Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the current financial situation at a high level.

Proficient - Describes the current financial situation at a high level. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes the current financial situation at a high level. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the current financial situation at a high level; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the current financial situation at a high level is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Creates at least two clear and accurate personal investment goals that are SMART.

Proficient - Creates at least two personal investment goals that are SMART. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate.

Basic – Creates at least one personal investment goal that is SMART. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to create at least one personal investment goal that is SMART; however, significant details are unclear and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The creation of at least two personal investment goals that are SMART is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Clearly and accurately identifies at least three major types of investments to invest in aligning with goals.

Proficient - Identifies at least three major types of investments to invest in aligning with goals. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate.

Basic - Vaguely identifies at least three major types of investments to invest in aligning with goals. Minor details are unclear and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify at least three major types of investments to invest in aligning with goals; however, significant details are unclear and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The identification of at least three major types of investments to invest in aligning with goals is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the rationale for why the three specific investment types were chosen, including how it aligns with SMART goals or how it supports the overall diversification strategy.

Proficient - Explains the rationale for why the three specific investment types were chosen, including how it aligns with SMART goals or how it supports the overall diversification strategy. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains the rationale for why the three specific investment types were chosen, including how it aligns with SMART goals or how it supports the overall diversification strategy. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the rationale for why the three specific investment types were chosen, including how it aligns with SMART goals or how it supports the overall diversification strategy; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the rationale for why the three specific investment types were chosen, including how it aligns with SMART goals or how it supports the overall diversification strategy is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains how to allocate the $100,000 in the three investment types.

Proficient - Explains how to allocate the $100,000 in the three investment types. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains how to allocate the $100,000 in the three investment types. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how to allocate the $100,000 in the three investment types; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how to allocate the $100,000 in the three investment types is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Includes a clear and accurate graphic illustrating the dollar or percent allocation of investment funds.

Proficient - Includes a graphic illustrating the dollar or percent allocation of investment funds. Minor details are slightly unclear or inaccurate.

Basic - Includes a limited graphic illustrating the dollar or percent allocation of investment funds. Relevant details are unclear and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts include a graphic illustrating the dollar or percent allocation of investment funds; however, significant details are unclear and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The graphic illustrating the dollar or percent allocation of investment funds is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses the estimated financial return for the investment portfolio to deliver five years from now using data and calculations.

Proficient - Discusses the estimated financial return for the investment portfolio to deliver five years from now using data and calculations. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally discusses the estimated financial return for the investment portfolio to deliver five years from now using data and calculations. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss the estimated financial return for the investment portfolio to deliver five years from now using data and calculations; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion of the estimated financial return for the investment portfolio to deliver five years from now using data and calculations is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains two key assumptions used to arrive at the estimated financial return five years from now.

Proficient - Explains two key assumptions used to arrive at the estimated financial return five years from now. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains two key assumptions used to arrive at the estimated financial return five years from now. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain two key assumptions used to arrive at the estimated financial return five years from now; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of two key assumptions used to arrive at the estimated financial return five years from now is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly discusses one potential risk to the overall portfolio to achieve a desired return.

Proficient - Discusses one potential risk to the overall portfolio to achieve a desired return. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally discusses one potential risk to the overall portfolio to achieve a desired return. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to discuss one potential risk to the overall portfolio to achieve a desired return; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The discussion of one potential risk to the overall portfolio to achieve a desired return is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains the importance of monitoring a personal investment portfolio on a routine basis.

Proficient - Explains the importance of monitoring a personal investment portfolio on a routine basis. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains the importance of monitoring a personal investment portfolio on a routine basis. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain the importance of monitoring a personal investment portfolio on a routine basis; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The explanation of the importance of monitoring a personal investment portfolio on a routine basis is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.