Retirement Fundamentals

We walk through the fundamentals concepts and the basic mechanics of retirement: financial planning, investment planning, insurance planning, tax planning, and estate planning.

• Oct 04, 2025 to Oct 11, 2025 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (2 sessions total), Saturday
• Fee: $95
• Item: 39388
• There is a textbook for this course:
  Rejuvenate Your Retirement by Financial Educators Network

Welcome to Medicare

Need help understanding Medicare? This workshop is for current and new beneficiaries, those who will soon be eligible and anyone who wants to learn more about Medicare health coverage. Various plan options, prescription drug coverage, supplements and ways to get help paying for Medicare will be discussed. This class is taught by a trained SHIBA advisor (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors). The SHIBA program provides free, unbiased and confidential assistance with health care choices. Au pairs may not take this workshop for hours unless given permission; contact the Continuing Education Director at conted@seattlecolleges.edu.

• Oct 25, 2025 to Oct 25, 2025 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am (1 sessions total), Saturday
• Fee: $0
• Item: 40684

First Time Homebuyers Class

Join us as we demystify the entire home buying process from A to Z, and learn what it truly takes to win a deal in this rapidly changing housing market. Whether you are brand new to the process or have been around the block, this class will teach you how to gather data points, analyze a property, and know what to expect from the process. Educate yourself with the tools to win!

• Oct 11, 2025 to Oct 11, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm (1 sessions total), Saturday
• Fee: $50
• Item: 40925

The Best Retirement Investing Strategy for You

The best retirement investing strategy is one you’ll actually stick with. In this class, you’ll learn the “Simple Strategy,” a straightforward rule of thumb you can use to assess other investment approaches.  

Use a tax-advantaged account, start early, invest regularly in manageable amounts, take full advantage of employer matching, choose low-cost index funds like the S&P 500, and keep fees low.

Once you understand the basics, you’ll be able to adjust or build a strategy that fits your needs.

To learn how the economy affects your investments, read Guidebook to the Federal Reserve. It explains inflation, interest rates, recessions, and how the Fed shapes the financial system. You can find the book on Amazon at Guidebook to the Federal Reserve or watch more on my YouTube channel Money Refinery.

• Oct 29, 2025 to Oct 29, 2025 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (1 sessions total), Wednesday
• Fee: $25
• Item: 41244

Live Demo: How to buy Stocks and Bonds Online

Learn how to buy stocks and bonds online in a live demo using a platform like Robinhood or Charles Schwab. This session walks you through the basics and helps you feel more confident placing trades.

You’ll get a quick intro to stockbrokers, and we’ll talk about the difference between a brokerage account and a retirement account. You’ll learn how to place orders to buy and sell stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other products.

We’ll go over the features your stockbroker offers and how to use them. You’ll also get tips on keeping your account secure and avoiding common problems like transaction and account fees, funding and withdrawal issues, poor record-keeping, unclear tax reporting, and misleading marketing tactics.

Want to learn more?
Read my book: Economics in One Virus
Watch more tutorials: @MoneyRefinery on YouTube

• Oct 15, 2025 to Oct 15, 2025 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (1 sessions total), Wednesday
• Fee: $25
• Item: 41240

Understanding the Economy, Inflation and the Federal Reserve

This class breaks down how the Federal Reserve shapes the economy. You’ll learn how the Fed uses its balance sheet and interest rates to manage inflation and support employment. We’ll look at how these tools work, when they don’t, and why that matters to you.

We’ll talk through questions like: Why didn’t the Fed stop inflation during Covid? What did it do during the 2008 financial crisis? What role will it play in the next 20 years? How do interest rates affect your savings and retirement planning?

Reading Guidebook to the Federal Reserve before class is encouraged. It gives you a solid foundation. You can find the book on Amazon at Guidebook to the Federal Reserve or watch more on my YouTube channel Money Refinery.

• Nov 05, 2025 to Nov 05, 2025 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (1 sessions total), Wednesday
• Fee: $25
• Item: 41245

Introduction to the Stock Market

If you’ve ever wondered what the stock market is or why it moves the way it does, this seminar is a good place to start. In one hour, you'll get a clear explanation of how the stock market works, what drives it, and how it ties into building wealth.

