After taking this course, you will be able to...

Retirement Readiness Course

  • Review your own accounts for unnecessary fees and expenses

  • Understand how different investment types work together for your benefit

  • Decide which types of retirement accounts to keep, use, or close

  • Simplify your financial life

Course curriculum

Students are saying....

“This class helped me tremendously. We have been retired three years and have not been as hands on in keeping up with our retirement accounts, as we were prior to retirement . The class was a great refresher as well as a reminder to stay routinely involved and aware of our whole financial picture. Definitely worthwhile for me. Thanks Holly ! Look forward to hearing about the next course.”

Student

Maurice S.

Reviews

Kathy Bennett

5 star rating

“Although I am familiar with much of the course content, I found the discussions to be fresh and interesting. In some cases, I learned something new. For this reason, I think this course has something for everyone. I think all knowledge-levels w...”

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“Although I am familiar with much of the course content, I found the discussions to be fresh and interesting. In some cases, I learned something new. For this reason, I think this course has something for everyone. I think all knowledge-levels would agree the material presented was explained well and the learning materials provided were very useful. ”

→Read Less

Instructor

Meet Holly Donaldson

I had a piggy bank when I was growing up. I dutifully kept my quarters and JFK half-dollars in it. When I asked my parents for something that they thought I should pay for, they would say, “Holly, if you want that, you know you can always break your piggy bank.” I hated that thought. Each time I thought about “breaking the bank” to buy something I wanted, I weighed it against what would happen to my piggy bank.

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I was learning a powerful lesson about the value of choices. I was choosing my piggy bank over the latest spur-of-the-moment desire. I still wanted the latest toy the TV commercials put in front of me. But I wanted my piggy bank more.

Over time, my awareness of money evolved into an interest in economics – piggy banks on the grand scale. I learned about the difference it made in individual lives when people chose wisely. And after many years of working with clients of a major commercial bank, I discovered that I had a genuine passion for helping people put all the important pieces of their financial lives on the table, then working with them and other professionals to help them identify and achieve their dreams.

After 15 years of one-on-one coaching and planning with clients, I realized there are many lessons I was delivering that could be taught in the format of a course. I view these courses as one more way to increase what psychologists call "self-efficacy" - a feeling of independence, confidence and competence. Finance doesn't have to be as complicated as it's made out to be.

Credentials:

B.A., Economics, Davidson College, 1986.

M.B.A., Finance and MIS, University of South Florida, 1996

Certified Financial Planner (TM) Certificant, 2004

M.A., Economics, University of South Florida, 2007

Personal:

I'm a Florida native who loves to hike and ski the Rockies, swim in the Gulf of Mexico, and RV anywhere with my husband, Ken. I have no kids, no pets, and sadly, all plants entrusted to my care have passed on.

Holly Donaldson

Instructor

Retirement Readiness Course - I'm Interested

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