This intensive, practitioner-informed course equips participants with the theoretical frameworks and analytical tools essential to understanding and managing personal finances with confidence and independence. Blending foundational financial theory with practical application, this course demystifies the strategies and products employed by professional financial advisors.

Through a mix of interactive lectures, case studies, and individual exercises, participants will construct and evaluate their own comprehensive financial plans while learning how to assess and navigate modern capital markets. This course will also prepare participants to engage confidently with professional advisors or manage their finances independently.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of this 8-week course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand core financial principles, including the time value of money, compounding, risk-return tradeoffs, and portfolio diversification.

2. Analyze and manage personal cash flows, track spending, and construct income statements and balance sheets.

3. Evaluate investment vehicles, including ETFs, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, REITs, and retirement accounts, using both qualitative and quantitative criteria.

4. Use financial formulas, calculators, and Excel-based tools to compute interest, investment returns, loan costs, and asset values.

5. Design investment and retirement portfolios aligned with risk tolerance and life goals.

6. Interpret tax implications of income, investment gains, and retirement accounts within the U.S. progressive tax system.

7. Implement credit and debt management strategies, including credit report building, credit score optimization, and loan evaluation.

8. Assess risk management tools, including life insurance and annuities.

9. Discuss strategies for estate planning, including wills, power of attorney, and healthcare directives, for development with appropriate professional advice.

COURSE FORMAT
This is an interactive online seminar course that meets weekly over 8 weeks. Live online sessions will use the zoom platform. Weekly reading or other forms of materials may be assigned. Weekly sessions will be recorded and available for registered participants to access throughout the course.
There are no papers or grades. This course does not offer any credits or certificates. This course is intended for learning for the love of learning.

COURSE MATERIALS
This course will require participants to access websites. Additional workbook/reading materials supplied by the instructor.
Registrants will receive access to the course website and the zoom links about two weeks before the course starts.

COURSE CANCELLATION POLICY
Registrants can cancel and receive a full refund up to September 15. After September 15, there will be no refunds issued.
Yale Alumni College courses are subject to schedule changes as well as cancellations. If Yale Alumni College must cancel any course prior to its start due to low enrollment, you will be notified of this by the cancellation date. Upon cancellation of a course, registrants may transfer their registration to another available course or have the registration fee fully refunded.

In the event of a disruption to the original course schedule, including but not limited to; Professor absence, hazardous weather conditions, or local travel restrictions, Yale Alumni College will do its best to reschedule the missed class for the week immediately following the original end date at the same course time and day.