We’ll begin with the basics: what the stock market is, why it exists, how companies fit into it, and who the key players are. You’ll also get a simple overview of accounting terms like liabilities, assets, and equity so you can better understand how companies are valued.

From there, we’ll walk through how the stock market operates. You’ll learn about stock exchanges, what a clearinghouse does, the role of stockbrokers and fund managers, and how investment banks are involved.

If you want a deeper look at how the broader financial system works, take a look at my book, Guidebook to the Federal Reserve. It covers inflation, interest rates, recessions, and how the Federal Reserve responds to economic shifts. It’s a helpful resource if you're planning to take this or other finance-related seminars. You can find the book on Amazon at Guidebook to the Federal Reserve or watch more on my YouTube channel Money Refinery.

• Oct 08, 2025 to Oct 08, 2025 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (1 sessions total), Wednesday
• Fee: $25
• Item: 41239

Introduction to Bonds, CDs, Annuities and Social Security

Learn how bonds, CDs, annuities, and Social Security work and when they make sense for your financial goals. This class covers the basics of fixed income products and how they compare to other investments like stocks and real estate.

You’ll also get a look at liability accounting and how money market funds fit into the picture. By the end, you’ll know how each product works and how to use them to support your financial planning.

• Nov 12, 2025 to Nov 12, 2025 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (1 sessions total), Wednesday
• Fee: $25
• Item: 41246

Introduction to Investment Products & Investment Accounts

Investment products like stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, and annuities all work differently. Understanding how they’re structured helps you decide which ones make sense for your financial goals. In this class, you’ll learn what each investment product is, how it works, and how it’s commonly used.

We’ll also talk through the different types of investment accounts, including 401(k)s, IRAs, brokerage accounts, and annuities. You’ll learn which ones offer tax benefits, which ones don’t, and how eligibility rules affect your choices.

By the end, you’ll know how to compare investment products and accounts based on your own needs. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of how these tools can support your financial planning.

• Oct 22, 2025 to Oct 22, 2025 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (1 sessions total), Wednesday
• Fee: $25
• Item: 41241

Everything You Should Know About Financial Advisors

Financial advisors charge fees that can cut into your retirement savings. Before you hire one, understand how those fees work and how they affect your long-term returns. It’s smart to meet with a financial advisor but come prepared. Know the basics so you can ask better questions.

 

This one-hour seminar breaks down how you can invest for retirement, how compounding interest grows your savings, and how fees reduce your gains. You’ll get a plain-language overview of stocks, bonds, and common investment products like ETFs, mutual funds, insurance policies, and annuities. We’ll also go over tax-advantaged accounts including 401(k)s, IRAs, and others, plus what to know about Social Security. Along the way, we’ll help you think through key questions: What do financial advisors actually do? What kind of investor are you? Should you manage your own investments or work with a pro?

 

If you want a stronger foundation before class, read my book Guidebook to the Federal Reserve. It covers inflation, interest rates, recessions, and how the Federal Reserve works. This background supports the seminar and other financial topics. You can find the book on Amazon at Guidebook to the Federal Reserve or watch more on my YouTube channel Money Refinery.

• Nov 19, 2025 to Nov 19, 2025 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm (1 sessions total), Wednesday
• Fee: $25
• Item: 41249

Rock Your Retirement

This financial literacy class helps you build an investment strategy you can manage with confidence. You’ll learn how the stock market works and how to use it to support your retirement. We’ll also cover how that same knowledge applies to choosing a life insurance plan, preparing for your child’s college tuition, using health savings accounts, buying a home, and planning your estate.

Rock Your Retirement focuses on real-life investment products and practical strategies. Every investment involves risk, so you’ll also spend time thinking about your own priorities and financial concerns. What matters to you? What do you need for retirement to work? How can you prepare for financial emergencies? How do your current and future obligations shape your decisions? All backgrounds and experience levels are welcome.

Before class starts, you’re encouraged to read Guidebook to the Federal Reserve, a 100-page explainer that breaks down the economy, financial system, bonds, inflation, accounting, and the Federal Reserve. It's written to be clear and easy to follow. You can find the book on Amazon at Guidebook to the Federal Reserve or watch more on my YouTube channel Money Refinery.

• Oct 28, 2025 to Dec 09, 2025 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm (6 sessions total), Tuesday
• Fee: $105
• Item: 41243
• There will be no class 11/11 and 11/25