Finance for Everyone Capstone Project

McMaster University via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/finance-capstone

Introduction

## Course Review: Finance for Everyone Capstone Project ### Overview The "Finance for Everyone Capstone Project," offered on Coursera, serves as a culmination of the insights and skills acquired throughout the "Finance for Everyone" (F4E) series. This 8-week course is designed to not only reinforce previous learnings but also allow learners to apply financial principles in real-life scenarios, ultimately influencing key financial decisions, enhancing investment participation, and fostering effective debt management. Through a series of structured stages, participants engage in reflective practices, develop actionable plans, and receive feedback from peers and experts, simulating a real-world financial consultancy experience. ### Course Structure & Syllabus Breakdown **Stage I (Weeks 1-2): Reflection and Problem Identification** - **Week 1:** The course begins with an introduction to its structure and objectives. Participants create an online portfolio to track their progress and reflect on their previous experiences within the F4E series. The week emphasizes self-assessment and preparation for the first major deliverable: a reflection on personal financial experiences and aspirations. - **Week 2:** Learners will submit their reflections and focus on identifying significant financial issues they wish to address. This stage is critical for narrowing down personal financial challenges and setting a foundation for the subsequent stages. **Stage II (Weeks 3-5): Action Plan Development** - **Week 3:** In this stage, participants articulate their selected financial issue more precisely and develop a "Problem Statement." This initial submission serves as a crucial step toward outlining actionable solutions. - **Week 4:** A peer review process fosters collaborative learning as participants provide and receive feedback on their Problem Statements. This interaction encourages constructive criticism and enhances the depth of participants’ understanding. - **Week 5:** Building upon peer feedback, learners finalize their Action Plans to address the identified financial issue. This week emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement by encouraging learners to consult financial experts. **Stage III (Weeks 6-8): Implementation and Reflection** - **Week 6:** Participants present their Action Plans to selected stakeholders, seeking their insights, which is instrumental in shaping feasible implementations. Concurrently, peer feedback on the Action Plan is provided to enrich the learning experience further. - **Week 7:** The synthesis of feedback from peers and stakeholders culminates in the "Feedback Synthesis & Implementation Plan," a critical deliverable that integrates all insights gathered and outlines the pathway for future steps. - **Week 8:** As the journey concludes, participants reflect on their personal growth, the financial concepts learned, and strategize their plans beyond the course. This final stage is pivotal for consolidating the knowledge gained and celebrating the collective achievements of the cohort. ### My Experience and Recommendations From my perspective, the "Finance for Everyone Capstone Project" is a transformative learning experience that bridges theoretical knowledge with practical application. The structured format allows participants to engage deeply with their financial issues, promoting critical thinking and real-world problem-solving skills. The peer review element is particularly enriching, providing diverse perspectives and fostering a sense of community among learners. I highly recommend this course for anyone looking to enhance their financial acumen and apply it to personal finance challenges. Whether you are a recent graduate, a professional seeking to sharpen your financial skills, or an individual interested in managing your personal finances more effectively, this Capstone Project equips you with the necessary tools to navigate your financial landscape confidently. ### Conclusion In summary, the "Finance for Everyone Capstone Project" offers an engaging, hands-on approach to financial education. By encouraging participants to confront and tackle real financial issues, this course not only imparts knowledge but also empowers individuals to take charge of their financial futures. Dive into this course with curiosity and commitment, and you will emerge with a clearer understanding of finance and a practical plan to enhance your financial well-being.

Syllabus

STAGE I: Week 1

Welcome to the Finance for Everyone Capstone Project! In this first Stage - which encompasses Weeks 1 & 2 of the course - you will familiarize yourself with this 8-week course plan, reflect on your experience throughout the first four F4E courses, and begin considering an issue of importance to you that you'd like to address during Stages II and III of your Capstone Project! In Week 1 specifically, you will create an online portfolio to document your work throughout this experience (if you haven't already!) and begin working on your Reflection, the first deliverable of the course, due next week.

STAGE I: Week 2

This week, you will write and submit your first deliverable - a reflection on your F4E experience thus far. As part of this deliverable, you will be prompted to determine financial issues that matter to you; we recommend that beyond the scope of this submitted reflection, you spend some time this week continuing to think over what problems you may wish to investigate and address during the next two stages of this Capstone. We also suggest you look over the requirements for the Problem Statement assessment, which is due next week.

STAGE II: Week 3

Welcome to Stage II of the Capstone Project, which encompasses Weeks 3, 4, and 5 of the course! In this Stage, you will refine and articulate the financial problem or issue you wish to focus on for the remainder of your Capstone experience, and develop and submit an Action Plan that will propose a way to alleviate that very financial issue. In Week 3 specifically, you will write up and submit your Problem Statement deliverable, the first major step in the Action Plan development process.

STAGE II: Week 4

In Week 4, you will engage in the first of three Peer Review processes in this course, reviewing and providing feedback on the Problem Statements of your peers. You will also begin to build upon your own Problem Statement by working on your Action Plan and thinking about which stakeholder or financial expert you may like to consult for feedback later in Stage III.

STAGE II: Week 5

This week, you will read and reflect on your peers' reviews of your Problem Statement, and hopefully use insights from that feedback as you finalize and submit your Action Plan. You may also wish to reach out to your chosen stakeholder or financial expert this week in order to schedule a time in the next week or so for your stakeholder conversation, part of the final deliverable in Stage III.

STAGE III: Week 6

Welcome to Stage III, which encompasses Weeks 6, 7, and 8 of the course! In this third and final Stage, you will present your Action Plan to a stakeholder or financial expert and solicit their feedback, then develop and submit your final Peer Review assessment: a synthesis of the feedback you've received and plans for implementing your Action Plan beyond the scope of this course. In Week 6 specifically, you will review and provide feedback on the Action Plans of your peers, begin working on the Feedback Synthesis & Implementation Plan assignment (due next week), and meet with your stakeholder.

STAGE III: Week 7

This week, you will read and reflect on your peers' reviews of your Action Plan, and hopefully use insights from that feedback as you finalize and submit your Feedback Synthesis & Implementation Plan. This deliverable will incorporate a synthesis of the feedback you have received from your peers and the stakeholder(s) you met with, along with and a plan for how you expect to implement your Action Plan beyond the scope of Finance for Everyone.

STAGE III: Week 8

In this final week of Finance for Everyone, you will review and provide feedback on the Feedback Synthesis & Implementation Plans of your peers and reflect on how you plan to move forward following the conclusion of your time with F4E. Finally, you will celebrate your achievements, and say farewell to the fellow learners who have engaged in this experience alongside you.