The stock and bond markets are probably the least understood areas in finance and investing. Though trends in interest rates do affect both markets, much of what goes on in the current economy has a greater impact. Learn how to read and understand the stock and bond tables and how to do your own research in reviewing a company.

We’ll discuss:
1) price-earning ratio
2) stock splits
3) company buybacks
4) return on equity
5) IPOs
6) how effective company management is
7) when to buy and when to sell
8) dividends and yields and
9) a simple financial plan.

The student is taken through the accounting cycle: balance sheet, income statement, trial balance, general journal, ledger and worksheet. Students will become familiar with accounting terminology and many of the procedures, forms and records used in business today. After the tenth class, students will take home a test to be completed and mailed to the instructor for correction. Corrected tests will be mailed back to the students. Course certificates will be mailed to students with 70% or better attendance and a satisfactory performance on the final exam. Cost of the text is included in the course fee.

Are you in the health and wellness field and planning to open your own business or at a crossroads? You are the expert in your field, but when it comes to understanding the business side you may feel lost and confused. Getting an overview about the four elements of Business Decision Making can help get started in the right direction. The main elements are legal, insurance, marketing and project management. Learn about the different types of business entities and what are the benefits and ramifications of each. There are many different types of insurance to fit all business needs, educate yourself on which coverages are necessary. There are four principles of marketing-price placement, product and promotion. Basic knowledge and know how can save you money. Lastly, project management basics can be utilized to plan a project and bring it to fruition within your parameters. $30 material fee payable to the instructor for the TrueNorth Guidebook for Wellness Practitioners.

In this hands-on workshop taught by an eBay power seller, we’ll learn how to safely buy and sell on eBay, the world’s largest online auction marketplace. Buying tips will include searching for items, researching sold items and prices, and bidding. We’ll focus upon selling – creating and submitting listings, including photos, determining auction timing, managing auctions, handling payment and shipping, and dealing with non-responsive buyers. An important focus will be participating in eBay’s self-policing feedback system. This three session class will offer detailed instruction and explanation of each topic.

"Worried seller? Concerned buyer? Find out what´s really happening in your marketplace. A broker with over 26 years of experience and a seasoned mortgage officer will address trends in the real estate market and answer your specific questions."

This course consists of some practical aspects of being a manager or “executive” and being the boss to a group of people. It is meant to be particularly useful for the professional specialist such as the financial analyst, the sales person, the teacher, or the computer programmer who has been given management responsibilities. It will look at both the techniques and the attitudes of a successful manager.

This seminar is intended for people in all fields and all levels of development who want to learn the nuts and bolts of starting and succeeding in their own business. The course includes the four key elements of successful entrepreneurship: deciding what business to be in, marketing, managing and financing. Topics include preparing a business plan, raising money, motivating yourself and your staff, projecting cash flow and income statements, selling, and assessing the feasibility of your business idea. The emphasis is on designing a strategy that will work for you. We’ll discuss the entrepreneurial steps critical to your success. Videos of Ben & Jerry’s, Esprit and Patagonia will be shown. Please purchase, try to read, and bring to class the following Harvard Case Study from www.harvardbusinessonline.com: Steven B. Belkin, #383042 and R&R (TV Guide Trivia Game)#386019.

Learn grant writing from A-Z! Liz O´Connor of Strategy Matters, Inc. will help participants build their grant development skills in order to further their program or organization´s mission. Topics include: Clarifying Your Ask and Explaining Your Project Basics, Finding Your Funder and Making Your First Contact, Drafting Your Proposal Narrative, Creating Your Budget and Attachments, Finalizing and Submitting Your Proposal, Managing Your Relationship with Your Funders. Cost includes textbook and lunch. Course is not eligible for waivers or vouchers. This course meets at
Middlesex Community College Meetings
294 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821

How to get debt free….by investing in your debt. Our instructor’s simple system allows you to operate on 100% cash. Get a 37.13% guaranteed, tax free return, equivalent to traditional investments by becoming debt free. Pay off your credit cards, student loans, car loans, etc. in one to three years and your 30 year mortgage in another four to six years. Whether you earn $12,000 or $120,000, this class is for you. Learn how to live without credit. Enjoy the benefits of living on cash when you create real wealth by investing in your debt first. Please bring your list of debts and a calculator to class. In class you’ll develop your own debt elimination/investing plan that can be implemented immediately into your lifestyle. An optional text is available from our instructor for $43.

