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

4.6
stars
18 ratings

Brian Walsh

3,140 already enrolled

Offered By

The Fundamentals of Personal Finance SpecializationSoFi

About this Course

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This course is designed for anyone who currently has, or will have in the future have, savings goals. Learners will come to understand the importance of compounding growth, the variables that impact setting goals like retirement savings, and how much money you need to save now to reach future goals. The course will help learners think through individual goals, like retirement, but also how those goals fit into your bigger financial picture. For example, saving for retirement, buying a home, and funding college for your kids all at the same time. The instructors will also cover how preparing for emergencies can prevent the derailment of those financial goals.
The concepts covered in this course are broad but through the activities offered, learners will see how to apply what they are learning about saving money for the future to their lives now. This course is geared towards learners in the United States of America.

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Course 2 of 5 in the

The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is for anyone who is working towards, or planning to work towards, a savings goal (retirement, buying a home, college, etc.).

Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

saving money
setting financial goals
paying for college
planning for retirement
retirement savings

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 2 of 5 in the

The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is for anyone who is working towards, or planning to work towards, a savings goal (retirement, buying a home, college, etc.).

Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

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

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Brian Walsh

Senior Manager, Financial Planner

14,503 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

2 hours to complete

Building Your Financial Foundation

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 36 min), 8 readings, 7 quizzes

9 videos

What Are Accumulation Goals?5m5 Steps to Achieving Your Savings Goals6mInvesting to Achieve Your Goals4mSaving vs Investing3mEmergency Fund Basics3mHow Much is Enough for Your Emergency Fund?4mHow to Earn Interest on Your Emergency Fund3mBuilding Your Emergency Fund3mUsing Your Emergency Fund2m

8 readings

Welcome to Saving Money for the Future3mSavings Goals by Age5m5 Types of Savings You Should Consider Having4m7 Fun Ways to Save Money4mHow to Start an Emergency Fund (and Why You Should)5mActivity - Calculate Your Target Emergency Fund10mShould You Invest Your Emergency Fund?6m6 Real Questions About Your Emergency Fund—Answered5m

7 practice exercises

Compounding Growth2mRule of 723mSaving for Goals3mTarget Emergency Fund3mPlaces for Emergency Fund2mSaving for Emergencies3mBuilding Your Financial Foundation30m

Week2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Funding Your Financial Freedom

3 hours to complete

15 videos (Total 87 min), 9 readings, 5 quizzes

15 videos

An Introduction to Retirement Planning4mKey Considerations for Retirement4mThe Power of Investing for Retirement5mHow Social Security Works4mHow Pensions Work3mRetirement Considerations by Life Stage7mUnderstanding How Much You Need to Save for Retirement4mAssessing If You Are On Track for Retirement6mCatching Up If You Are Behind4mOvercoming The Unique Challenges Physicians Face Saving for Retirement11mWays to Save for Retirement7mUtilizing Traditional and Roth IRAs for Retirement5mUtilizing Employer Retirement Plans for Retirement6mUsing an HSA for Retirement Savings4mChoosing the Right Way to Save for Retirement5m

9 readings

Activity - Create Your Vision of Retirement10mTypical Retirement Expenses to Prepare For8mTop 5 Social Security Myths5mWhen Will Social Security Run Out?6mExplaining the 3-Legged Stool of RetirementActivity - Calculate Your Retirement 10m5 Ways to Rebuild Your Retirement Savings4mUnderstanding the Different Types of Retirement Plans11mRetirement Options For the Self-Employed7m

5 practice exercises

Key Retirement Variables4mSocial Security Basics4mSaving for Retirement4mRetirement Accounts5mQuiz: Funding Your Financial Freedom30m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Saving for Other Milestones

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 30 min), 6 readings, 4 quizzes

4 videos

Homebuying Basics9mHow Much Home Can You Afford6mRenting vs Buying a Home9mBuying vs Leasing a Car5m

6 readings

Costs of Owning a Home4mHome Buying Mistakes to Avoid5mThe Ultimate Home Inspection Checklist5mHow Much Should I Spend on a Car?5mWhat Should Your Average Car Payment Be?6mImportance of Time Horizons For Investing7m

4 practice exercises

Buying a Home5mRent vs. Buy2mTime Horizon2mSaving for Other Milestones30m

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Funding Your Child's Education

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 44 min), 5 readings, 7 quizzes

7 videos

Is College Still Worth It?6mCalculating the Return on Education4mThe True Cost of Education7mTypes of Financial Aid5mChoosing the Right Way to Save for College6mHow 529 Plans Work7mChoosing the Right 529 Plan6m

5 readings

Do the Benefits of College Still Outweigh the Costs10mTrends in Higher Education Series10mWhat Percentage of Parents Pay for College?4mHow to Start Saving for Your Child's College Tuition5mPaying for College - A Parent's Guide8m

7 practice exercises

Components of College Savings3mReturn on Education1mCost of College2mPaying for College2m529 Plans3mSaving for College2mFunding Your Child's Education 30m

Reviews

4.6

4 reviews

5 stars
61.11%
4 stars
38.88%

TOP REVIEWS FROM SAVING MONEY FOR THE FUTURE

by SYFeb 2, 2023

Good course. A bit dated but I found many chapters especially the ones about personal finance, taxes, cars and housing to be most interesting and relevant to me.

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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