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Hank Carlson, once a successful businessman and a well-respected member of his community, spent nearly two years in prison for check fraud. When he was caught, the community turned on him instantly, and his family suffered financially and socially as a result of his deeds. Carlson did his time grudgingly, believing himself to have been the scapegoat of a Justice Department that was overcompensating for the Enron debacle by punishing any businessperson who set a toe even slightly outside the law...even if, as Carlson imagines is true of him, they hadn't really hurt anybody. Now, Carlson is out of prison and working to repair the broken trust and relationships within his family. He has an okay job and new connections with people who don't know about his past. But when an investment banker offers Carlson a finance job, Carlson fears that accepting it would reveal what he'd done all over again, exposing himself and his family to more damage. And then a local teacher at the center of a scandal reaches out to Carlson for help and advice. What should Carlson do?

This case follows Kaycee, who had just returned two weeks ago from a 27-month stay in prison, as she discovers that she is the victim of identity theft. To find out what steps to take, Kaycee reaches out for advice to Marisa Berryman, a mentor at the residential facility that housed Kaycee for three months following her incarceration before she returned home. The goal of this case is to educate students about the risks of identity theft, teach them how best to protect themselves, and inform them how to react if their identity has been stolen. The case is designed to be taught in a financial literacy course for non-MBA audiences.

This case tracks a woman named Jodi as she dreams of going back to school in her early 30s to become a nurse. Jodi had put off higher education for 15 years after she became pregnant with her son as a junior in high school. But now, with her son only a few years away from leaving the house for college himself, Jodi wants to improve both her future and the $30,000 income she currently earns as an administrative assistant at a small health clinic. Jodi calls her friend Tameka, a cashier at a local supermarket who had recently gone back to school to become a pharmacist. Tameka suggests that Jodi meet with a college adviser to learn more about her options. This case is best used in a non-MBA course on financial literacy, or in other educational settings wherein learners are exploring resilience, especially navigating returning to the educational system as an adult.

Handout to case UV7964

Supplement to case UV7959

Handout to case UV7961

Supplement to case UV7959 This case series simulates the quintessential "American dream:" buying and financing your first house. For most people, buying a house is the largest purchase they will experience in their lifetime. The process has both legal and economic components, and often requires that the buyer rely heavily upon a realtor to navigate all the technicalities. Along the way, the buyer may experience an emotional roller coaster with both the excitement of becoming a homeowner and the worry that comes with making a large financial commitment. Much of the worry comes from a lack of understanding, particularly when we buy that first house without any experience with such a transaction. The primary objective of these cases is to provide the key information needed to understand what is involved with the purchase and financing of a house, and to simulate the process as the students experience the cases in sequence over several class periods.

This case series simulates the quintessential "American dream:" buying and financing your first house. For most people, buying a house is the largest purchase they will experience in their lifetime. The process has both legal and economic components, and often requires that the buyer rely heavily upon a realtor to navigate all the technicalities. Along the way, the buyer may experience an emotional roller coaster with both the excitement of becoming a homeowner and the worry that comes with making a large financial commitment. Much of the worry comes from a lack of understanding, particularly when we buy that first house without any experience with such a transaction. The primary objective of these cases is to provide the key information needed to understand what is involved with the purchase and financing of a house, and to simulate the process as the students experience the cases in sequence over several class periods.

Supplement to case UV7947. This case provides two snapshots of sudden health care crises. It walks the students through how health insurance works, and what questions to ask when receiving care.

Cameron Harding has just opened his own business, and needs to get health insurance for himself and his fiancée, Audra. They are looking for a plan that will best meet their needs, but Harding knows little about the world of health insurance. Luckily, Harding's uncle, a senior salesman at a large pharmaceutical firm, is happy to offer advice and talk Harding through the process of choosing insurance. This case set walks students through choosing a health insurance plan, and what questions to ask when receiving care.

Kira Allen has moved to a new city, started a new job, and is ready to get herself a new cell phone and a phone plan as well. As she researches her options, Allen thinks about trade-offs and differentiating her wants from her needs in the purchasing process. This case is most useful in a financial-literacy or financial-capability course for non-MBA learners. Students will think about their own requirements in a cell phone, what terms in the mobile-phone sphere actually mean, how to decide on a device and a provider, and the total costs of phone ownership.

