.06.d
Discuss the impact of a nation’s unemployment rates (EC:082) (SP)
» FINC.02.06.c, MANC.02.06.c, MKTC.02.06.c
Explain the economic impact of interest-rate fluctuations (EC:084) (SP)
» FINC.02.06.g, MANC.02.06.g, MKTC.02.06.g
Determine the impact of business cycles on business activities (EC:018) (SP)
» FINC.02.06.h, MANC.02.06.h, MKTC.02.06.h
Explain the nature of global trade (EC:016, EC LAP 4) (SP)
» FINC.02.07.a, MANC.02.07.a, MKTC.02.07.a
Describe the determinants of exchange rates and their effects on the domestic economy (EC:100) (SP)
» FINC.02.07.b, MANC.02.07.b, MKTC.02.07.b
Discuss the impact of cultural and social environments on global trade (EC:045) (SP)
» FINC.02.07.c, MANC.02.07.c, MKTC.02.07.c
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Financial Analysis
Explain the concept of accounting (FI:085, FI LAP 5) (CS)—Review if Business and Marketing
Essentials course used
» FINC.06.01.a, MANC.04.01.a, MKTC.08.01.a
Discuss the role of ethics in accounting (FI:351) (SP)
» FINC.06.01.c, MANC.04.01.c, MKTC.08.01.c
Explain the role of finance in business (FI:354, FI LAP 7) (CS)—Review if
Business and Marketing Essentials course used
» FINC.07.01.a, MANC.05.01.a, MKTC.09.01.a
Discuss the role of ethics in finance (FI:355) (SP)
» FINC.07.01.b, MANC.05.01.b, MKTC.09.01.b
Describe the nature of financial institutions (FI:336) (CS)
Explain types of financial markets (e.g., money market, capital market, insurance market, commodities markets, etc.) (FI:337) (SP)
Discuss the nature of convergence/consolidation in the finance industry (FI:573) (SP)
Describe the relationship between economic conditions and financial markets (FI:574) (SP)
Explain the nature and scope of financial globalization (FI:575) (SP)
Describe sources of securities information (FI:274, QS LAP 36) (CS)—Review if Personal Finance course used
Interpret securities tables (FI:275, QS LAP 37) (SP)—Review if Personal Finance course used
Explain factors to consider when selecting investments (FI:279, QS LAP 41) (SP)
Explain information that can be obtained from financial statements (FI:276, QS LAP 38) (SP)
Describe information that can be obtained from annual reports (FI:277, QS LAP 39) (SP)
Explain fundamental analysis used in making investment decisions (FI:280, QS LAP 42) (SP)
Explain strategies for selecting investments (FI:283, QS LAP 45) (SP)
Interpret financial ratios significant to investors (FI:281, QS LAP 43) (SP)
Assess securities’ fundamentals (FI:282, QS LAP 44) (SP)
Choose investments based on fundamental analysis (FI:284, QS LAP 46) (SP)
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Human Resources Management
Orient new employees (HR:360) (CS)
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Marketing
Describe marketing functions and related activities (MK:002, MK LAP 1) (CS)
» FINC.09.01.b, MKTC.11.01.b
Explain factors that influence customer/client/business buying behavior (MK:014) (SP)
» FINC.09.02.a, MKTC.11.02.a
Discuss actions employees can take to achieve the company’s desired results (MK:015) (CS)
» FINC.09.02.b, MKTC.11.02.b
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Professional Development
Demonstrate appropriate creativity (PD:012, PD LAP 2) (SP)
Use time-management skills (PD:019, OP LAP 1) (SP)
Discuss career opportunities in the finance industry (PD:152, QS LAP 51) (CS)
Discuss licensure and certification available to finance professionals (PD:082) (SP)
Discuss opportunities for building professional relationships in finance (PD:153) (SP)
Describe the nature of retail/business banking processes (PD:204) (CS)
Describe types of retail/business banking products and services (PD:154) (CS)
Describe the nature of the insurance industry (PD:157) (CS)
Describe how securities are traded (PD:236, QS LAP 47) (SP)
Explain causes of stock price fluctuations (PD:238, QS LAP 40) (SP)
Discuss the nature and scope of investment banking (PD:198) (SP)
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Compliance
Discuss the nature and scope of compliance in the finance industry (CC:003) (SP)
Describe the use of technology in compliance (CC:004) (SP)
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Financial‐Information Management
Describe the need for financial information (FM:001) (CS)
Explain the nature and scope of the financial-information management function (FM:002) (SP)
Explain the role of ethics in financial-information management (FM:003) (SP)
Describe the use of technology in the financial-information management function (FM:011) (SP)
INSTRUCTIONAL AREA: Selling
Describe components of automobile insurance coverage (SE:406) (SP)
Discuss components of homeowners/renters insurance (SE:407) (SP)
Discuss the nature of health insurance coverage (SE:412) (SP)
Discuss the nature of life insurance (SE:419) (SP)
Explain the nature of stocks (SE:421, QS LAP 34) (SP) —Review if Personal Finance course used
Explain the nature of bonds (SE:428, QS LAP 33) (SP)—Review if Personal Finance course used
Describe the nature of mutual funds (SE:429, QS LAP 35) (SP)—Review if Personal Finance course used

» = Colorado standard