Here are the learning objectives I came up with on 2016-03-05 for my online course, Introduction to American Personal Financial Literacy.
NOTE: On 2016-10-29, Richard Thripp decided he will not be completing this course.
1. Ability to articulate the benefits of financial literacy
2. Knowledge of several financial schemes and pitfalls
3. Motivation to adopt financial habits and practices that result in wealth accumulation, including adoption of the growth mindset (incremental theory of intelligence)
4. Understanding of banking, saving, budgeting, net worth, and payment methods, including ChexSystems reports
5. Understanding of interest rates as well as several types of fees, financial pitfalls, and consumer protections
6. Achievement of a rudimentary understanding of credit cards, credit reports, and credit scores, including how to protect and improve one’s credit reports and credit scores
7. Knowledge of American federal and private student loans
8. Knowledge of potential best practices for financial management while in college, including selecting an institution and determining the financial value of a course of study
9. Ability to articulate the pros and cons of renting, leasing, mortgages, and home ownership
10. Understanding of the economics of owning, renting, and leasing cars
11. Development of a strategy for getting job interviews and succeeding in them
12. Understanding of several American worker rights including OSHA regulations, rights to overtime pay, rights regarding non-compete and non-disclosure agreements, and whistleblower protections
13. Understanding of American payroll deductions and federal income taxes
14. Knowledge of several challenges relating to American self-employment
15. Rudimentary understanding of investing, risk tolerance, and index funds
16. Understanding of Social Security and a mathematical approach to retirement planning
17. Ability to monitor for identity theft, minimize risk factors, and develop a plan to address potential identity theft
18. Rudimentary understanding of the purposes of insurance, including CLUE reports
19. Ability to implement strategies to lower car insurance premiums and/or improve coverage
20. Knowledge and basic understanding of the American Health Insurance Marketplace
21. Ability to articulate the financial consequences of various everyday decisions, including methods for quantifying the monetary value of time
22. Acquisition of strategies for dealing with a financially reckless significant other, including an understanding of the spendthrift–tightwad model of complementary attraction
23. Understanding of some of the basic financial challenges and considerations in having and raising children
24. Basic understanding of American personal and corporate tax avoidance strategies, including key differences between tax avoidance and tax evasion
25. Understanding of basic considerations regarding charity and philanthropy
26. Ability to perform targeted financial literacy interventions during “teachable moments” in the lives of friends and family, where appropriate
27. Ability to synthesize and reflect on one’s financial literacy journey