Go to the Introduction to Business Online Learning Center through glencoe.com for a link to the Occupational Outlook Handbook Web site. Click on the “OOH Search/A-Z Index” link and enter the job category “financial analysts and personal financial advisors.” Then write a one-page report about these types of occupations. Conclude your report with a list of things you could do now to prepare yourself to pursue the occupation.

Work with an adult family member to order a free copy of his or her credit report from one of the three U.S. credit bureaus. Then review the credit report. Is everything correct? Do any mistakes need to be corrected? Report what you did to get the credit report and the kind of information it presents.

Interview a business owner who has a store that accepts multipurpose credit cards, such as Visa and MasterCard. Ask about dealing with the credit card companies. What are the requirements to be able to accept these cards from customers? What are the associated costs and billing procedures? Ask whether all multipurpose credit card companies work the same way. Summarize your findings and share them with the class.

Interview family members about their knowledge of credit protection laws. Ask them specifically about the Truth in Lending Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Ask them if they think the three reasons for denying credit under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act are fair. Would they add any others? Why or why not? Write a report about their responses.

The total number of personal bankruptcies rose overall over a five-year period. Records indicate that there were $1.4$ million bankruptcies filed in U.S. courts at the beginning of the period. Five years later, there were $1.6$ million filed. What is the percent increase in bankruptcies filed over the five-year period?