Financial Basics Everyone Should Know
Master everyday personal finance decisions
Financial Basics Everyone Should Know is an introductory online course designed for adult learners who want practical, usable personal finance knowledge. It covers core topics such as savings, investing, credit, insurance, and retirement planning using concise video lessons and assessments to build financial literacy.
Taught by Michael McDonald, the course emphasizes actionable explanations so learners can interpret rates, compare accounts, and make basic investment and insurance decisions. It suits people seeking a short, applied primer rather than advanced or technical finance instruction.
At a Glance
Financial Basics Everyone Should Know is an introductory online course taught by Michael McDonald that covers core personal finance topics such as savings, investing, insurance, and retirement planning.
It is designed for a general audience seeking practical, applicable knowledge to manage accounts and make informed financial decisions.
| Level | Beginner |
| Rating | 4.7 out of 5 |
| Duration | 1+ hours |
| Languages | English |
| Certificate | Certificate of completion (shareable) |
| Access | Included with LinkedIn Learning subscription; access while your subscription is active |
| Course includes |
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| Price | Subscription-based, monthly or annual plans (free trial available) |
What This Course Teaches
Outcomes are framed as measurable competencies that learners can apply to manage money, evaluate options, and make informed decisions about savings, investing, insurance, and retirement. By course end, learners should be able to explain banking and savings mechanics, analyze basic investment vehicles, assess insurance choices, and implement retirement-account strategies.
How the Course Is Structured
The course is organized into 22 short video lessons grouped across six sections (Introduction, Save, Invest, Insurance, Retire, and Conclusion) and runs about 1+ hours in total.
Lessons are presented as discrete, focused videos so learners can move sequentially or jump to specific topics as needed.
Curriculum overview
01Getting a handle on your finances▾
02Understanding how banks operate▾
03Understanding bank rates▾
04Using certificate of deposits▾
05Understanding credit scores▾
06The stock market▾
07Determining when to adjust assets▾
08Determining the value of a stock▾
09Setting up a brokerage account▾
10Investing with mutual funds▾
11Investing with ETFs▾
12How bonds work▾
13Diversifying your portfolio▾
14The basics of insurance▾
15The basics of life insurance▾
16The basics of property insurance▾
17Deciding whether HSAs are right for you▾
18Considering the four principles to retire▾
19Applying two rules for retirement▾
20Choosing between 401(k) and 403(b)▾
21Using Roth IRAs and SEP accounts▾
22Wrap up▾
Audience & Requirements
The course is aimed at adult learners seeking a practical grounding in personal finance — for example, early-career workers building financial habits, people approaching retirement who want to optimize savings, and non‑financial professionals who need to make informed money decisions. It suits learners who want clear, applied explanations rather than technical finance theory.
- Individuals building basic personal-finance knowledge and habits.
- Early-career professionals planning savings and investments.
- Pre-retirees reviewing retirement-account options and strategies.
- Non-finance professionals who need to evaluate advisors and products.
- No special prerequisites or prior finance credentials.
- Comfort with basic arithmetic and percentages for examples.
- Active LinkedIn Learning subscription or free trial to access the course content.
- Optional: a calculator for working through numerical illustrations.
Final Verdict
Financial Basics Everyone Should Know is a practical, well-regarded introductory course that is worth taking for learners who want a concise, applied foundation in personal finance.
Its clear presentation and shareable completion certificate make it a good value for people who already use the platform or who want a short, credible primer; the subscription access model improves value if you plan to take multiple courses. Consider a more in-depth, practice‑focused program if you need advanced investment analysis or extensive hands‑on assignments.
