Personal Financial Planning

Knowing how to handle money effectively is more important today than ever. Billingsley/Gitman/Joehnk's market-leading PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING, 15E provides the tools, techniques and understanding you need to define and achieve your financial goals. Numerous examples and practical illustrations complement a common-sense approach. Interesting features and insightful financial planning tips work with current updates to keep content both timely and relevant. New content guides you in using today's financial tools and technology as you learn how to improve your spending habits, ask a financial adviser the right questions, budget effectively and choose the right bank for your individual needs. You also learn how to evaluate if it's best to buy or lease a vehicle, select the best credit card, recognize priorities in buying a home and even plan for retirement. In addition, MindTap online learning system is available to assist in completing homework and mastering key skills.

Randall S. Billingsley serves as a finance professor at Virginia Tech. He earned his bachelor's in economics from Texas Tech University and received his M.S. in economics and a Ph.D. in finance from Texas A&M University. Dr. Billingsley holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and Certified Rate of Return Analyst (CRRA) professional designations. An award-winning instructor at the undergraduate and graduate levels, his research, consulting and teaching focus on investment analysis and issues relevant to practicing financial advisors. Formerly a vice president at the Association for Investment Management and Research (now the CFA Institute), Dr. Billingsley published an equity valuation case study of Merck & Company that was assigned reading in the CFA curriculum for several years. In 2006, the Wharton School published his book, UNDERSTANDING ARBITRAGE: AN INTUITIVE APPROACH TO FINANCIAL ANALYSIS. In addition, his research has been published in refereed journals such as the Journal of Portfolio Management, the Journal of Banking and Finance, Financial Management, the Journal of Financial Research and the Journal of Futures Markets. Dr. Billingsley advises the Student-Managed Endowment for Educational Development (SEED) at Virginia Tech, which manages an equity portfolio of about $5 million on behalf of the Virginia Tech Foundation. To date, Dr. Billingsley's consulting has focused on providing expert testimony on financial issues as well as helping investment professionals prepare for the CFA exams. Dr. Billingsley enjoys exploring and discussing the relationships among diverse areas of investment analysis as his consulting takes him throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Lawrence J. Gitman is an emeritus professor of finance at San Diego State University. He received his bachelor's degree from Purdue University, his M.B.A. from the University of Dayton and his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Gitman is a prolific textbook author with numerous best-selling books, and he has written more than 50 articles for various finance journals. An active member of numerous professional organizations, Dr. Gitman is past president of the Academy of Financial Services, the San Diego Chapter of the Financial Executives Institute, the Midwest Finance Association and the FMA National Honor Society. In addition, Dr. Gitman is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He formerly served as a director on the CFP Board of Governors in addition to functioning as vice-president of financial education for the Financial Management Association and as director of the San Diego MIT Enterprise Forum. Dr. Gitman has two grown children and lives with his wife in La Jolla, California, where he is an avid bicyclist.

Michael D. Joehnk is an emeritus professor of finance at Arizona State University. In addition to his academic appointments at ASU, Dr. Joehnk spent a year as a visiting professor of finance at the University of Otago in New Zealand. He received his B.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Arizona and his M.B.A. from Arizona State University. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), he served as a member of the Candidate Curriculum Committee and of the Council of Examiners of the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts. He also served as a director of the Phoenix Society of Financial Analysts and as secretary-treasurer of the Western Finance Association. He was also elected for two terms as vice president of the Financial Management Association. In addition, Dr. Joehnk was the editor of Institutional Asset Allocation, which was sponsored by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts and published by Dow Jones-Irwin. He has contributed to the Handbook for Fixed Income Securities and Investing and Risk Management, Volume 1 of the Library of Investment Banking. In addition, Dr. Joehnk served a six-year term as executive co-editor of the Journal of Financial Research. He and his wife live in Flagstaff, Arizona, where they enjoy hiking and other activities in the surrounding areas.