Whether you manage a rural organic farm or develop state-of-the art urban housing, financial planning skills can help you manage your earnings with intention. This, in turn, empowers you to take control of your career path in the pursuit of your greater life goals.

If you have both an acumen for financial planning and the desire to help others, you may want to pursue a career as a personal financial advisor. By providing guidance on everything from college tuition savings to retirement and estate plans, they can help clients manage their finances responsibly through every phase of life.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, personal financial advisors make a median salary of $87,850 per year and their job growth is expected to climb steadily as Baby Boomers enter retirement. Though they can start with only a bachelor’s degree, their chances of success improve when they get Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification, and a master’s degree can help prepare them for management positions.

Yes, Coursera offers a wide range of online courses and Specializations in financial planning and related topics like financial management. So, whether you are looking for a career in financial planning or just looking to plan your own financial future, investing your valuable time and money in these courses is a low-risk, high-reward proposition. You’ll be learning from leading experts from top-ranked schools like the University of Florida, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of California, Irvine - all while paying a substantially lower tuition cost than on-campus students.