Foundations of Retirement Savings and Investment

Retirement saving is more about consistent behavior over decades than about clever timing. Understanding the accounts, the math of compounding, and the principles of long-term investment gives you the foundation to act consistently. This foundational course provides it. By the end of this course you will be able to describe the main retirement account types, understand how compounding works and why time matters more than rate, distinguish active from passive approaches, and recognize the principles behind a sound long-term portfolio. What you will learn: - The main account types: workplace plans such as 401(k) and 403(b), traditional and Roth IRAs, taxable brokerage accounts, and HSAs - The basics of contribution limits, employer matches, and tax treatment - How compounding works and why starting early matters more than catching up later - The role of asset allocation across stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents - The difference between active and passive investing and the evidence behind index investing - The role of low costs, diversification, and rebalancing - Common pitfalls: emotional trading, market timing, complexity for its own sake, ignoring fees The course uses readings, math walk-throughs, and reflection prompts. Each module ends with self-questions that help you apply the ideas to your own situation. This course is written for adults who want to understand retirement saving well enough to act with confidence. No financial background is required. By the end you will replace conflicting advice and impulsive decisions with a clearer mental model of how retirement saving actually works and what behaviors compound into real wealth over decades.