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Introduction to Personal Finance

This course is a general overview of a variety of personal finance topics - including budgeting, the importance of your credit score, cash flow, setting financial goals, and taxes. Taught by two CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professionals, the concepts are broken down through videos, readings, and activities so you can apply what you are learning in real time. The course provides the foundation to build on for the rest of The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization or as a standalone survey course to improve your understanding of basic personal finance terminology, as well as how they apply to your own financial situation.

Whether you are just starting college, nearing retirement, or somewhere in between, this course will provide you with the knowledge to understand your money and actionable steps to manage your finances in the future. This course is geared towards learners in the United States of America.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Approaching Your Finances with Purpose

This module will cover the importance of being intentional with your finances and the underlying forces impacting your current relationship with money.

Understanding Your Net Worth and Credit Score

This module will help you assess your current financial situation by detailing assets, liabilities, and credit scores.

Assessing Your Cash Flow and Taxes

This module will help you understand where your money is coming from and where it is going, including taxes.

Planning and Budgeting for Your Future

This module will identify different budgeting strategies, financial goals, and how to ensure your money is working towards those priorities.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides actionable steps to manage finances in the future

Taught by two CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professionals

Covers basic personal finance terminology

Addresses the importance of credit scores

Suitable for individuals at various financial stages

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Reviews summary

Introduction to personal finance

Learners say "Introduction to Personal Finance" is a great course that offers engaging assignments such as practice items and readings to help you improve your personal finance management skills and gain a systematic understanding. Specifically, learners highly recommend this course for those who are new to personal finance, as it provides a solid foundation in key concepts like budgeting, debt management, and investing.

Learners praise the instructor's teaching style.

"I learned a lot from this course about personal finances. The instructor's teaching style is simple and effective."

Learners say the course provides practical insights.

"Great course.... I wish I would have seen this 30 years ago!"

"practical Insights"

Learners appreciate the combination of videos, readings, and quizzes.

"I really enjoyed this course! It was broken down into manageable sessions. I also liked how the course included a mix of practice items, videos and readings."

Learners say the course is well-structured with easy-to-follow content.

"Love the way it is structured."

"Very Informative. I also found the course structure to be simple and easy to follow."

95% of learners say they are largely positive about the course.

"Great course on personal finance!"

"I Learned a Lot in this class."

"A great introduction to personal finance"

Few learners dislike the frequent promotion of SoFi products.

"Unfortunately, this feels like one big advertisement for SoFi services."

"Very good for very basic stuff. I wish the end of every reading bit wasn't a push to start a Sofi account though."

Learners note that the course is heavily focused on the US market.

"It is primarily US focused, and the quizzes ask questions which are not necessarily most important for your understanding."

"But still it was interesting to listen."

Some learners criticize the course for being repetitive.

"it consist of things i already know."

"The course gives a fairly broad view of finance, money and relations with it as well as budgeting."

"There was plenty of information provided on that particular topic."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Personal Finance with these activities:

Review Personal Finance Basics

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Review the fundamentals of personal finance, including budgeting, saving, and investing, to lay a solid foundation for success in this course.

Browse courses on Budgeting

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Read articles on personal finance websites
Watch videos on personal finance topics
Complete practice exercises on budgeting and saving

Connect with a Financial Advisor or Planner

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Seek guidance from a financial professional to gain personalized advice and support in managing your finances effectively.

Browse courses on Financial Planning

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Research and interview financial advisors or planners
Attend financial planning workshops or events
Ask for referrals from friends or family
Consider using online platforms to connect with financial professionals

Create a Personal Budget

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Develop a practical personalized budget that aligns with your financial goals and helps you manage your finances effectively.

Browse courses on Budgeting

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Use a budgeting app or website
Create a spreadsheet or use a budgeting template
Track your expenses for a month
Categorize your expenses
Set financial goals
Adjust your budget as needed

Four other activities

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Discuss Financial Strategies with Peers

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Engage in discussions with peers to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and gain diverse perspectives on personal finance strategies.

Browse courses on Personal Finance

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Join a personal finance discussion group or forum
Host or participate in a financial planning workshop or study session
Share financial tips and advice with friends and family
Attend financial literacy events or webinars

Solve Personal Finance Problems

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Apply your knowledge by solving real-world personal finance problems to reinforce concepts and enhance your problem-solving skills.

Browse courses on Personal Finance

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Use online practice quizzes and exercises
Complete practice problems from textbooks or financial planning guides
Simulate financial scenarios using online budgeting or investing tools

Develop a Financial Plan

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Create a comprehensive financial plan that outlines your financial goals, strategies for achieving them, and potential risks and opportunities.

