FutureLearn

Finance for Everyone: Smart Tools for Decision-Making (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Michigan,

Learn how the financial world works and how to manage your finances to make smarter decisions. Develop the tools to take control of your finances. From evaluating different types of loans, choosing whether to rent or buy, or deciding whether to go to university, it’s important to understand the value of each financial decision. On this six-week course from The University of Michigan, you’ll understand how the financial world works while developing the frameworks that will help you make everyday financial decisions.

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Discover the Time Value of Money
If you were given the choice of receiving a lump sum now or the same lump sum in two years, which would you choose? It may seem obvious to take the lump sum now, but there’s an important concept behind why: the Time Value of Money (TVM).
This course will guide you through the many applications of finance, including TVM and how interest and compounding affect the value of money over time.
Explore smarter budgeting and financial planning
When managing limited financial resources, the biggest asset is often financial planning and smart budgeting.
You’ll look at how to effectively plan your finances and allocate scarce financial resources in a value-add way, using the skills you’ve developed to make smart choices. This course covers the benefits of saving for the future, taking a loan, and how to simplify complex financial decisions, among other things.
Understand the complex world of stocks and bonds
The stock market can be a daunting topic to dive into, but it can also be a useful tool in effectively managing your finances.
This course will take you through the basics of stocks and bonds, what they are, the benefits and drawbacks of each, and how they work in the real world.

Syllabus

Week 1: Finance for Everyone: The Basics
Week 2: Finance for Everyone: Simple Applications
Week 3: Finance for Everyone: Advanced Applications
Week 4: Finance for Everyone: Special Application: Bonds
Week 5: Finance for Everyone: Special Application: Stocks
Week 6: Wrap Up & What Next?

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