"Miss Julie" is a rather sad read/Finance

I thought it would be among the more humorous lines of "Tartuffe" by Moliere, but it was definitely not. It started out somewhat humorous, but took a dramatic turn by the end of the story. The story really is about Miss Julie: her likes, her dislikes, her loves, her hates, her fears, her desires, her contradictions. She first comes across as a manipulative, selfish young lady, who tricks men into doing her bidding for her. It is discovered during the story that Miss Julie has come by her personality because of her mother, who has empowered her to not be controlled by any man. However, she has also done her daughter a disservice; Miss Julie does not know how to love the men in her life properly. She hates them, yet has a weakness for them. She also wants to be common like her mother, yet not lose her importance in society (her father is a Count). It really is a good read, at any rate.

In Finance 410 this week, we're discussing the importance of a power of appointment. A power of appointment is a necessary, important part of a will that will allow someone other than the client/estate holder to make decisions regarding his or her estate and any other properties. This is necessary to diffuse family disagreements and other potential entanglements with regard to the client's estate.

It's about that time again....

It's time to register for the winter quarter (I plan to do so tomorrow). So start thinking now about the classes you want to register for, and then hop to it (especially if you want to avoid the late fee and you're an online student). This is my last quarter, as many of you who've been following my blogs know, and I have to register for my internship, as well as the other classes that I'll need. I've already sent in my letter from my employer, which is where I'll be doing my internship (hopefully). I'll be performing duties that pertain to my field of study, which is finance. So I'll be doing cash handling and accounts receivable functions, mostly (perhaps I'll even learn how to run charges).

Speaking of finance, I'm really enjoying my finance courses this time around. Finance 405, which pertains to retirement planning, is of particular interest to me. This is something that is constantly being discussed in today's society, and I want to be prepared when the time comes for retirement. I also want to be an effective financial planner when it comes to helping people manage their finances today for a better retirement tomorrow. Being armed with the right information can make a world of difference when it comes to saving and planning for a rainy day, even with regard to education (if I'd known then what I know now, I'd have planned smarter; but it's never too late to educate yourself). Also, it's nice to know that a lot of the information pertains to real-life situations that I may have personally experienced, so I'm able to get more out of the information.

I'm also really enjoying this drama class (Humanities 310). I get to express myself and my views on the readings that we're being assigned. Even when I think I've missed the mark, the professor is very encouraging. His comments really push us to delve beyond the first impressions.

Miss Julie/deathbed gifts of property....

So for the next weeks, we're considering "Miss Julie" by August Strindberg; this, also, is a very good read. The main characters seem to be Miss Julie, Kristine (her cook), and Jean (her valet). The character analysis given Miss Julie is but one layer of a very complex individual (read: looks can be deceiving). She appears manipulative, charming, and vulnerable, all at once. It is Jean who offers the biggest surprise, who shows the audience his true self further into the reading. Or maybe I'm wrong; I've only read the first few acts. Maybe there's more complexity with Jean, as well. Kristine seems taken by Jean, yet doesn't allow herself to be manipulated by him, as she knows he also pines after Miss Julie.

So this week in Finance 410 (Estate Planning), we learned about ownership (the different types of ownership) and transfer of property. So the discussion board question was: if your client decided on his deathbed that he wanted to give his beachfront property to his pretty nurse, was this valid? Could he actually approve such a transaction? The answer, of course, was no; real property could not be disposed of or transferred in such a manner. The individual would have had to make out a will to decide who would get his or her real property, such as homes, businesses, and beachfront properties. The reason for this is because the individual would have had to be in his or her sound mind when making such a decision, so that it would be reasonably clear to all involved that the financial planner and estate executor acted in accord with his or her wishes. So just because someone was kind to you in your final days, it doesn't mean that you can simply allow him or her to have your real property.

Behavioral finance....

In Finance 405 (Retirement Planning) this week, we're discussing the concept of behavioral finance. Behavioral finance is defined as "a field of study that applies the use of scientific research techniques to understand social, cognitive, and emotional biases that affect and influence economical decision making and is concentrated on the decisions of individual and collective economic agents and study whether the decisions they make are entirely rational or seem to lack rationality.

