Assume that interest rate parity exists. The one-year risk-free interest rate in the U.S. is 3 percent, versus 16 percent in Singapore. You believe in purchasing power parity, and you also believe that Singapore will experience a 2% inflation rate, and the U.S. will experience a 2% inflation rate over the next year. If you wanted to forecast the Singapore dollar’s spot rate for one year ahead, do you think that the forecast error would be smaller when using today’s one-year forward rate of the Singapore dollar as the forecast or using today’s spot rate as the forecast? Briefly explain.  

Assignment 1: LASA: Understanding 401(k) and IRAs

For this assignment, you will prepare a PowerPoint presentation evaluating and explaining the 401(k) and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) at a local community center, where you have been invited to speak. The audience will be a group of people who already work for companies that provide a 401(k) plan, so they are familiar with the basic concepts. The goal of the presentation is to explain to the audience the differences between the 401(k) and IRAs. Include the following:

• Explain which account would earn more money for the investor: a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. Support your statements with reasons and examples.

• Describe how people can identify their federal tax brackets.

• Use the following hypothetical questions/situations to explain the retirement plans in further detail.
  1. If you were to invest $3,500 in traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, after making adjustments for possible tax deductions, what would your net contributionbe for both the traditional and Roth IRA? Explain any differences your research shows.
  2. Once the traditional IRA or Roth IRA is established, you decide to invest the proceeds in a mutual fund. Identify the type of mutual fund you would select. Examples include stocks, bonds, or a balanced mutual fund. Using the Internet, research and select a specific mutual fund that meets your desired risk tolerance. You can use examples of mutual fund companies such as Oppenheimer and Franklin Templeton. Be sure to justify your selection.
  3. Based on the average annual return on the mutual fund selected, you invest $3,500 for thirty years without withdrawing any of the proceeds. How large would the balance be at the end of thirty years? Include your calculations in your presentation.
  4. To avoid the process of probate, and ensure that the balance in this fund transfers upon death to a person of your choice, explain how this account should be set up to ensure a prompt and direct transfer.
  5. As an employee of an organization, you may have access to invest in a 401(k) plan. Explain what a 401(k) plan is as well as its benefits. When one has the option to utilize a 401(k) from an employer, explain what restrictions are in place to limit 401(k) contribution?

Support your statements with examples and scholarly references. Remember to include detailed speakers’ notes to include additional remarks that could be used as a script when presenting to a live audience. Develop an 8–10-slide presentation in PowerPoint format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M5_A1.ppt.

By Saturday, February 1, 2014, deliver your assignment to the M5: Assignment 1 Dropbox.

Grading Criteria and Rubric

Assignment 1 Grading Criteria	Maximum Points
Slide/s and speaker notes explain which account would earn more money for the investor: using a traditional or a Roth IRA. Statements are supported with reasons and examples.	44
Slide/s and speaker notes describe how people can identify their federal tax bracket.	44
Calculations for computing net contribution of $3,500 after tax to a traditional IRA are provided.	28
Calculations for computing net contribution of $3500 after tax to a Roth IRA are provided.	28
Slide/s and speaker notes identify and select mutual fund based on desired risk tolerance.	20
Future value of this contribution over 30 years using the average annual return of the fund as an interest rate is computed.	24
Slide/s and speaker notes explain how an account should be set up to ensure prompt and direct transfer to avoid process of probate and ensure that upon death, the balance transfers to appropriate person.	24
Slide/s and speaker notes explain what a 401(k) plan is, its benefits, and the restrictions in place to limit 401(k) contributions.	24
Presentation Criteria: Organization (16) Style (8) Usage and Mechanics (16) APA Elements (24)	64
Total:	300

Note: This assignment is worth 300 points and will be graded using a rubric. Download and read the rubric to understand the expectations.

        Abraham, J., Sick, B., Anderson, J., Berg, A., Dehmer, C., & Tufano, A. (2011). Selecting a provider: What factors influence patients’ decision making? Journal of Healthcare Management, 56 (2), 99–114. 

·         Chullen, C. L., Dunford, B. B., Angermeier, I., Boss, R. W., & Boss, A. D. (2011). Minimizing deviant behavior in healthcare organizations: The effects of supportive leadership and job design. Journal of Healthcare Management, 55(6), 381–397.

Compare the two studies by analyzing their samples. Use the following questions to guide you.

1.      What sampling design is used?

2.      Is the sample size adequate?

You work for an international construction company that has been contracted to build the tallest skyscraper in the world in Rio De Janeiro. The financing is coming from Dubai, the materials are coming from China, the engineering and technology is coming from Germany, and the labor will be hired locally with management from the United States. You invite all of the players to the headquarters in the United States for a big meeting to explain the project and get to know one another. The people seem to be staying with their own groups and not mingling.

·         What is the cultural phenomenon here?

·         How do you explain the lack of intercultural communication?

·         What do you know about these cultures—specifically their economic, political, educational, and social systems—that could help you in getting them together?

·         What are some of the contrasting cultural values of these countries?

You are concerned about some of the language issues as you start the meeting, particularly the fact that the United States is a low-context country, and some of the countries present are high-context countries. Furthermore, you only speak English, and you do not have an interpreter present.

·         How will this affect the presentation?

·         What are some of the issues you should be concerned about regarding verbal and nonverbal language for this group?

·         What strategy would you use to begin to have everyone develop a relationship with each other that will help ease future negotiations, development, and implementation?