Invest in Yourself

A Financial Literacy Program that Delivers a Return

A complete 14-module program built from 20 years of real-world investment, advisory, and financial education experience.

Includes 18.5 hours of video content, quizzes, PDF decks, and reflection exercises.

Invest in Yourself Free Preview

€195 one-time payment.

What You'll Learn Across 14 Modules

The program follows four key phases, guiding you step by step from defining your financial philosophy to building your own wealth planning framework.

Modules 1 to 3: From Meaning to Money

Set a clear philosophy, connect life goals with finances, take control of your cash flow, and build a safety net for life's unexpected moments. Add balance and meaning to your choices to form strong money habits.

Modules 4 to 7: The Financial Forces

Understand how the key financial forces, debt, interest, compounding, and inflation, shape the economy and influence every financial decision. Discover how to make these forces work for you, not against you.

Modules 8 to 11: Investing Fundamentals

Move from saving to investing with confidence, and see why investing is for everyone, not just the wealthy. Learn the core principles of investing, explore asset classes, and gain a deeper understanding of stocks and bonds.

Modules 12 to 14: From Portfolios to Wealth Planning

Develop your own wealth plan that connects portfolio management, life goals, and personal risk. Learn about investment funds, asset allocation, and long-term planning to build a framework for protection and growth.