In other words: are financial choices made rationally, or are they made out of emotion? For instance, when we choose our investments and our savings plans, do we tend to "play it safe" out of fear of current market conditions? Do we make only the minimum contributions towards our futures, reasoning that we don't want to put all of our money into investments and/or savings plans that seem risky? At first glance, this seems like smart, reasonable planning; after all, having watched the market and the economic crisis that has swept the nation (that almost rivals the Stock Market Crash of '29 and the Great Depression shortly thereafter), it would be considered foolish to put money into a risky investment or savings plan (such as a 401(K)). However, what happens in the long run is that individuals often find themselves ill-equipped at retirement and that they cannot take it easy the way they imagined they would. So it pays to do research and make the best decision based on investigating and weighing the pros and cons of any type of investment or savings plan. This way, you'll always make the decisions that are rational and provide a buffer for you at retirement.

Love doesn't hurt!!!!

Let me say this again, Berkeley students: love doesn't hurt. As I posted earlier, this month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (also Breast Cancer Awareness Month), and we at the Healthy Cafe online club are discussing domestic violence of all sorts: violence against men, against, women, and against children. We are also discussing ways in which the victim can get help, as well as how the abuser can get help.

There's an ongoing poll on Blackboard right now with regard to domestic violence, and the poll results are showing that a little more than half of those attending our campuses right now have been the victims of domestic violence at some point. This is completely unacceptable and inexcusable. We need to arm ourselves with the necessary information so that we are able to protect ourselves and our loved ones, including pets. I mention pets because during other research on domestic violence, it has been shown that the victims of domestic violence can include our pets. Think about it: if a man (or woman) can hurt you without blinking an eye or showing any remorse, what about a voiceless animal who oftentimes cannot defend itself against violent blows--from either an abusive owner or an owner's abusive significant other?

Also, with regard to children: if we notice that a child is behaving aggressively toward other children, we want to watch for signs that an adult may be abusing the child. Perhaps if the child is mimicking behaviors during playtime that are indicative of what is happening to him at home, a trusted adult could be notified, and the situation given the proper attention. While this may not necessarily be true of all children (some children may mimic what is shown to them on television), it is worthy of concern.

It's week 4 already?!?!

What happened here? I guess that's what happens when you're busy keeping up with your school assignments and notes and preparing for tests. I have to finalize my internship details and get registered for the next and final quarter of my school career here at Berkeley. It's been an amazing journey, I must say. It's not been without its challenges, but I am not a quitter, and I think I proved that to myself and others close to me.

I just took my first test for Finance 410, and I got an 85 out of 100. I probably would've gotten a higher grade if I'd put it just a bit more study, but overall, I was satisfied with my performance. And considering I was sick over the last couple of days, I think I did pretty well. It was about estate planning, the legal procedures that have to be followed, and really who should be considered candidates for estate planning. It also covered how to avoid unauthorized practices of law, as well as malpractice suits. Sometimes a financial planner, with the best of intentions, can overstep his or her balance in his or her zeal to help a client, and this could backfire and have disastrous results. This could result in a lawsuit and tarnished image not only for the financial planner, but for the firm he or she represents. This information will certainly help me in my career as a financial advisor on how to handle a client who wants a service that I may or may not be qualified to perform; I will avoid costly mistakes by performing only those services for which I am qualified and/or licensed.

Tartuffe the RAT.....

So I finished reading "Tartuffe" by Moliere for drama class, and all I can say is: What a SNAKE!!!! What could've occurred because of misleading foolish, blind Orgon is stopped in its tracks by the end of the story, but Tartuffe is an example of those "friends" who can't be trusted. He had turned Orgon against his entire family and gotten him to sign over his estate to him, as well as promise him the hand of his lovely daughter Mariane (who balks at the suggestion that she should marry Tartuffe, for she is in love with Valere and hopes to marry him instead). When Tartuffe makes a pass at Elmire, Orgon's wife, their son Damis angrily confronts Tartuffe and tells Orgon what has taken place. True to form, however, Orgon refuses to believe that his good friend--indeed, his spiritual brother--could do such a thing, and Damis is disinherited and dismissed.

Elmire talks with Orgon and tells him that Damis was telling the truth, and she gets Orgon to witness Tartuffe's treachery and deception firsthand. When Orgon angrily confronts Tartuffe, Tartuffe turns on him and tells him that there's really nothing that he can do about it, since he's just about signed his life away to him. Orgon, overcome with guilt and, no doubt, hurt, wonders how he could've been so easily duped by a character like Tartuffe. So what happens to Tartuffe in the end? Well, you'll just have to read the story, won't you? I can't give it ALL away, but let's just say that everyone gets what they deserve. ;)