College tuition has been rising at twice the national inflation rate, regardless of which direction the stock market moves. With local colleges costing around $48,000 per year, many students are forced into only applying to public universities, or their parents are forced to sacrifice their own personal (retirement) savings to make college a reality. Both of these actions may be prevented with a proper understanding of the college funding process. This course will cover: - Overview of how your home, college tuition costs, and your retirement are all interlinked. - The EFC (Expected Family Contribution) calculation. - How specific colleges differ on financial aid policies. - Strategies to cut costs: For those who DO qualify for financial aid. - Strategies to cut costs: For those who DO NOT qualify for aid.

This is a beginner’s course for those wishing to understand investment basics. Topics will include CDs, EE Bonds, IRAs, 401K plans, a formula for establishing your own financial plan, and a broad overview of mutual funds.

Parents of young children need a will more than anyone else, but are least likely to have one. It’s important to protect minor children by appointing a guardian of your choice, not one chosen by the Probate Court, and to protect your children’s inheritance by creating a trust for their benefit. This class will enable you to do both. At session one, class discussion will help students to make informed decisions regarding the issues involved. Students will complete a simple form in class, listing their selections for the roles of guardian, trustee, executor and alternatives for each. (Students may wish to bring their address books, as addresses will be needed.) In session two, our instructor, who is an attorney experienced in estate planning, will provide each student with a customized will, ready for signature, which will be signed during class. This course also includes a customized guardianship proxy, which allows parents to appoint a temporary guardian in the event they become incapacitated or otherwise unable to care for their children.

NOTE: BOTH members of a couple MUST enroll and attend BOTH CLASSES. If stepchildren are involved, this class is best suited for couples whose children and stepchildren will inherit equally as one group.

This one night workshop is a must for all parents of college-bound high school students, including freshman and sophomores. We will demystify the college financial aid process and teach you how to access the more than $90 billion in financial aid dollars, monies that are even available to "high income" families and business owners. Strategies will be presented that will help you protect your assets by maximizing your eligibility for aid, effectively lowering your college cost. You will learn the optimum time to set the strategies in place (Hint, best before junior year) and why if you wait until the financial aid deadline to file your forms, you may miss out on the full amount of aid you qualify for. You will also learn how to protect the equity in your home and enhance your retirement savings as you educate your child. A free comprehensive analysis will be provided for those attending the class.

Have you heard the predictions about how much college will cost by the time your children (or grandchildren) attend? The cost of a college education is rising every year, and paying for it is harder than ever. The good news is that saving for college is easier than ever thanks to significant tax law changes. This course is for those who would like to learn how to save for college using a 529 Plan. 529 Plans are investment accounts that offer important benefits, such as allowing your assets to grow free from federal tax. And withdrawals for "qualified higher education expenses" are tax-free!

For people in all fields and all levels of experience who want to learn to be a superlative consultant and start and succeed in their own professional practice. We’ll cover the essence of super-consulting, how to market and sell your services, how to write a proposal, how to price your services, how much free consulting to give in the sales meeting, how to manage your own consulting business, how to develop your financial plan, and how to make the transition from your current position to be a successful consultant. Bring your questions.

Do you know what to do when your family member needs care? Are Nursing Homes really providing the care they say? In this seminar you will learn how to simply the long term care planning process in Massachusetts. This one night class will describe information, resources, and planning services so you can feel comfortable with your choices for your family member(s). The course will discuss options such as home services, Assisted Living, Nursing Homes. You will be given a variety of information to assist you in better navigating through the health care system. Topics to be covered: Medicare vs. Medicaid- what are the differences? State Nursing Home Ratings - what do the numbers really mean? Important Legal documents Assessing facilities - what do you look for? Home Care options - Are you familiar with all of the choices? Safety - Is your loved one safe at home? Scams - Buyer beware! When do you need to take over? Assisted Living - is it really for your relative? Are you overwhelmed and stressed caring for a loved one? Come join us and have your questions answered. Learn about what is available. Become a better consumer in this elder market.