Before Getting Started

This course is divided into three parts. The first part will cover topics related to personal finances. The second part will cover topics related to small business finances. The final part will be an expository Bible study on topics related to stewardship and money.

The personal finance and small business finance sections have a text-based lesson. A few of the lessons include a video which explains concepts which are more difficult to express in text form. You are encouraged to watch the video and take notes before completing the lesson.

The Bible study contains both video and text. You only need to do one or the other. You are encouraged to watch the video because the text will not be a word-for-word transcript of the video, and there are concepts discussed in the video which are difficult to reduce to text.

It is strongly recommended that you take the lessons in the order presented. Later lessons build on concepts discussed in earlier lessons. Jumping ahead is likely to leave you confused and misunderstanding topics in the lesson. You will also likely have a lower grade on Graded Assignments.

Background. This course was written to serve as both financial literacy and a representation of years of actual practice in the legal, tax, and financial fields. The author has 20 years’ experience (and counting) in these fields, and course lessons are influenced by the observation of real-life cases and experiences when decisions did not turn out well.

Some of the lessons include additional commentary highlighted in gray boxes. These are additional information which is not necessarily part of the lesson but contain practical information.

Grading. Probably the most important question on your mind at this point is how you will be graded. There are five parts to your final grade. These are:

  • Graded Assignments: At the end of the personal finance and small business finance lessons, you will have a Graded Assignment to complete. You may complete this open book. The Graded Assignments largely follow a case study format, so answers are not readily found in the lesson. Each question is a miniature case study, and you are to choose the best answer which fits the problem. As you progress through the course, Graded Assignments may include topics from previous lessons. The Graded Assignments collectively are worth 20% of your final grade.
  • Personal finance course project 1: At the end of the lesson titled All About Checks, you are to open a bank account. This activity is worth 20% of your final grade.
  • Personal finance course project 2: At the end of the personal finance section, you are to write a financial plan based on a case study. A sample financial plan is included in the lesson titled Preparing a Financial Plan. The project is worth 20% of your final grade.
  • Small business finance course project: At the end of the small business finance section, you are to write a business plan. It is suggested that the business plan be based on a business idea of your own. However, if you do not have an idea, you can make one up. A sample business plan is included in the lesson titled Business Plans. The project is worth 20% of your final grade.

Pre-Tests. Before the personal finance and small business finance lessons, you will see a pre-Test. This is a non-graded activity designed to test your knowledge before starting the lesson. The pre-test will help to reinforce the topics discussed in the lesson and help you and the teacher measure your progress in comprehending the lesson.

Answer Key and Commentary. Both the online lessons and Teacher’s Guide contain answers to pre-test questions and graded assignment problems. In the online lesson, answers will appear only after the pre-test or graded assignment is complete. Included with the answer key is commentary on why an answer was correct or incorrect. The commentary will help teach the course and cement concepts in your mind.

About the Author. R. Joseph Ritter, Jr. CFP® EA holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Indian River State College; Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Palm Beach Atlantic University; and Master of Arts degree in World Mission and Evangelism from Asbury Theological Seminary.

headshot of Mr. R. Joeseph Ritter, Jr.

Mr. Ritter’s career has primarily been in the secular workforce with over 20 years of experience as a senior paralegal in three law firms and as an independent financial planner and tax professional. Mr. Ritter holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional credential, which is the gold standard credential in the financial planning service sector. Mr. Ritter also holds the Enrolled Agent federal tax representation license issued by the Internal Revenue Service. The Enrolled Agent is an elite status of tax professionals recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as having earned the privilege of representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service. An Enrolled Agent has the same unlimited practice rights as a CPA and attorney and also enjoy the attorney-client privilege with taxpayers.


In addition, Mr. Ritter extensively volunteers time in community service through financial counseling and tax clinics offered by Zacchaeus Financial Counseling, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Mr. Ritter has also served as a student pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA); Director of Youth and Outreach in the United Methodist Church; and Licensed Pastor in the Free Methodist Church. Volunteer time has also included ministry in the local church and in missionary organizations, such as Transport for Christ International.

Mr. Ritter is married to Amy and has four children: Justin, Leah, Ethan and Ava. Mr. Ritter is also a self-published author and enjoys studying the Bible.

About Zacchaeus Financial Counseling, Inc. Zacchaeus Financial Counseling, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The organization exists to provide individual financial counseling and planning especially for low- and middle-income households regardless of the ability to pay for services. This is our primary mission. We know that there are many households who need financial counseling and planning services, and that the primary barrier is the ability to afford the services of a professional financial planner.

Our secondary mission is to provide educational seminars, educational material and financial literacy. We fulfill this mission by creating Bible studies focused on money topics, providing seminars in the community focused on basic financial principles, and producing classes such as this one for homeschoolers to learn and apply personal finance skills.

Zacchaeus Financial Counseling, Inc. is a grassroots organization and continues to be small and flexible. Currently, our service area primarily covers Western North Carolina (our home base), Eastern Tennessee, and Eastern Kentucky. Through the power of remote technology, we are also able to serve clients remotely and provide online resources for those outside our service area.

In addition to this personal finance class, we have a free resource available in the form of an e-book aimed at young adults called to ministry. If this is of interest to you, we encourage you to download a free copy of You’re Called to the Ministry. Now What?

The book can be downloaded free at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/youre-called-to-the-ministry-nowwhat-r-joseph-ritter-jr/1120748186