Great Resources to Strengthen Your Financial Skills
In my previous post, I introduced what financial literacy is and why it is so important. If you would like to further explore and strengthen your financial skills, there are great resources out there for you. From documentaries, online courses, and books, here is a list of great resources you may want to check out! Lastly, check out my financial literacy website here if you want to learn more!
Documentaries
- The Inside Job
A documentary that provides a detailed analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, the Inside Job is a great watch if you are interested in learning about the elements that led to the collapse and the key financial and political players. If you want to watch the full documentary on IMDb, click the link below!
2. The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World
An adaptation of the book written by Harvard professor Niall Ferguson, The Ascent of Money is a documentary that examines the long history of money, credit, and banking. All 6 episodes of the documentary are available on YouTube, and you can view them by clicking on the link below!
3. Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy
Commanding Heights is a documentary that captures the issues that have defined the wealth and fate of nations, showing how the battle over the world economy will shape our lives in the 21st century. It is based on the best-selling book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Daniel Yergin Joseph Stanislaw and I highly recommend giving it a watch! The full documentary is available on YouTube, so click the link below to start now!
4. Life and Debt
Life and Debt goes into depth about the economic and social situation in Jamaica and explores how the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank’s structural adjustment policies affected the island. The full documentary is available on IMDb, so click the button below to watch it now!
Courses
- The Money Academy
The Money Academy is a free online course that teaches you the basics of financial literacy, focusing specifically on the four fundamental pillars. It is a great resource for those who wish to build a solid understanding of the fundamentals of financial literacy at their own pace.
2. Khan Academy
You may have heard of Khan Academy, whether it be for math, chemistry, or even SAT prep. You can build your financial skills at Khan Academy too! Unlike the previous online course, The Money Academy, Khan Academy covers more than just the fundamentals and goes into depth about various skills and concepts that are upper level. It is a great resource for those who wish to go beyond the basics and really become an expert!
3. Financial Planning for Young Adults
This 4-week online course provides an introduction to basic financial planning concepts for young adults. But really, anyone can benefit from this course! Topics that are covered include financial goal setting, saving and investing, budgeting, financial risk, borrowing, and credit. Is a great resource for anyone that wishes to set and work towards their financial goals!
4. Introduction to Personal Finance Planning by Indiana University
This 4-week course by Indiana University provides an introduction to financial planning concepts such as income statements, balance sheets, budgets, and taxes. These concepts are beyond what I’ve covered in my previous post, so it is a great course for those who wish to learn more about financial skills at their own pace!
Books
- Freakonomics
Freakonomics by University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and New York Times journalist Stephen J. Dubner is a great book that covers more than just financial skills; it explores the inner working of a crack gang, the truth about real estate agents, the secrets of the KKK, and more. By showing you how your life is dominated by incentives, this book will help you make better financial decisions and is a must-read!
2. Rich Dad Poor Dad
This book written by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter highlights the importance of financial literacy among other aspects of finance such as investing, starting businesses, investing in assets, and more. It is a great book for personal finance education and will teach you how to make your money work for you instead of the other way around.