Inside the Program

1. How to use this course
2. Troubleshooting Tips
1. Defining What You Want
2. Starting With What You Don’t Want
3. Aligning Life Goals With Financial Goals
4. Establishing Your Life Philosophy and Goals
5. Setting Your Financial Goals
6. Common Mistakes in Financial Planning
7. The Virtuous Cycle: Goals, Habits, and Growth
8. Setting Timelines That Keep You Accountable
9. Opportunity Cost: The Hidden Trade-Offs of Every Decision
10. Reflection Exercise: Turning Learning Into Action
11. Module 1 Quiz
12. Module 1 PDF Download
13. Module 1 - Reflection Exercise PDF
14. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 2 Release
2. Module Introduction - Finding Balance Through Budgeting
3. The Purpose of a Budget
4. Needs, Wants, and Discretionary Income
5. Budgeting: Who It’s For and Finding Balance
6. The Budget Equation
7. Common Pitfalls to Avoid
8. Case Study: Making it Real
9. Tracking & Categorising Expenses
10. Expense Category Analysis
11. Case Study - Cutting Costs
12. Adapting Budget for Retirement Saving
13. Time Budgeting: Value Your Time
14. Key Takeaways
15. Reflection Exercise: Take Action
16. Module 2 Quiz
17. Module 2 PDF Download
18. Module 2 - Reflection Exercise PDF
19. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 3 Release
2. Module Introduction - Building an Emergency Fund
3. The Purpose of an Emergency Fund
4. Could You Meet a $400 Unexpected Expense?
5. Financial Resilience: Research from the UK
6. How Much Do You Really Need?
7. Building it up. Where to Start?
8. Where to Put the Money?
9. Avoiding Common Mistakes
10. Key Takeaways – From Fear to Confidence
11. Reflection Exercise – Compare Scenarios
12. Module 3 - Quiz
13. Module 3 PDF Download
14. Module 3 - Reflection Exercise PDF
15. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 4 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. What is Debt?
4. Spectrum of Debt
5. Debt Terminology
6. Case Study: US Debt
7. Is Debt Good or Bad?
8. Debt Management
9. Credit Rating
10. Common Pitfalls to Avoid
11. Debt - Key Takeaways
12. Reflection Exercise; Debt Decisions
13. Module 4: Debt Quiz
14. Module 4 PDF Download
15. Module 4 - Reflection Exercise PDF
16. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 5 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. Why do Interest Rates Matter?
4. Interest Rates Terminology
5. Central Banks and Interest Rates
6. Savings and Interest Rates
7. Borrowing and Interest Rates
8. Interest Rates & APR
9. Amortisation Schedule - 3 Scenarios
10. Time Value of Money
11. Interest Rates - Key Takeaways
12. Reflection Exercise
13. Module 5 - Quiz
14. Module 5 PDF Download
15. Module 5 Reflection Exercise PDF
16. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 6 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. Compounding in Finance
4. Compound Interest Calculator Tool
5. Compound Growth - Visual Representation
6. Compounding: Time, Consistency, Patience
7. Compounding: Return & Risk
8. The GOAT of Compounding
9. Compounding: Market Returns are not a Straight Line
10. Einstein on Compounding: Earn it or Pay it
11. Connecting Budgeting & Compounding
12. Rule of 72: The Double Estimation Tool
13. Common Pitfalls
14. Key Takeaways & a Holistic Perspective
15. Reflection Exercise
16. Module 6 - Quiz
17. Module 6 Compounding PDF Deck
18. Module 6 Reflection Exercise PDF
19. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 7 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. What is inflation?
4. Inflation Measurement
5. Consumer Price Index (CPI)
6. CPI Breakdown: Behind the Index
7. Personal Inflation & Cost of Living
8. The Price of a Pint
9. CPI Calculator: Euro Inflation & Euro Value
10. Mapped Global Inflation
11. Wealth Creation & Purchasing Power
12. Inflation: Debt Perspective
13. Central Banks: Taming Inflation - Paul Volcker
14. Inflation - Key Takeaways
15. Reflection Exercise
16. Module 7 - Quiz
17. Module 7 Inflation - PDF Deck
18. Module 7 Reflection Exercise PDF
19. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 8 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. Investing is for Everyone
4. Knowledge makes Investing Accessible
5. Greater Access to Investment Opportunities
6. My investment in Revolut: Early-Stage Investing
7. Why Invest? Human Capital to Life Goals
8. Misconception: Investing is Speculating
9. Investor v Speculator: Key Differences
10. Downfall of a Speculator: Sean Quinn
11. Bloomberg Example: Following Financial Markets
12. Investment Return: Key Considerations
13. Investment Risk & Individual Risk Profiling
14. Managing Market Risk & Specific Risk
15. Risk as Volatility: Standard Deviation Explained
16. The VIX Index: Market Sentiment
17. How to Build an Investment Process
18. Key Takeaways
19. Reflection Exercise
20. Module 8 - Quiz
21. Module 8 - PDF Deck
22. Module 8 Reflection Exercise PDF
23. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 9 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. What are asset classes?
4. The Core Asset Classes
5. "Cash is King"
6. Bonds - you are the lender
7. Equities - an ownership stake
8. Property/Real Estate
9. Commodities: from oil to gold
10. Private Equity: higher fees & complexity
11. Venture Capital & Unicorns
12. Private Credit: Lending with more terms
13. Infrastructure
14. Cryptocurrency: Investment or Ponzi Scheme?
15. Collectibles, Art & Wine
16. Key Takeaways
17. Reflection Exercise
18. Module 9 Quiz
19. Module 9 PDF Deck
20. Module 9 Reflection Exercise PDF
21. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 10 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. What is a Bond?
4. Key Terms: Face Value, Coupon, Maturity
5. Coupon v Yield
6. Primary Market v Secondary Market
7. Inverse Relationship: Price & Yield
8. Why would bonds trade at a discount or premium?
9. Duration: Bond Price Sensitivity
10. Credit Ratings: A measure of Credit Worthiness
11. Example: Credit Rating Agency
12. Example: US 10-year Government Bond
13. Yield Curve - United States Example
14. Yield Curve v 1 Year Ago
15. Corporate Bonds: Lending to Companies
16. Bonds & Equity: Diversification
17. High-yield Bonds
18. Inflation Risk
19. Inflation-linked Bonds
20. LTCM: When Genius Failed
21. LTCM: Leverage & Key Takeaways
22. Reflection Exercise
23. Key Takeaways
24. Module 10 - Quiz
25. Module 10 - PDF Deck
26. Module 10 Reflection Exercise PDF
27. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 11 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. Capital - Coffee Business Example
4. Capital Structure & Investor Choice
5. Capital Appreciation & Income
6. Global Equity Market Segmentation
7. The Role of Stock Exchanges
8. Primary v Secondary Market - Under Amour Example
9. Stock Market Indices
10. Tesla: Buying Individual Equities
11. World Equity Market: Risk and Return
12. Maximum Drawdown
13. World Equity: Country, Sector, Company Breakdown
14. S&P 500 Equity Market Overview
15. Dividend Aristocrats
16. Active v Passive Investing
17. "Where would you invest?"
18. Key Takeaways
19. Reflection Exercise
20. Module 11 - Quiz
21. Module 11 - PDF Deck
22. Module 11 Reflection Exercise PDF
23. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 12 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. Evolution of Investment Management
4. Asset Mix, Correlation & Investor Preferences
5. Approaches, Purpose & Past Performance
6. Practical Example: Investment Manager & Model Portfolios
7. Asset Allocation: A Football Explainer
8. Practical Example: Endowment Fund IPS
9. Asset Class Returns & Diversification
10. Diworsification: When More Can Be Less
11. Asset Allocation Caveats
12. Key Takeaways
13. Reflection Exercise
14. Module 12 - Quiz
15. Module 12 - PDF Deck
16. Module 12 - Reflection Exercise PDF
17. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 13 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. Account Types: Who Makes the Final Call?
4. Advisory Relationship - Collaboration
5. Practical Example: Listening to Advice
6. Discretionary Accounts: Outsourcing Decision-Making
7. Taxable v Tax-Advantaged Accounts
8. The Impact of Fees
9. Case Study: An Online Investment Platform
10. Platform Overview: Key Aspects
11. Ready-made Portfolios
12. Account Opening & Practice Mode
13. Explore Available Investment Options
14. Executing a Market Order
15. Buy Order: Limit v Market Order
16. Account Return & Underlying Holdings
17. Exploring Exchanged Traded Funds (ETFs)
18. World Equity ETF Example
19. World Dividend Yield ETF Example
20. Practical Example: Fund Factsheet Review
21. From Practice Mode to Real Mode
22. Safeguarding your Assets
23. Lifecyle Funds: A Practical Example
24. Key Takeaways
25. Reflection Exercise
26. Module 13 - Quiz
27. Module 13 - PDF Deck
28. Module 13 - Reflection Exercise PDF
29. Your Learning Experience
1. Week 14 Release
2. Module Introduction
3. The Power of a Plan
4. The Art of Creating a Financial Plan
5. Key Stages & Elements of a Financial Plan
6. Defining your Financial Situation
7. Setting Goals & Taking Action
8. Dynamic Plan - Ongoing Monitoring & Tracking
9. Staying Informed & Expert Advice
10. Human Capital as an Asset Class
11. Beyond Markowitz - Wealth Allocation Framework
12. Risk Allocation - Personal, Market & Aspirational
13. Wealth Allocation - Classifying your Assets
14. DIY v Working with an Advisor
15. AI and online financial fraud and scams
16. Crypto fraud and scams
17. Start where you stand
18. Key Takeaways
19. Reflection Exercise
20. Module 14 - Quiz
21. Module 14 - PDF Deck
22. Module 14 - Reflection Exercise PDF
23. Your Learning Experience

