Author Description

<p>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. <i>Essential Personal Finance</i> 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.</p><p>It provides an introduction to some of the essential foundations of a modern undergraduate finance qualification, including:</p><ul> <li>the nature of financial institutions, markets and economic policy that shape the opportunities and decisions individuals face</li> <li>the range of financial assets available to households, risk-return trade-off, basics of portfolio construction and impact of tax</li> <li>the importance of the efficient market hypothesis and modern portfolio theory in shaping investment strategies and the limitations of these approaches</li> <li>behavioural finance as a key to understanding factors influencing individual and market perceptions and actions</li> <li>using financial data to inform investment selection and create financial management tools that can aid decision-making</li> </ul><p>The second edition has been fully updated and includes: more information on the cost of living crisis; Fintech, climate change, sustainable finance and cryptocurrencies; financial skills and calculations; tax, trust planning and wills; pensions; regulation and fraud; and additional case studies.</p><p>Written by authors who contribute experience as financial advisers, practitioners and academics, <i>Essential Personal Finance</i> is a compelling combination of a 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.</p>