Browse courses on Financial Planning

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Identify your financial goals
Assess your current financial situation
Research and compare financial products
Develop a plan for investing, saving, and managing debt
Monitor your progress and adjust your plan as needed

Write a Personal Finance Blog or Article

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Create a blog or article that shares your insights and knowledge on a personal finance topic, providing value to others and reinforcing your understanding.

Browse courses on Personal Finance

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Choose a specific personal finance topic
Research and gather information
Write and edit your content
Publish and promote your article

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Personal Finance will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Planner

Financial Planners use personal finance knowledge to help clients make informed financial decisions. The content covered in the course's syllabus will directly benefit someone in this profession. Key topics include budgeting for the future, setting financial goals, and assessing cash flow and taxes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Financial Advisor

A foundation in personal finance is instrumental for a Financial Advisor. This course can help prepare you to advise clients on a wide range of financial matters. Whether helping clients achieve their investment goals or plan for retirement, the material taught in this course will help students gain a working knowledge of the financial landscape that their clients live in.

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Personal Banker

This course will help Personal Bankers explain to their clients the nuts and bolts of personal finance. The course may be particularly helpful for those bankers who are not credentialed as personal financial advisors or certified treasury professionals, but who are tasked with providing financial guidance or advice to non-high net worth individuals.

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Wealth Manager

Wealth Managers who serve high net worth individuals and families will benefit from the material in this course. Understanding the principles of personal finance, such as goal-setting, cash flow management, and tax implications, will help wealth managers provide informed advice and develop investment strategies that align with their clients' financial objectives.

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Financial Analyst

Personal finance constitutes a critical base of knowledge for a Financial Analyst. Many decisions made by a Financial Analyst are informed by customer needs and behaviors determined by foundational elements of personal finance, such as risk tolerance and cash flow. The topics covered in this course, such as budgeting, managing cash flow, and setting financial goals, are important tools for understanding the personal financial position and risk appetite of clients.

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Loan Officer

Understanding personal finance is crucial for Loan Officers who are responsible for working with both consumer and commercial clients. Loan Officers who provide financial guidance to clients may find this course especially helpful when considering the course topics of credit scores, cash flow management, and tax implications.

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Insurance Agent

Insurance Agents often need to understand the personal financial needs and goals of clients when offering policies such as life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, etc. Those who wish to help clients create a holistic financial plan would benefit from the knowledge taught in this course.

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Credit Analyst

This course may be helpful for Credit Analysts, as it covers the fundamentals of personal finance, including credit scores, cash flow management, and budgeting. Understanding these concepts is essential for evaluating the creditworthiness of individuals and businesses.

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Tax Accountant

This course may be useful for Tax Accountants, who need a thorough understanding of tax codes and the implications of financial decisions. Course topics such as tax planning and cash flow management may be particularly helpful for Tax Accountants who work with individuals and families.

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Budget Analyst

A Budget Analyst may be able to leverage the course's coverage of cash flow and budgeting to understand the budgeting process within an organization. They will find that the budgeting information in the course will be useful in presenting and analyzing current and future budget estimates.

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Risk Manager

Risk Managers may benefit from this course, as understanding personal finance principles can enhance their ability to assess and manage financial risks for individuals and organizations. The course's coverage of risk tolerance, cash flow management, and tax implications is particularly relevant to those in Risk Management.

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Investment Banker

Understanding personal finance principles may be useful for Investment Bankers. Though focused on the financial activities of corporations rather than individuals, principles of this course, such as assessing net worth and understanding credit scores, can give Investment Bankers a holistic view of the financial picture of businesses.

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Auditor

Though the course is geared toward personal finance, the material may be helpful for Auditors in understanding the financial position of individuals and families. This may be helpful for Auditors who work in areas where knowledge of household finances is helpful, such as tax preparation or estate planning.

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Actuary

Actuaries use mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk in various fields, including insurance, finance, and healthcare. While personal finance is not directly related to the actuarial profession, the syllabus of this course, such as its coverage of cash flow and assessing risk, may be useful.

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Data Analyst

While Data Analysts may not directly use personal finance principles in their work, the course may provide some helpful foundational knowledge. Data Analysts who work with financial data may find the course's coverage of financial ratios and cash flow analysis informative.

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Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Personal Finance.

The Psychology of Money

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Provides insights into the psychological aspects of personal finance, helping you understand the emotional and behavioral biases that can impact your financial decisions.

Introduction to Personal Finance

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What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Introduction to personal finance

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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