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Introduction to Personal Finance

Brian Walsh

4.6

Based on 221 ratings

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Brian Walsh

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.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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

<span>practical foundation in personal finance</span>

According to learners, this course is a highly practical and accessible introduction to personal finance, particularly for those new to managing their money. Many highlight its ability to break down complex topics into clear, digestible lessons. Students frequently praise the knowledgeable instructors and the actionable steps and practical activities that allow immediate application of concepts like budgeting and understanding credit scores. While it provides an excellent foundational overview, some more experienced students found the content to be too basic, suggesting it's best suited for absolute beginners seeking a solid starting point in their financial education, especially given its US-centric focus.

Taught by experts with relevant US-specific financial insights.

"The instructors did a great job."

"The US-centric content was very useful."

"I found the focus on actionable steps valuable."

"The instructors were knowledgeable and presented the material in an engaging way."

Offers a strong foundational understanding for those new to personal finance.

"This course was a fantastic introduction to personal finance! As someone new to managing my own money, this was incredibly helpful."

"Overall, a very solid course for beginners. It covers all the basics you need to know..."

"An absolute must-take for anyone struggling with personal finance or just starting out."

"It does exactly what it says: introduces you to the concepts. It's perfect for building a solid base."

Effectively simplifies complex personal finance topics for easy understanding.

"The concepts were explained clearly and concisely, making complex topics easy to understand."

"The course broke down complex ideas into bite-sized, digestible lessons."

"I found the pacing is good, and the topics are well-organized. The instructors are easy to follow."

Provides immediately applicable strategies and real-world financial management tools.

"The activities were practical and helped me apply what I learned immediately."

"The practical advice on setting financial goals was particularly impactful."

"The practical exercises make a big difference. I applied some of the budgeting strategies immediately, and they are working!"

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."

Content may be too basic for learners with prior financial knowledge.

"The course is okay, but it felt a bit too basic for me. I already knew most of the concepts covered..."

"I was hoping for something more in-depth. This course felt like a rehash of information readily available online for free."

"I wished there were more advanced topics or case studies for slightly more experienced learners..."

"Don't expect advanced investment strategies or complex tax planning, but it's perfect for building a solid base."

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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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wealth Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Personal Banker

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

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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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

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

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Save this course

Reviews summary

<span>practical foundation in personal finance</span>

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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