START
26 January 2027
Academic Collaboration
This course was developed in collaboration with ANEFP—the National Association of Personal Finance Experts
Purposes
The course offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary training on the key aspects of economic and financial management, with the goal of preparing both professionals and non-experts in personal finance. Developing this particular competence, which is increasingly in demand in academic, business, and social contexts, is essential for:
- Making informed personal financial decisions;
- Supporting individuals, families, and organizations in making informed decisions about saving, investing, and planning for the future.
The following topics will be covered during the four-month course:
- Personal and Family Budget Management: Techniques for Tracking Income, Expenses, and Savings.
- Banking and Insurance Tools: How to Choose and Use Checking Accounts, Cards, Loans, and Insurance Policies Wisely.
- Introduction to Investing: Basic Principles for Understanding Markets, Securities, and Financial Instruments.
- Credit Education and Debt Prevention
- Long-Term Financial Planning: Retirement Planning, Pension Funds, and Financial Security.
- The Sales Function and the Strategic Role of the Advisor in Selling Financial Instruments
- Behavioral Financial Advisory: Understanding the Client to Support Them in Financial Decisions
Target Students
The course is aimed at college students, recent graduates, “vulnerable” segments of the population in terms of financial literacy (women, immigrants), and workers who wish to develop transferable skills that are useful both for personal growth and for enhancing their professional profiles.
Upon completion of the course, the candidates will be able to:
- read and critically interpret economic and financial information,
- help others manage their money wisely,
- promote financial literacy in educational, corporate, and social settings.
Educational Objectives
The Personal Finance Expert Training Course aims to:
- Train individuals to become Personal Finance Experts;
- Promote personal finance as an essential driver of financial education
Teaching
The course lasts 3 months, with a total time commitment of 25 hours, divided as follows:
- Synchronous classes in a virtual classroom: to interact directly with instructors according to a scheduled calendar.
- Asynchronous lessons on the main course topics
- Project work: to actively apply the concepts learned during the course.
Course Conclusion
The final assessment consists of a multiple-choice test covering the main topics of the course. Upon completion, a certificate of participation will be issued.
Tuition
The annual tuition for registration to the course is € 1800,00.
Registration
Registration is possible throughout the year.
Students wishing to enrol may request an appointment with the Postgraduate Office by calling +39 06 3400 6000.
Faculty
The faculty members are academics and professionals with proven experience, drawn from the academic, clinical, and research communities, who are ready to share their knowledge and expertise through a multidisciplinary and innovative approach.
Director of the course
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Prof. Elvira Anna Graziano
Scientific Board
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Beppe Ghisolfi
Member of the Board of Directors of the World Savings Banks Institute (WSBI); former Vice President of the Italian Banking Association (ABI), Vice President of ACRI, and Vice President of the European Savings Banks Group (ESBG) -
Elvira Anna Graziano
Link Campus University, Rome -
Emilio Greco
Link Campus University, Rome -
Lucrezia Fattobene
Univeristy of Rome “Tor Vergata” -
Marcello Presicci
President Advisory Board FEDUF -
Paola Iannello
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore -
Valerio Malvezzi
Link Campus University, Rome
Faculty
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Prof. Mavie Cardi
-
Prof. E. Anna Graziano
-
Prof. Valerio Malvezzi
-
Prof. Gerardo Petroccione
-
Dr. Vladimiro Marini
PROGRAMME
Contents
- Course Introduction and Roundtable Discussion with a Guest Speaker
- Fundamentals: Interest Rates, Inflation, Purchasing Power, and Personal Taxes
This session provides a preview of the topics covered in the course and discusses the concepts underlying financial decisions:- interest rates, interest compounding, and their applications in financial decision-making;
- inflation and how it affects individual income, wealth, debt, and savings;
- tax issues related to individuals and how they affect individual income, wealth, debt, and savings.
- Time Value of Money – Guidelines for Using a Financial Calculator
This lesson explores the concept of the time value of money; it introduces present value (PV), net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return (IRR), along with practical applications. The second part of the lesson explains how to use a financial calculator. - Consumer Debt and Mortgages:
In this lesson:- you’ll apply the concepts covered previously to analyze common consumer credit products;
- you’ll learn about loan amortization and the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for loans with monthly payments;
- you’ll learn how mortgages work and analyze various contractual features (loan term, fixed vs. variable rates, and mortgage points/surcharges).
- Savings and Investments
This lesson:- introduces the main investment instruments (stocks, bonds, and mutual funds);
- introduces the main investment instruments complementary to the financial and insurance sectors (investments in commodities, real estate, etc.);
- uses the concepts covered above to evaluate them, including from a tax perspective;
- also shows how to save for short- and medium-term financial goals.
- Basic Probability, Risk vs. Return, Principles of Risk Diversification
This lesson:- introduces the fundamental concepts of probability theory and uses them to explain risk and how to insure against it;
- examines the trade-off between risk and return, both in theory and in practice;
- introduces the concept of risk diversification and discusses its role in common financial situations.
- Retirement Planning and the Application of Risk and Leverage Concepts
This lesson:- focuses on retirement planning and saving;
- applies the concepts covered previously to discuss and analyze the risks associated with saving for retirement.
- Sales Function and the Strategic Role of the Advisor
This lesson:- explains the strategic and tactical tools of the sales function;
- illustrates the motivational drivers behind the proposed tools;
- presents the main elements of professional ethics
- The Psychology of Money: Managing Errors and Emotions in Economic Decisions
This lesson:- explains the cognitive and emotional biases and other factors—from both behavioral and neuroscientific perspectives—that commonly influence consumers’ savings and investment decisions;
- suggests:
- negotiation techniques for the advisor-client relationship;
- client profiling techniques;
- client communication techniques.
- Final Exam and Issuance of Certificate of Participation
Schedule
| Lesson | Topic | Modality | Duration |
| 1. | Course Introduction - Roundtable with Guest Speaker | Presential | 4 hours |
| 2. | Fundamentals: Interest Rates, Inflation, Purchasing Power, Personal Taxes | Asynchronous Online | 2 hours |
| 3. | Time Value of Money – Guidelines for the Financial Calculator | Asynchronous Online | 2 hours |
| 4. | Consumer Debt and Mortgages | Asynchronous Online | 3 hours |
| 5. | Savings and Investments | Asynchronous Online | 2 hours |
| 6. | Basic Probability, Risk vs. Return, Risk Diversification | Asynchronous Online | 2 hours |
| 7. | Retirement Planning and the Application of Risk and Leverage Concepts | Asynchronous Online | 2 hours |
| 8. | Sales Function and the Strategic Role of the Advisor | Asynchronous Online | 2 hours |
| 9. | The Psychology of Money: Managing Errors and Emotions in Economic Decisions | Asynchronous Online | 2 hours |
| 10. | Final Exam and Issuance of Certificate of Participation | Presential | 4 hours |