BUSI 686 is Liberty's MBA course in financial planning, an overview of personal financial decisions across life's phases. Its written work is three forums (a 350-word thread with an attached Word copy and two 250-word replies, drawing on experience and course material), three sets of end-of-chapter discussion questions, and two mini-case written assignments on an instructor-provided case.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as BUSI 686 Financial Planning, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as BUSI686.
What BUSI 686 covers
The catalog description: An overview of personal financial decision-making, emphasizing each phase of life. Topics covered include career planning, budgeting, use of credit, insurance, investments, retirement planning, and income tax planning.
The course gives an overview of personal financial decision making across each phase of life: career planning, budgeting, the use of credit, insurance, investments, retirement planning and income tax planning. The text is Dalton and others, Fundamentals of Financial Planning.
Six quizzes (300 points) and an open-book comprehensive final exam (100 multiple-choice questions, 200 points) have no guide here. Each week runs Monday to Sunday, and the final week ends Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Dalton et al., Fundamentals of Financial Planning (2016). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
BUSI 686 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 50 | Thread at least 350 words; replies at least 250 words |
| 2 | End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions 1 | 50 | Not set in the guide; a thorough answer to each assigned question |
| 3 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 50 | Thread at least 350 words; replies at least 250 words |
| 4 | End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions 2 | 50 | Not set in the guide; a thorough answer to each assigned question |
| 5 | Written Assignment 1 | 100 | Varies; follow the assignment instructions |
| 6 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 50 | Thread at least 350 words; replies at least 250 words |
| 7 | End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions 3 | 50 | Not set in the guide; a thorough answer to each assigned question |
| 8 | Written Assignment 2 | 100 | Varies; follow the assignment instructions |
Week 1: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 350-word thread drawing on experience and course material, posted with an attached Word copy, then two 250-word replies. How to write BUSI 686 Week 1 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions 1
Answer the assigned end-of-chapter discussion questions from Dalton chapters 7 and 15 in thorough detail. How to write BUSI 686 Week 2 End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions 1.
Week 3: Discussion Board Forum 2
A 350-word thread drawing on experience and course material, posted with an attached Word copy, then two 250-word replies. How to write BUSI 686 Week 3 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 4: End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions 2
Answer the assigned end-of-chapter discussion questions from Dalton chapters 4 to 6 in thorough detail. How to write BUSI 686 Week 4 End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions 2.
Week 5: Written Assignment 1
Apply the course to the instructor's case study in the written assignment 1. How to write BUSI 686 Week 5 Written Assignment 1.
Week 6: Discussion Board Forum 3
A 350-word thread drawing on experience and course material, posted with an attached Word copy, then two 250-word replies. How to write BUSI 686 Week 6 Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 7: End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions 3
Answer the assigned end-of-chapter discussion questions from Dalton chapters 13 and 17 in thorough detail. How to write BUSI 686 Week 7 End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions 3.
Week 8: Written Assignment 2
Apply the course to the instructor's case study in the written assignment 2. How to write BUSI 686 Week 8 Written Assignment 2.
How BUSI 686 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The three forums are 50 each (150), the three sets of end-of-chapter questions 50 each (150), the two mini-case written assignments 100 each (200), quizzes 300, the final exam 200 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Forums (3) | 150 |
| End-of-Chapter Discussion Questions (3) | 150 |
| Mini-Case Written Assignments (2) | 200 |
| Quizzes (6) | 300 |
| Comprehensive Final Exam | 200 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach BUSI 686
The forums ask you to connect course concepts with experience, so think of real financial decisions you or your family have faced.
The two mini-case assignments use a case your instructor provides, and their length requirements vary, so check each one's instructions.
Questions students ask
What are the BUSI 686 mini-case written assignments?
Two written assignments (Weeks 5 and 8, 100 points each) on a case study provided by the instructor, with length requirements that vary by assignment.
How long are BUSI 686 forum posts?
Threads are at least 350 words, posted with an attached Word copy; each of 2 replies is at least 250 words, both drawing on experience and course material.
Working through BUSI 686 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.