Applied Financial Capstone Projects — Credit Orchard Academy

Capstone 1

0 of 5 steps

Build a 30-day money operating system

Turn statements and goals into a repeatable payday, bill, savings, and review process.

Finished outcome

A complete household money map, monthly plan, account flow, and weekly review checklist.

Deliverables

◆Net-worth and liquidity snapshot
◆Evidence-based monthly spending plan
◆Sinking-fund schedule
◆Payday automation map
◆Weekly review checklist

Supporting lessons

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Project steps

1.Collect 60 days of statements and current balances.2.Classify essential, flexible, periodic, and goal spending.3.Calculate cash-flow margin and reserve targets.4.Schedule repeatable transfers and due-date checks.5.Run four weekly reviews and revise the plan from evidence.

Reflection questions

Which expense created the most surprise?
Which default made the plan easier?
What would break the system next month?
What one change creates the largest margin?

Capstone 2

0 of 5 steps

Build a consumer-protection case file

Practice converting a credit, collection, or medical-billing problem into a factual evidence and deadline file.

Finished outcome

A chronology, issue statement, evidence index, communication log, and responsible next-action plan.

Deliverables

◆One-sentence factual issue
◆Chronology and deadline calendar
◆Evidence index
◆Written communication draft
◆Escalation and professional-help criteria

Supporting lessons

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Project steps

1.Separate facts from assumptions and desired outcomes.2.Identify every party, account, amount, and date.3.Match each claim to supporting or conflicting evidence.4.Draft a concise written request tied to the facts.5.Define what response closes the issue and what triggers escalation.

Reflection questions

Which fact is least supported?
What deadline creates the largest risk?
What result is legally or contractually realistic?
What information should never be sent through an unverified channel?

Capstone 3

0 of 5 steps

Underwrite a major purchase before a seller does

Evaluate a vehicle, home, education program, or other financed decision using total cost and downside resilience.

Finished outcome

A written maximum price, financing comparison, reserve requirement, and walk-away rule.

Deliverables

◆All-in purchase budget
◆Two written financing comparisons
◆Insurance and maintenance estimate
◆Downside stress test
◆Walk-away conditions

Supporting lessons

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Project steps

1.Define the problem the purchase solves.2.Estimate ownership cost beyond the payment.3.Compare cash, financing, and lower-cost alternatives.4.Stress-test income decline, repairs, and resale value.5.Write the maximum price and terms before negotiating.

Reflection questions

Which cost was absent from the advertisement?
Could the household absorb the deductible or repair?
What alternative preserves more flexibility?
What seller tactic could move the decision outside the written limit?

Capstone 4

0 of 5 steps

Create a resilient household continuity plan

Coordinate insurance, emergency money, disability, documents, digital access, caregiving, and disaster response.

Finished outcome

A secure continuity binder and ninety-day response plan another authorized person can use.

Deliverables

◆Household contact and account inventory
◆Insurance and deductible map
◆Emergency cash and evacuation budget
◆Authority and document index
◆Digital recovery and incident sequence

Supporting lessons

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Project steps

1.Inventory people, accounts, property, obligations, benefits, and documents.2.Identify single points of failure and missing authority.3.Test access to emergency contacts and protected records.4.Assign responsibilities and backup owners.5.Schedule an annual simulation and update.

Reflection questions

What fails if the household organizer is unavailable?
Which deductible is not funded?
Who has legal authority and who only has information?
Can the plan be used without exposing raw passwords?

Capstone 5

0 of 5 steps

Write a personal wealth and investment policy

Create rules for reserves, debt, contributions, allocation, fees, speculation, rebalancing, professionals, giving, and legacy.

Finished outcome

A one-page policy that can guide decisions during market excitement, fear, and sales pressure.

Deliverables

◆Goal and time-horizon map
◆Contribution and allocation rules
◆Fee inventory
◆Rebalancing and speculation limits
◆Professional verification checklist

Supporting lessons

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Project steps

1.Define each goal, date, and minimum acceptable outcome.2.Match reserves and investment risk to each horizon.3.Set contribution, rebalancing, and fee rules.4.Write pause rules for new products and professionals.5.Review beneficiaries, giving, and annual policy updates.

Reflection questions

Which rule matters most during a market decline?
What fee is hardest to see?
What amount could be lost without changing required goals?
What evidence would justify changing the policy?

Capstone 6

0 of 5 steps

Build a business finance and funding room

Close the books, calculate unit economics, forecast cash, define a capital need, and organize evidence for responsible funding.

Finished outcome

A lender- or investor-ready operating file grounded in reconciled records and downside-aware projections.

Deliverables

◆Reconciled financial statements
◆Unit-economics and break-even model
◆Thirteen-week cash forecast
◆Debt and ownership schedule
◆Use-of-funds capital memo

Supporting lessons

Open lesson Open lesson Open lesson Open lesson Open lesson

Project steps

1.Reconcile all operating and financing accounts.2.Calculate contribution by major offer.3.Forecast receipts and obligations for thirteen weeks.4.Define the exact capital use and downside case.5.Index formation, tax, banking, contract, insurance, and financial records.

Reflection questions

What explains the gap between profit and cash?
Which offer produces the best contribution per constrained hour?
What happens if sales are twenty percent lower?
Does the proposed capital match the life of the use?