Why should I learn personal finance?

Learning personal finance can help you improve your personal life or build a career helping others. Some skills you can expect to develop include budgeting, investing, and saving.

How long does it take to learn personal finance?

Personal finance skills can be learned in as little as a few weeks or months through courses and certificate programs. If you’re looking for a more complete education, you can pursue a degree in an area such as finance or accounting, which can take four years at the undergraduate level.

How hard is it to learn personal finance?

It is not hard to learn personal finance, as most of the skills and strategies follow logic that is easy to understand. As you get into higher-level learning courses and degree programs, you may encounter technical topics that are more challenging to learn. For example, higher-level accounting courses may be more challenging to learn than basic budgeting skills.

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What is personal finance?

Personal finance involves the strategies and discipline used to manage money and assets. This can include managing your finances or helping someone else manage theirs. This area of study can include things like investments, budgeting, retirement, estate planning, tax strategies, insurance, and savings.

Some of the most popular jobs in personal finance include financial advisor, insurance agent, accountant, and investment manager.

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Use the knowledge and skills you have gained to drive impact at work and grow your career.

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Showcase your key skills and valuable knowledge.

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Choosing the right personal finance program for you

There are many factors that can help you select the right personal finance program for you. Here are a few things to consider.

Determine your goal: Decide if you're looking to learn skills to manage your own finances or if you're looking to start a career in personal finance.
Assess your existing skills: Understand what you already know in personal finance. Find an option that builds on your existing knowledge base.

Here are some of the different personal finance learning options available.

Courses

Personal finance courses offer a way to hone the skills you're looking to learn or refine. These programs typically last a few weeks and can be completed on your own schedule.

Certificates

Personal finance certificates can give you the confidence that you have comprehensive knowledge on a topic. Additionally, they can help to build trust with clients or prospective employers.

Executive education programs

When existing time commitments are a challenge, executive education programs provide an avenue to learn personal finance concepts on your schedule.

Degrees

If you're interested in a career in personal finance, an online degree may be the best first step to ensure you receive the most complete education that prepares you for the job market.

Jobs in personal finance

The personal finance job market spans industries including banking, insurance, retirement, accounting, and estate planning. Typically, personal finance jobs take place in an office setting, but may require occasional travel to meet with clients.

Earning a master's degree in finance or accounting can help you qualify for senior roles with higher salaries.

Credentials like the certified financial planner (CFP), certified personal finance counselor (CPFC), and certified corporate financial planning and analysis professional (FPAC) can further demonstrate your expertise to employers.

Here's a deeper look at a few available jobs in personal finance.