This case teaches students the importance of maintaining a strong FICO score by illustrating the consequences of paying bills late or not at all. The protagonist is David Molina, a waiter at a struggling Italian restaurant located down the block from where he lives. Money is tight for Molina right now-his limited income means he lives paycheck to paycheck. However, Molina knows things will be looking up for him soon because he recently accepted a job as a bank teller across town-his first desk job. Molina has been putting off paying two of his bills: a cable bill and his Bank of America credit card bill, both of which are late and have been issued, this time, in the form of threats to impact Molina's credit score if he doesn't pay them. He has just enough money to afford the minimum payments on each overdue bill. But then he receives a phone call from his friend, Jim Lindsey, reminding him about an invitation to go to Myrtle Beach for the upcoming weekend. Molina knows he cannot afford it, but a woman he's attracted to, Jessica, will be there too. Should Molina put off the bills yet again, and if so, how exactly will being late on them hurt his credit score?

This case follows a man named Jaime as he considers options for obtaining furniture for the new apartment he and his brother, Angelo, have leased. Jaime would like a new couch, a coffee table, and a TV to improve their living room, but his $2,000-a-month income at an auto shop and lack of savings means he will have to make some difficult choices. Angelo suggests that Jaime construct a budget and only acquire one piece of furniture at a time. Because he has no bank account, credit card, or credit score (to his knowledge), Jaime believes he will not qualify for some of the furniture deals advertised in the bigger department stores. As a result, Jaime explores rent-to-own financing, which does not require a credit check.

This case simulates the decision of choosing a bank account through the eyes of a new couple on the verge of getting married. Bill Donlon has no prior experience in banking, choosing instead to accumulate his savings in cash. Donlon's fiancée, Melissa Ivy, had a bank account in college, but rarely used it other than to withdraw funds occasionally. After their marriage, the couple will move from Norfolk, Virginia, to Roanoke, Virginia, to start new jobs. Donlon will be working as a salesman at the local Ford dealership and Ivy will be a pharmaceutical sales rep for Actavis, Inc., working mostly from her car as she visits accounts. Both Donlon and Ivy will be paid via direct deposit by their new employers, thus necessitating a bank account. This motivates Donlon to talk with his uncle Ned about banking and sends Ivy to the internet to compare banks and account options.

A financially struggling administrative assistant needs information to help her decide whether she can return to school.

Marcy and Dan were high school sweethearts who married young and built a life together. Between Marcy's work as a waitress and Dan's as an electrician, they have raised their now-teenage children with a lot of hard work and sacrifice. While at lunch with a group of friends, Marcy hears about her friend Diane's mother, who, due to a lifetime of poor financial planning, has had to move in with Diane, putting a strain on Diane's finances and marriage. While saddened to hear about her friend's misfortunes, Marcy realizes she needs to consider her and Dan's future and their lack of retirement savings. She and Dan meet with a financial planner for help with retirement planning, and they learn about their options for saving and investing.

In this case, fry cook Reggie Fuller, who wants to buy a car to ensure that he can consistently get to work on time, asks his mother if she and his sister would like to chip in with him so that he can afford a new Nissan Versa, a cheaper alternative to some of the other new cars he's been looking at. Fuller's mother responds by raising scheduling concerns along with car-related costs outside of monthly payments, such as gas, maintenance, and insurance. Staring down the realization that he just may not be able to afford a new car, Fuller wonders if he should reconsider the idea of getting a used car instead, and asks his friend, an auto mechanic, to educate him on pre-owned vehicles.

This case series simulates the decision of choosing and financing a car. Reggie Fuller is a fry cook on the verge of losing his job if he keeps arriving late to work due to inconsistent public buses. Fuller's dream car, the Lincoln MKS, is priced far beyond his budget ($50,000), but Fuller wonders if he can afford other new cars like the Nissan Altima (which costs $17,445) or the Toyota Camry (which costs $20,306). Unsure of how to proceed, Fuller seeks the advice of a family friend and mentor, who agrees to teach him what he knows about the car-financing process. Accompanying the case is a handout that teaches students how to calculate monthly auto loan payments.

David Simmons is a waiter at a struggling Italian restaurant located down the block from where he lives. Money is tight for him right now, as his limited income means he lives paycheck to paycheck. However, David knows things will look up for him soon because he was recently offered a job as a bank teller across town-his first desk job. This case helps students learn about building credit. The case addresses what a FICO score is, who computes it, how it is determined, and what it is used for.

This case follows dance instructor Jackie McKenzie as she struggles to properly budget her expenses needed to support life with her youngest daughter, Millie. At the checkout aisle of her local grocery store, McKenzie becomes embarrassed when she discovers she cannot afford the $150 bill. Luxury purchases such as a red dress and McKenzie's bimonthly pedicures have maxed her credit card and strained her checking and savings accounts. Unfortunately, this is not the first time McKenzie has overspent her means. When McKenzie calls her oldest daughter, Kerry, to ask yet again for her financial help, Kerry challenges her mother to put together a budget.