Our Favorite Free Online Courses for Financial Literacy

With the vast array of resources available online, many people are investing their time in self-development. While there are many valuable internet-based classes that charge a fee, we’ve outlined several free courses from reputable sources to help you become more financially savvy. Of course, you can also take advantage of free educational tools and tutorials on our website.

Financial Courses to Boost Your Personal Development

You may be looking for online learning classes to gain some added certifications or credentials. Or you may simply want to further your personal development. Either way, these courses will help you enhance your financial well-being and provide basic knowledge to make smart decisions in the future.

Planning for a Secure Retirement – from Purdue University

Whether you’re planning to retire within 10 years or 30 years, understanding the building blocks of a smart retirement plan will help you tailor your choices to your lifestyle and your career path. This series of 10 classes covers the various aspects that help you retire well, including expense estimation, social security, Medicare, IRAs, 401(k)s, and other concerns.
 

Financial Literacy Course – from Alison.com

This 6 to 10-hour online learning course teaches students how to effectively manage money, budget and save. Instructors will cover simple subjects that can make an important impact on your financial health — like why it’s important to pay off your full credit card bill every month. You’ll take away these short-term tips as well as long-term retirement planning advice.
 

Smart About Money Courses – from the National Endowment for Financial Education

The Smart About Money courses cover topics for all ages. Whether you’re just starting out on a career path or you’re well established, many people will find the information on insurance, retirement and investing beneficial for their self-development. You can start with Money Basics and progress to more advanced courses.
 

Personal Finance Classes – from Khan Academy

Khan Academy provides a comprehensive picture of financial well-being. The video lectures cover many of the major money milestones and important topics, such as credit card debt, retirement accounts, paychecks, employment benefits, renting or buying a home, leasing or buying a car, personal taxes, and paying for college. If certain topics aren’t applicable for your situation or personal development, you can skip them.
 

Personal Finance – from Missouri State University

Missouri State University has broken down key concepts into eight quick lessons. Covering both personal choices like goal setting, budgeting and housing decisions, as well as societal patterns like principles of taxation and the time value of money, these classes give you a full view of your finances.
 

Behavioral Finance Course – from  Duke University

Duke’s unique course offers insight into why so many people make the financial decisions they do. Your instructor will explain the logic that may be missing when people make faux pas. For example, you’ll discover why people don’t enroll in their employer’s retirement plan. Unpacking the flawed reasoning behind “predictable errors” can help you avoid them in the future.
 

Financial Planning for Young Adults – from The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

This course has been broken down into eight different modules, all of which were developed in partnership with the CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) board. Adults taking this course are encouraged to set their own personal financial goals for their own personal development and use the topics covered in the online learning classes — saving, investing, budgeting, financial risk, borrowing and credit — to reach them.
 

Free Online Financial Courses – through First National Bank and Trust

FNBT customers and students have access to an online money management program that covers important financial topics, including saving and investing, buying a home, and financing higher education.
 
In addition, our Sound Advice Scholars program teaches high school students valuable money management lessons they can use before heading off to college or embarking on their chosen career path. For a limited time, parents of K-12 students can also access more than 20 interactive, game-based lessons covering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs, mental wellness, financial literacy and more through our partnership with EVERFI.
 
Any of these courses will inspire you to take concrete steps toward a more secure financial future. When you’re ready to act on your online learning, contact your local First National Bank and Trust to open a personal retirement account, start investing, or open a savings account. Whatever your personal goals, our friendly associates are here to help you get there.