This course is part of the The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

Lauren Anastasio

1,540 already enrolled

Offered By

The Fundamentals of Personal Finance SpecializationSoFi

About this Course

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This course is aimed at anyone who has debt, is thinking of taking on debt, or wants to better understand debt as part of your overall financial picture.  It covers a variety of debt types, as well as debt payment options. The course will help you assess your current debt situation and understand the paths to paying off your debt. This includes categories such as mortgages, credit card debt, and student loans. Learn how to differentiate between good and bad debt, as well as how to think about debt as you work towards your financial goals. This course is geared towards learners in the United States of America.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 3 of 5 in the

The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is for the novice in personal finance. Someone who wants to better understand debt or is about to take on additional debt.

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Refinancing
Personal Finance
Credit Card Debt
Money Management
Mortgage

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 3 of 5 in the

The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is for the novice in personal finance. Someone who wants to better understand debt or is about to take on additional debt.

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Lauren Anastasio

Senior Financial Planner

16,619 Learners

3 Courses

Offered by

SoFi

SoFi’s mission is to help people reach financial independence to realize their ambitions. And financial independence doesn’t just mean being rich - it means getting to a point where your money works for the life you want to live. Everything we do is geared toward helping our members get their money right. We’re constantly innovating and building ways to give our members what they need to make that happen.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Understanding the Basics of Debt and Home Loans

3 hours to complete

15 videos (Total 70 min), 4 readings, 7 quizzes

15 videos

How Debt Works4mDebt - Interest, APR and Fees6mDebt Amortization7mGetting Ready to Apply for a Loan4mTypes of Debt5mGood Debt vs. Bad Debt6mMeasuring and Assessing Your Debt3mMortgage Basics5mKey Mortgage Ratios4mMortgage Amortization3mTypes of Mortgages - Part 14mTypes of Mortgages - Part 22mTop 5 Mortgage Mistakes4mHELOCS and HELs3mRefinancing Home Loans3m

4 readings

Welcome to Managing Debt3mActivity - Categorize and Prioritize Your Debt10mUnderstanding the Different Types of Mortgage Loans8mCash-Out Refinance 101: How Cash-out Refinancing Works5m

7 practice exercises

Correctly Identify Different Types of Debt6mDifferent Ways Interest Can be Calculated5mHome Affordability5mTypes of Mortgages7mMortgage Components and Payments5mMortgage Refinancing5mUnderstanding the Basics of Debt and Home Loans30m

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Addressing Student Loan Debt

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 30 min), 3 readings, 4 quizzes

7 videos

Student Loan Basics4mFederal Student Loans3mStudent Loan Repayment Basics4mFederal Student Loan Repayment Options4mStudent Loan Deferment & Forbearance4mPrivate Student Loans3mRefinancing Student Loans4m

3 readings

Federal Student Loan Basics7mPrivate Student Loan Basics 6mStudent Loan Options: What is Refinancing vs Consolidation?5m

4 practice exercises

Student Loans6mStudent Loan Payment Options6mStudent Loan Refinancing6mAddressing Student Loan Debt24m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Managing Credit Cards and Other Debt

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 41 min), 3 readings, 6 quizzes

9 videos

Types of Credit Cards3mHow Credit Cards Work6mCredit Card Balance Transfers4m6 Tips of Maximizing Credit Card Rewards5mManaging Your Credit Cards4mKeeping Credit Card Debt in Check2mAuto Loans4m4 Tips for Getting the Best Auto Loan for You4mPersonal Loans4m

3 readings

How Do Credit Card Payments Work?5mUnderstanding Credit Card Rewards5mThe Problem with Payday Loans4m

6 practice exercises

Credit Card Basics7mComponents of Credit Cards4mCredit Card Repayment Options5mOther Debts7mTypes of Debt8mManaging Credit Cards and Other Debt20m

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Paying Down Debt Strategically

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 26 min), 5 readings, 3 quizzes

6 videos

Using the Good Debt/Bad Debt Framework to Prioritize Your Debt4mDebt Paydown in the Context of Your Next Money Move4mPaying Down Debt3mThe Snowball Method3mThe Avalanche Method3mThe Fireball Method5m

5 readings

Summary of Good Debt Types, Bad Debt Types, & Prioritization5m3 Common Debt Payoff Strategies5mChoosing the Right Debt Repayment Plan that Fits You5mActivity - Debt Paydown Calculator15mPutting Your Debt Paydown Strategy into Action5m

3 practice exercises

Debt Repayment5mPaying Down Debt10mPaying Down Debt Strategically24m

About the The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

This Specialization is intended for anyone looking to take control of their finances. Through these five courses, you will cover a variety of personal finance topics, including budgets, investing, and managing risk. The readings, videos, and activities will prepare you to understand the current state of your money, as well as take actions to work toward your financial goals. This specialization is geared towards learners in the United States of America.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Managing Debt

About this Course

Skills you will gain