About this course

€195,00
283 lessons
18.5 hours of video content

Meet Your Instructor

Vincent McCarthy, CFA

“Meaningful learning is about more than just the pursuit of a piece of paper at the end.”

Vincent is the founder of the Responsible Investment Institute® and ESG Ireland®, dedicated to making financial and sustainability education more accessible, practical, and relevant.

He holds a MSc in Finance from Fairfield University and a First-Class Honours Degree in Business Studies from the University of Limerick. Vincent is also a Qualified Financial Advisor and a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder.

With over 20 years of global experience advising individuals and institutions across the United States, Ireland, and Latin America, Vincent combines professional insight with real-world perspective. He developed this Financial Literacy Program to help people understand money in the context of their values, goals, and time.

For Learners

Who This Program Is For

This program is for anyone who wants to manage money with confidence and build lasting financial stability.

Whether you are starting out, refocusing your goals, or planning ahead, it helps you make informed financial decisions with clarity and purpose.

What You Can Expect Each Week

Each week, a new module opens with short lessons that connect knowledge with action. Build stronger habits, better awareness, and lasting financial confidence.

Video Lessons: concise clips explaining key ideas and real-world relevance.

Course Material: practical guides and downloadable resources.

Weekly Quiz: short reviews to test understanding and build retention.

Reflection Exercise: apply each week’s learning to your goals and finances.

Step by step, you’ll gain the knowledge to take control of your finances for life.

Start Learning

Add Balance to Your Life

Money problems can create pressure and limit your choices.

This program helps you bring clarity and control to your finances so you can focus on what really matters.

Accessible. Practical. Real-world learning that pays off.

Join the 14-Module Program Free Preview

€195 one-time payment.

Responsible Investment Institute®

A Financial Literacy Program that Delivers a Return

What You'll Learn Across 14 Modules

Modules 1 to 3: From Meaning to Money

Modules 4 to 7: The Financial Forces

Modules 8 to 11: Investing Fundamentals

Modules 12 to 14: From Portfolios to Wealth Planning

Inside the Program

Welcome to the program!

Module 1: What Do You Want? Take Control of Your Future

Module 2: Budgeting — Building Control and Clarity

Module 3: Building an Emergency Fund: Preparing for the Unexpected

Module 4: Understanding Debt

Module 5: Interest Rates: The Price of Money

Module 6: Compounding: Growth on Growth

Module 7: Inflation: The Silent Erosion

Module 8: Introduction to Investing

Module 9: Introduction to Asset Classes

Module 10: Bonds: Lending as an Investment

Module 11: Equities: Owning a Piece of a Company

Module 12: Asset Allocation