Personal Finance
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2026
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2026
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Personal Finance offers a practical, approachable guide to understanding and managing personal finances with confidence. Designed to meet readers where they are, it connects everyday financial decisions to long-term outcomes, emphasizing real-life applications over complex jargon. Beginning with the “why” behind financial literacy, the book helps readers explore their personal values, goals, and decision-making habits before moving into core topics such as debt, taxes, budgeting, banking, and investing.
As the chapters progress, readers gain a clear understanding of risk management through insurance, long-term security through retirement and estate planning, and their rights and responsibilities as informed consumers. The book concludes with an introduction to Fintech, highlighting how emerging financial technologies are reshaping the way individuals manage money today. Together, these chapters provide a well-rounded foundation that empowers readers to make informed, responsible, and forward-thinking financial choices throughout every stage of life.
Chapter 1 – Introduction: Why Does This Matter
Chapter 2 – Decision-Making and Getting Personal
Chapter 3 – Debt Management
Chapter 4 – Taxes Made Simple
Chapter 5 – Build-A-Budget
Chapter 6 – Introduction to Consumer Banking
Chapter 7 – Investing
Chapter 8 – Insurance
Chapter 9 – Retirement Planning
Chapter 10 – Estate Planning
Chapter 11 – Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
Chapter 12 – Introduction to Fintech
Index
Christan Ola is an Associate Professor of Business and Finance at PennWest University, specializing in financial management, financial modeling, and risk management. He had a 15-year career in residential lending as an underwriter and credit analyst before earning his M.B.A. From Duquesne University and his DBA from Anderson University.
Chad Smith is a Professor of Management at PennWest University with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal finance education. He teaches both undergraduate and MBA capstone courses, where he emphasizes real-world application and experiential learning. In addition to his academic work, Chad is an entrepreneur and investor, actively involved in launching and scaling multiple businesses. His passion is helping students and readers build practical financial skills that lead to long-term success. Chad co-authored Personal Finance to make financial literacy accessible, actionable, and relevant to everyday life.
Chad Smith is a Professor of Management at PennWest University and an entrepreneur with a focus on real-world business applications. He teaches undergraduate and MBA capstone courses and is passionate about helping students develop practical financial skills. Chad co-authored Personal Finance to make financial literacy simple, relevant, and actionable.
"I really like the approach of the writing and the first chapter is right on the mark in that it clearly shares why this is important. I’d absolutely consider this text for my classes. As noted in your forward, it’s amazing that it’s taken us until 20 years into this century to understand that this stuff is difference-making, teachable (and learnable!) and vital for healthy communities. Great work!"
Kip Sobel
Personal Finance offers a practical, approachable guide to understanding and managing personal finances with confidence. Designed to meet readers where they are, it connects everyday financial decisions to long-term outcomes, emphasizing real-life applications over complex jargon. Beginning with the “why” behind financial literacy, the book helps readers explore their personal values, goals, and decision-making habits before moving into core topics such as debt, taxes, budgeting, banking, and investing.
As the chapters progress, readers gain a clear understanding of risk management through insurance, long-term security through retirement and estate planning, and their rights and responsibilities as informed consumers. The book concludes with an introduction to Fintech, highlighting how emerging financial technologies are reshaping the way individuals manage money today. Together, these chapters provide a well-rounded foundation that empowers readers to make informed, responsible, and forward-thinking financial choices throughout every stage of life.
Chapter 1 – Introduction: Why Does This Matter
Chapter 2 – Decision-Making and Getting Personal
Chapter 3 – Debt Management
Chapter 4 – Taxes Made Simple
Chapter 5 – Build-A-Budget
Chapter 6 – Introduction to Consumer Banking
Chapter 7 – Investing
Chapter 8 – Insurance
Chapter 9 – Retirement Planning
Chapter 10 – Estate Planning
Chapter 11 – Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
Chapter 12 – Introduction to Fintech
Index
Christan Ola is an Associate Professor of Business and Finance at PennWest University, specializing in financial management, financial modeling, and risk management. He had a 15-year career in residential lending as an underwriter and credit analyst before earning his M.B.A. From Duquesne University and his DBA from Anderson University.
Chad Smith is a Professor of Management at PennWest University with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal finance education. He teaches both undergraduate and MBA capstone courses, where he emphasizes real-world application and experiential learning. In addition to his academic work, Chad is an entrepreneur and investor, actively involved in launching and scaling multiple businesses. His passion is helping students and readers build practical financial skills that lead to long-term success. Chad co-authored Personal Finance to make financial literacy accessible, actionable, and relevant to everyday life.
Chad Smith is a Professor of Management at PennWest University and an entrepreneur with a focus on real-world business applications. He teaches undergraduate and MBA capstone courses and is passionate about helping students develop practical financial skills. Chad co-authored Personal Finance to make financial literacy simple, relevant, and actionable.
"I really like the approach of the writing and the first chapter is right on the mark in that it clearly shares why this is important. I’d absolutely consider this text for my classes. As noted in your forward, it’s amazing that it’s taken us until 20 years into this century to understand that this stuff is difference-making, teachable (and learnable!) and vital for healthy communities. Great work!"
Kip Sobel