1. Assume that you begin saving 3% of your total income in an employer-provided retirement plan at work. How long will it take for you to be saving at least 20% of your income if your employer provides a 4% wage increase yearly and you save half of each years increase?
2. Based on your calculations from part a, how much will you be saving (using the end-of-year savings rate) over the next 10 years if you earn $30,000 this year?

Planning for the Future

Tom and Lucy Handy started selling T-shirts out of the trunk of their car at craft shows around the southern United States 4 years ago. Their business has grown dramatically. Other than paying taxes on their earnings, they have not done any formal business planning. In fact, their business has been so popular with crafters that they have started accepting online orders. They are now at a point where they are considering quitting their day jobs and focusing on the T-shirt business full-time. Tom and Lucy need some help thinking about their business.

Instructions

Use the information from this chapter to answer the following questions.

1. Given the way the Handys started their business, what form of business structure do they currently have? Is this an appropriate business structure?

2. What type of business structure can they use that would limit their liability but be easy to set up and manage?

3. Two years ago, Tom and Lucy purchased an original oil painting for $43,000. When they bought the painting, Lucy was sure that the piece would soon become collectible. Now that their business is doing well, they want to expand. Rather than take out a loan, Tom has suggested selling the painting. If they sell the painting at auction for $50,000 and pay a 20% sellers fee, how much will they make on the sale? Show the actual amount and the percentage gain or loss.

4. If they both quit their day jobs, what will they be giving up in addition to wages and salaries?

5. When they quit their jobs, will they be eligible for unemployment benefits?