The 2026 Personal Finance Essentials: From Budgeting to Investing

Learn Core Personal Finance from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

This course will cover the core introductory concepts related to personal finance. We will include many example problems, both in the format of presentations and Excel worksheet problems. The Excel worksheet presentations will include a downloadable Excel workbook with at least two tabs: one with the answer, and the second with a preformatted worksheet that can be completed in a step-by-step process along with instructional videos. We will also discuss what personal finance is and the differences between personal finance, corporate finance, economics, and accounting. Learners will understand why knowing personal finance concepts is important, along with how to set goals using a formal structure based on their personal life situations.

 

We will also cover time value of money concepts, including present value and future value calculations, which are essential for long-term planning such as retirement or a child’s college education funding. While humans are generally good at day-to-day decisions based on instinct and habit, they are often less effective at making long-term, risk versus reward decisions. For this reason, a more formal decision-making process is needed for major financial choices, where time value of money becomes a critical component of long-term planning.

Course Curriculum

• Presentations – Personal Finance Core Concepts
  • Personal Financial Planning Overview
  • Financial Goals & Activities for Various Life Situations
  • Finance, Economics, & Accounting
  • Financial Goals
  • Personal Finance Planning Procedure
  • Time Value of Money Overview
  • Present Value
  • Present Value Months as Period
  • Future Value
  • Future Value Months as Period
  • Future Value vs Present Value
  • Present Value Annuity
  • Present Value Annuity Months as Period
  • Future Value Annuity
  • Future Value Annuity Months
  • Present Value Cash Flow Examples
  • Future Value Cash Flow Examples
  • Present Value Terms Used In Capital Budgeting
  • Net Present Value Assumptions
• Practice Problems – Personal Finance Core Concepts (OneNote & Excel)
  • Rule of 72 & Running Balance Calculation
  • Excel Present Value, Future Value, & Number of Period
  • Present Value & Future Value Mathematical Formulas
  • Present Value & Future Value Tables
  • Excel Functions Present Value, Future Value, & Number of Period
  • Rate of Increase
  • Inflation & Estimated Increase in Personal Expenses
  • Home Cost Estimated Increase
  • Savings Account Compounding Future Value
  • Future Value Annuity Investment vs Non-Annuity
  • Investment to Meet Goal Present Value
  • Annuity Initial Investment Present Value of Annuity
  • College Savings Calculation
  • Retirement Savings Future Value of Annuity
  • What if We Saved Our $5 a Day Coffee Habit
  • Option to Receive Money Today vs a Series of Payments
  • Loan Payment Calculation & Amortization Table
  • Monthly Loan Payment Calculation & Amortization Table
  • Annuity Due or Annuity Beginning Period
  • Present Value Monthly Periods
  • Present Value Annuity Monthly Periods
  • Future Value Monthly Periods
  • Future Value Annuity Monthly Periods
  • Annuity Due Present Value
  • Present Value of Annuity using Non-Annuity Excel Functions
  • Future Value of Annuity using Non-Annuity Excel Functions
  • Retirement Plan Worksheet

System Requirements

• Any device with basic specifications

 

Important Details

• Length of access: lifetime
• Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase
• Access Options: desktop & mobile
• Experience level required: all levels
• Updates included
• Closed captioning available 
• NOT downloadable for offline viewing 
• Certificate of Completion ONLY
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