Emma Li graduated from university five years ago with an undergraduate degree in finance. Emma currently works as an investment analyst at a private equity firm. Her annual salary at the firm is $70,000 per year, expected to increase at 2.5% per year until retirement. She is currently 28 years old and expects to work for 40 more years. Her current job includes a fully paid health insurance plan, and her current average tax rate is 26%.

Although Emma is satisfied with her current job, her goal is to advance to a more senior management position. She feels that an MBA degree would allow her to achieve this goal. Emma has a savings account with enough money to cover the entire cost of her MBA. After examining schools, she has narrowed his choice to full-time MBA programs at the University of Toronto and Queens University. Assume that other than internships, neither school will allow its students to work while enrolled in the program.

University of Toronto is home to one of the top MBA programs in the country. The MBA degree requires two years of full-time enrollment at the university. The annual tuition is $46,270, payable at the beginning of each school year. Books and other supplies are estimated to cost $3,000 per year. Emma expects that after graduation from University of Toronto, she will receive a job offer for about $95,000 per year, with a $15,000 signing bonus (lump sum of money paid upon joining the company). The salary at this job is expected to increase at 4% per year. Because of the higher salary, her average income tax rate will increase to 30%.

Queens University offers an accelerated, one-year program, with a tuition cost of $83,000 to be paid at the beginning of the school year. Books and other supplies for the program are expected to cost $4,500. Emma thinks that she will receive an offer of $85,500 per year upon graduation, with a $20,000 signing bonus. The salary at this job is expected to increase at 3.5% per year. Her average tax rate at this level of income will be 29%.

Emma also estimates that room and board expenses at both schools will cost $2,000 more per year than her current living expenses, payable at the beginning of each year of studies. Assume that the appropriate discount rate is 5%.

Answer the following questions.

1. Emma has three choices: remain at the current job, pursue a University of Toronto MBA, or pursue a Queens University MBA. Assuming all salaries are paid at the end of each year, which is the best option for Emma from a strictly financial standpoint? (1.5 points)

2. Emma believes that the appropriate analysis is to calculate the future value of each option. Do you agree with this statement? Explain. (0.5 points)

3. You were asked to assume a particular discount rate for your calculations. In your opinion, what factors need to be considered when determining the proper discount rate for financial planning decisions like the MBA decision? (1 point)