About this course: Financial Planning for Young Adults (FPYA), developed in partnership with the CFP Board, is designed to provide an introduction to basic financial planning concepts for young adults. The FPYA course is organized across eight separate modules within a 4-week window. Topics covered include financial goal setting, saving and investing, budgeting, financial risk, borrowing and credit. Because financial planning is such a personal topic, you will be encouraged to define your own financial goals and objectives while we discuss concepts and provide tools which can be applied in helping you reach those goals. Within each module, you will view a combination of traditional lecture style videos along with video vignettes that introduce financial topics for discussion among participants. The video vignettes provide a unique and exciting component to this course. Each vignette introduces a real-world scenario where financial decisions must be made and financial planning concepts can be applied. You will be challenged to think critically about each scenario and decide how you might come to a resolution if ever faced with a similar situation. Finally, the course also includes material throughout which is focused on career opportunities in financial planning, including video interviews with actual CFP® professionals and other professionals working in this exciting and growing career area. The final module in the class is devoted to the topic of financial planning as a career.

Created by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Taught by: Nicholas Paulson, Associate Professor
Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics
Taught by: Kathryn L. Sweedler, Consumer Economics Educator
University of Illinois Extension
Taught by: Charles R. Chaffin, Director of Academic Programs and Initiatives
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

Level	Beginner
Commitment	4 weeks of study, 3-4 hours/week
Language	English
How To Pass	Pass all graded assignments to complete the course.
User Ratings	4.4 stars Average User Rating 4.4See what learners said

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Orientation

2 videos, 5 readings, 2 practice quizzes

Module 1: Setting Financial Goals and Assessing Your Situation

In this module, you'll explore the "personal" in personal finance, use financial tools to assess where you are currently with your finances, and begin setting goals for where you'd like to be in the future.

7 videos, 2 readings

Graded: Financial Decision-Making Influences

Graded: Module 1: Financial Goals & Assessing Your Situation Quiz

WEEK 2

Module 2: Budgeting and Cash Flow Management

In this module, we will discuss the importance of budgeting in the financial planning and management process, and resources available for cash flow management. Learners will be exposed to the basic process of budgeting, a panel discussion with practicing inve...

8 videos, 1 reading

Graded: Budgeting Discussion Questions

Graded: Module 2: Budgeting and Cash Flow Management Quiz

Module 3: Saving Strategies

In this module you'll have the opportunity to explore best practices for building a saving habit and discuss barriers to saving. Mental accounting will be introduced and considered in terms of how it can affect saving behavior.

7 videos, 2 readings

Graded: Module 3: Saving Strategies

Module 4: The Time Value of Money

Understanding why the time value of money is a very important concept -- so important it has its own module!

1 video, 1 reading

Graded: Module 4: Time Value of Money

WEEK 3

Module 5: Borrowing and Credit

The ability to use debt and credit to finance purchases has its advantages and disadvantages. Understanding topics related to loan repayment and how your borrowing and credit use behavior may impact your credit report is critical for being able to have access ...

11 videos, 1 reading

Graded: Module 5: Borrowing and Credit

Module 6: Investing

In this module you'll be introduced to investment terms and key investment strategies. This foundation will allow you to better understand investment choices and information that you'll encounter throughout your life.

7 videos, 2 readings

Graded: Module 6 Investing

WEEK 4

Module 7: Risk Management

This module covers risk related topics related to insurance, and introduces learners to the concept of personal risk tolerance and how it might impact individualized risk management strategies.

7 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz

Graded: Risk Management Quiz

Module 8: Financial Planning as a Career

The module provides an overview of the career opportunities in financial planning. You will get to see what it is like to engage and assist people (clients) from a variety of walks-of life. This module is optional in terms of completion of the course certifica...

8 videos, 2 readings, 1 practice quiz

FAQs

How It Works

Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Creators

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.

Pricing

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Access to course materials	Available	Available
Access to graded materials	Not available	Available
Receive a final grade	Not available	Available
Earn a shareable Course Certificate	Not available	Available

Ratings and Reviews

Rated 4.4 out of 5 of 39 ratings

Financial planning as a career seems too forceful at the end of the course.

Other then that, it is a very good course with good contents and interesting videos for easy understanding.

I found this course a great overview of the concepts of financial planning: budgeting, borrowing, lending, and investing. The content was thorough and clearly laid out. I would recommend this course to someone who is interested in having an introduction to this topic or as a refresher.

Thank you so much!

Wonderful course!!

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