If you're interested in discovering how most wealthy people amassed their fortunes, this is the course for you. Contrary to popular opinion, most of us don't achieve true wealth through luck or an accident of fate. Just about anybody can build wealth. All it takes is organization, discipline, and a firm knowledge of how to proceed. If you're serious about accumulating a sizable nest egg and living the life of your dreams, this course will supply you with the knowledge and skills you'll need to succeed.

You've probably heard amazing stories of people amassing untold fortunes with seemingly little effort, finding financial freedom through the magic of day trading, shorting stocks, buying and selling commodities, playing the slots, flipping real estate, or some other fad of the moment. These stories sound too good to be true, and that's because they are. All of those get-rich-quick schemes have three things in common: they're unsafe, they're unpredictable, and they tend to produce far more losers than they do winners.

The truly wealthy do not rely on risky games of chance and raw luck to build their fortunes--they focus on creating wealth out of what they already have. If you're serious about living a better life by tapping into your unfulfilled potential, we'll show you the way.

In this course, a certified financial planner will walk you through the steps you need to take in order to achieve true financial success. You'll become comfortable with the broad array of investment choices available to you right now, and you'll discover the best ways to acquire and accumulate both cash and real property. We'll also discuss the tax implications of your investment decisions, along with steps you can take to protect any wealth you acquire.

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Syllabus:

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Week One

Wednesday - Lesson 01

In this course, you'll discover the keys to achieving financial freedom steadily and successfully. You'll learn how to make financial discipline and wise financial choices a natural part of your life. Our journey begins today with an overview of the five steps of financial planning.

Friday - Lesson 02

How much money do you actually have and where is it all going? You have to be able to answer these questions before you can create a financial plan. So, in this lesson, we'll work on organizing your financial life. You'll create an organized filing system, get a handle on your spending, and learn how valuable cash flow statements, budgets, and balance sheets are to financial success. Don't worry; it's not as hard as it sounds!

Week Two

Wednesday - Lesson 03

There are three types of investment money: short-term, intermediate, and long-term. We'll start this lesson with a look at short-term money and the purpose it serves. This is money you would set aside for something specific in the near future like buying a car, making a down payment on a house, or paying off interest-free debt. You'll learn the trade-off between investment risk and investment reward and see why it takes more than putting your money in a savings account to get rich.

Friday - Lesson 04

In this lesson, you'll learn how a combination of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds will help you build wealth. You'll also see how investment risk correlates with investment return. Then you'll discover how time mitigates higher-risk investments, making them an excellent choice if you've got enough time and want to see double-digit returns.

Week Three

Wednesday - Lesson 05

Saving money to fund a college education is a common financial goal. So, today we'll talk about the pros and cons of the different education savings plans that are out there. By the end of this lesson, you'll be the neighborhood expert on saving for college!

Friday - Lesson 06

Most people's number-one financial goal is saving for retirement. Social Security alone won't cover the bills. Some of us have employer pension plans, but many of us have to figure out how we'll make up the shortage once we stop working. This lesson is about taking care of yourself in retirement. We'll examine retirement savings plans and discover why they're a great place for your cash investments.

Week Four

Wednesday - Lesson 07

Up to now, this course has been about accumulating cash assets. Today we'll learn how real property assets complement your wealth. Real property assets are things you can feel, see, and touch (such as land or precious metals). When you complete this lesson, you'll know the challenges and benefits of owning real property.

Friday - Lesson 08

Since most of us don't have enough to buy a house with cash, we need someone to lend us money. Going to the bank for a loan isn't as simple as walking in and filling out an application. Completing an extensive questionnaire about your income, debts, and job history is part of the loan process, but there's more. You need to decide which kind of mortgage to apply for. Just like there are a number of ways to order coffee from your favorite barista, there are a number of ways to finance a house. In this lesson, you'll learn about the different loan types, understand why some cost more (or less) than others, and figure out which loan program is best for you.

Week Five

Wednesday - Lesson 09

Almost all of us have credit cards in our wallets. And most of us are plagued by consumer debt. Credit cards, car loans, car leases, and in-store financing are where consumer debt builds up. But today you'll learn how to use these forms of financing to maximize your wealth.

Friday - Lesson 10

As you accumulate wealth, it's important to protect it against loss. We buy car insurance in case of car crashes, homeowners insurance in case of damage or destruction to our houses, and health insurance to help with the rising cost of medical care. These are obvious assets to protect, but what about your most valuable asset: your ability to earn an income? If you have people depending on your paycheck to put food on the table and a roof over their heads, then you need to protect your income. So in this lesson, we'll talk about life and disability insurance and when you should get them.

Week Six

Wednesday - Lesson 11

Today, we'll talk about the professionals who can help you on your journey toward wealth. You'll learn the areas of expertise for an attorney, CPA, financial advisor, and insurance agent. You'll also get a sense of when is the right time to call on each of these professionals.

Friday - Lesson 12

In this, our final lesson, we'll talk about the most challenging part of the financial planning process: implementation. We will go over a technique that's very helpful in getting you and keeping you moving on your journey toward wealth. You'll leave this course knowing what you need to do to reach your goals and how to do it. You'll have everything it takes to achieve financial freedom!

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Kirsten Iseminger.

Kirsten Iseminger has been a Financial Advisor since 1990 and worked for years in one of the world's largest financial institutions. Her clients have included small business owners, high-level executives, and individuals who wanted their wealth to grow. To further her expertise in the financial planning industry and to achieve the highest recognition available for financial planners, Kirsten successfully completed the education and examination process necessary to become a Certified Financial Planner.

Requirements:

Internet access, e-mail, and the Netscape or Firefox or Internet Explorer Web browser.

Student Reviews:

• "Excellent course! This course gave me the basic understanding and knowledge to begin a financial plan. I comprehend the importance and value of saving for retirement and the various vehicles to achieve this goal. Great information!!!"
  
  
• "I absolutely love this type of course. I wish more family members would take this course so we all could understand how to build wealth."
  
  
• "I am very pleased to have taken this class and am confident that the information I have learned herein will be of great benefit in my quest to build wealth."
  
  
• "I appreciated the opportunity to participate in this well-designed, informative course. The instructor did a very professional job of presenting the material. Due to this well-done course, I look forward to taking more of these online courses. Thank you for your financial advice."
  
  
• "I felt like there was a lot of information to process. The class was very helpful and now I know what I need to do and what avenues to pursue to help me get there."
  
  
• "I learned a lot from this course. It took the mystery out of the financial world and explained information in easy to understand terms. Since taking the course I am more aware of my finances and budgeting and looking into stocks, bonds and CD ladders. Thank you for such an informative class. I would highly recommend this class."
  
  
• "The instructor made a subject that is way over my head, understandable and interesting."
  
  
• "This course has really provided me with financial information that I can use in future planning, especially the investment portion of the course. I'm at a pointl in my life where I need to, or must, get my financial situation in order and I will be utilizing the knowledge I gained from this course to complete my financial journal. I commend the instructor for arranging the course and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to others."
  
  
• "This has truly been a pleasant learning experience. Now, I have a better understanding of how to save even more for retirement and more surprising learning the many ways of investing. I am also considering purchasing some of the books that are recommended by this course. I feel as though the instructor was extremely knowledgeable in this material. I would definitely take another course under her direction!"
  
  
• "This was a great course! It gave me the tools I need to get my financial life together and to make smart wealth building decisions moving forward. Thank you!"