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

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Brian Walsh +1 more instructor

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Offered By

The Fundamentals of Personal Finance SpecializationSoFi

About this Course

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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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Course 1 of 5 in the

The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is for anyone with a desire to understand your current financial situation and learn the steps to reach your future financial goals.

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Financial Planning (Business)
Credit Score
Taxes
goal setting
Budget

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 1 of 5 in the

The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is for anyone with a desire to understand your current financial situation and learn the steps to reach your future financial goals.

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

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

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.86/5 (50 Ratings)

Brian Walsh

Senior Manager, Financial Planner

14,527 Learners

3 Courses

Lauren Anastasio

Senior Financial Planner

16,961 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

Approaching Your Finances with Purpose

3 hours to complete

16 videos (Total 70 min), 8 readings, 6 quizzes

16 videos

Course Introduction6mThe Basics of Financial Planning5mLife Cycle of Financial Planning3mFinancial Planning in 6 Steps5mUnderstand the Human Side of Personal Finances4mDeep Dive into Personality 1 - Money Worship4mDeep Dive into Personality 2 - Money Avoidance3mDeep Dive into Personality 3 - Money Vigilance4mDeep Dive into Personality 4 - Money Status4mManaging Finances with a Partner – Where to Start4mManaging Finances with a Partner – Joint Accounts, Separate Accounts or Some of Both?4mWorking with Your Partner on Finances2mUnderstanding and Overcoming Loss Aversion4mUnderstanding and Overcoming Hindsight Bias3mUnderstanding and Overcoming Confirmation Bias3mUnderstanding and Overcoming Reference Bias4m

8 readings

About Your Instructors1mActivity - Financial Knowledge12mActivity - Identify Interests, Fears, and Questions6mTips for Creating a Financial Plan5mHow to Plan for Your Future7mOverview of Money Personalities10mActivity-Take Your Money Personality Assessment (KSMI)10mWhat is Behavioral Finance?5m

6 practice exercises

An Introduction to Financial Planning4mThe Financial Planning Process2mCommon Money Personalities Assessment5mRoles and Responsibility5mBehavioral Bias10mApproaching Your Finances with Purpose30m

Week2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Understanding Your Net Worth and Credit Score

3 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 64 min), 7 readings, 7 quizzes

13 videos

What is Net Worth and Why Does it Matter?3mTypes of Assets - Understanding What You Own4mMeasuring and Assessing Your Liquidity3mTypes of Debt - Understanding What You Owe5mUsing Relay to Understand What You Own and Owe3mWhat is a Credit Score and Why Does It Matter?4mWho Determines Your Credit Score?4mKey Components of Your Credit Score7mWhat’s Your Credit Score?4mHow to Request and Review Your Credit Report4mHow to Improve Your Credit Score7m9 Most Common Credit Score Mistakes4mProtecting Your Credit4m

7 readings

What is an Asset?7mWhat Are the Different Types of Debt?6mActivity - Determine Your Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth 10mWhat is a FICO Score?5mActivity - Obtain and Assess Your Credit Score 8mActivity - Obtain Your Credit Report8mHow to Build Credit Over Time5m

7 practice exercises

Matching Assets to Categories3mMatching Liabilities to Categories3mThe Ins and Outs of Credit Scores3mThe Components of Your Credit Score3mChecking In on Your Credit Score3mImproving Your Credit Score Over Time4mUnderstanding Your Net Worth and Credit Score30m

Week3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Assessing Your Cash Flow and Taxes

3 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 49 min), 11 readings, 7 quizzes

11 videos

Understanding Cash Flow4mMaximizing Your Cash Flow6mCash Flow Changes in Different Life Stages3mManaging Uneven Cash Flow3mWays to Determine Your Cash Flow2mTypes of Taxes5mHow Income Tax Withholding Works4mUnderstanding Your Key Tax Numbers5mHow Income Tax Brackets Work5mPreparing to File Your Taxes3mTaxes - DIY vs. Hiring a Pro3m

11 readings

What is Disposable Income?6mHow to Improve Personal Cash Flow6m7 Life Events You Should Financially Prepare For7mActivity - Calculate Your Monthly Cash Flow10mUnderstanding Different Personal Finance Ratios6mHow to Evaluate Your Personal Finances5mHow Much of Your Paycheck Should You Save?6mWhy Your Debt to Income Ratio Matters4mActivity - Calculate Your Financial Ratios10mWhat Are the Different Types of Taxes?6mHow Income Tax Withholding Works4m

7 practice exercises

Match Income and Expenses to Categories3mCalculating Cash Flow 3mWays to Determine Your Cash Flow1mKey Ratios of Your Personal Finances6mTypes of Taxes4mTax Concepts8mAssessing Your Cash Flow and Taxes30m

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Planning and Budgeting for Your Future

3 hours to complete

14 videos (Total 78 min), 10 readings, 8 quizzes

14 videos

Budgeting Basics4mThere Isn’t One RIGHT Way to Budget5m7 Tips for Budgeting Success5mSetting Up Your Budget Using the 50/30/20 Approach6mChecking in on Your Budget5mAdjusting Your Budget as Life Happens6mWays to Reduce Your Spending6mWays to Increase Your Income6m3 Types of Financial Goals8m6 Tips to Achieve Your Financial Goals4mA Framework for Your Next Money Move3mWhy the Order of Your Goals Matter4mApplying the YNMM Framework to Your Finances6mSetting SMART Financial Goals3m

10 readings

5 Different Types of Budgeting Methods8mActivity - Identify Your Budgeting Approach6mHow To Make A Budget6mActivity - Build Your Budget10mWays to Control Excessive Spending Habits7mHow to Set Money Goals4mSmart Short Term Financial Goals to Set for Yourself4mThe Importance of Setting Your Long-Term Financial Goals6mActivity - Identify Your Financial Goals10mInvesting vs. Saving: Finding a Balance4m

8 practice exercises

Different Ways to Budget4mEstablishing a Budget5mMaintaining and Updating Your Budget3mDefine Common Financial Goals3mDefine the YNMM Framework2mSteps in the YNMM Process1mSMART Financial Goals2mPlanning and Budgeting for Your Future30m

Reviews

4.6

48 reviews

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TOP REVIEWS FROM INTRODUCTION TO PERSONAL FINANCE

by EOSep 28, 2021

Great overview amd first look into personal fiance. If you already know a little bit about personal finance it may be a little basic but overall a very well rounded valuable course.

by DRMay 22, 2022

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

by BRJul 8, 2021

This was a great course, I enjoyed learning about the psychology behind finances. Having the order we should do things in was helpful.

by TVJun 16, 2021

I enjoyed taking the course. It was very easy and provided me with a lot of knowledge.

View all reviews

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.
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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Introduction to Personal Finance

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