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RiskWise: Insurance and Your Financial Future

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RiskWise: Insurance and Your Financial Future

This course is part of multiple programs.

Instructor: Dr. Craig Lemoine

Included with

Learn more

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Evaluate personal and household risks using core insurance and human capital concepts
Identify insurance solutions that support long-term financial planning
Explore career paths and professional roles in risk management and insurance

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is available as part of

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be asked to select a specific program.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

RiskWise: Insurance and Your Financial Future introduces learners to the fundamentals of risk management and insurance as essential tools for financial planning. Whether you're exploring a career in insurance or seeking to strengthen your personal financial strategy, this course offers practical insights into risk types, human capital, insurance operations, and the roles of professionals in the field.

Through real-world examples, interactive activities, and expert interviews, you’ll learn how to evaluate personal risks, understand insurance products, and apply risk management strategies to build financial resilience. Designed for a broad audience—including aspiring and current insurance professionals—this course empowers you to make informed decisions and better serve clients or your own household. This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs. To learn more about online programs from the College of ACES and explore ways to apply your Coursera work toward a degree program at the University of Illinois, visit ACES Online. @ aces.illinois.edu/online

Module details

In this module, you’ll get oriented with the course and begin exploring the foundations of risk and insurance. You’ll learn key terms like loss, uncertainty, and the law of large numbers, and discover how insurance functions as a tool to manage risk. Through engaging examples and real-world scenarios, you’ll start building your understanding of risk types and how they affect financial decision-making.

What's included

11 videos4 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

11 videosTotal 46 minutes

Course Introduction1 minute
Meet Your Instructor | Craig Lemoine4 minutes
Module 1 Overview1 minute
Risk, Peril & Hazards5 minutes
Types of Losses5 minutes
Basic Concepts of Risks and Losses8 minutes
Diving into Risks and Losses8 minutes
Types of Risks7 minutes
Sharks & Mosquitos: Objective and Subjective Risks5 minutes
Can You Insure It?2 minutes
Module 1 Wrap-Up1 minute

4 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Meet Your Instructor | Tapiwa Sigauke10 minutes
Course Guide5 minutes
Updating Your Profile10 minutes
Explore More – Understanding Risk and Insurance5 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 45 minutes

Orientation Quiz30 minutes
Module 1 | Knowledge Check15 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Getting to Know Your Classmates10 minutes

In this module, we’ll explore the concept of human capital and how it connects to financial planning and risk management. You’ll learn how to evaluate your earning potential, understand the time value of money, and compare insurance and non-insurance solutions. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to outline the risk management process and apply economic thinking to household financial decisions.

What's included

14 videos2 readings1 assignment1 plugin

14 videosTotal 61 minutes

Module 2 Overview1 minute
Intro Human Capital4 minutes
Human Capital and Time Value of Money6 minutes
Properties of Insurance7 minutes
Steps in the Risk Management Process8 minutes
Risk Management Terms3 minutes
What’s Missing on Your Balance Sheet4 minutes
Economic Theory: Bridging FP & Risk4 minutes
Traditional Thinking of Human Capital3 minutes
Household Production Line8 minutes
Disability, Risk Management and the Household Production Line3 minutes
Permanent Income Hypothesis4 minutes
Evolution of Human Capital5 minutes
Module 2 Wrap-Up1 minute

2 readingsTotal 15 minutes

Learner Guide | Human Capital Calculator: What’s Your Future Worth?10 minutes
Explore More – Human Capital and Risk Management5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Module 2 | Knowledge Check 15 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Interactive Human Capital Calculator: What’s Your Future Worth? 15 minutes

This module introduces how insurance works—from individual and group policies to social programs. You’ll explore how insurance companies operate, who’s involved in the process, and how risk discovery techniques help identify gaps in coverage. Interviews and case studies will help you connect insurance operations to broader wealth management strategies.

What's included

13 videos1 reading1 assignment

13 videosTotal 55 minutes

Module 3 Overview1 minute
Categories of Insurance4 minutes
Methods of Treating Risk7 minutes
Social Insurance Programs4 minutes
How Insurance Companies Work5 minutes
Group Insurance5 minutes
Parties Involved with Insurance3 minutes
Meeting Sharon Allen1 minute
Risk in the Context of Goal Setting6 minutes
Wealth & Risk: Keeping up with Insurance Products4 minutes
What Happens when the Market Drops?7 minutes
Wealth and Long-Term Care7 minutes
Module 3 Wrap-Up1 minute

1 readingTotal 5 minutes

Explore More – Insurance Operations and Wealth Management5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 15 minutes

Module 3 | Knowledge Check15 minutes

In this final module, we’ll explore the roles of professionals in risk and insurance. You’ll hear from industry experts, analyze a case study, and learn how trust, innovation, and career pathways shape the field. After this module, you’ll be ready to complete the final assessment and earn your Coursera certificate!