Level 1: Foundation (Weeks 1-12)

Level Overview

Level 1 is your entry point into the world of investing. Over twelve weeks, you will build a solid foundation in the principles that every successful investor understands. No prior knowledge of finance or investing is required.

What You Will Learn

This level covers the essential building blocks:

Weeks 1-4: Core Concepts

• Why investing is necessary and how compound interest works
• Index funds and ETFs as your simplest, most effective starting tools
• The fundamental relationship between risk and return
• The classic 60/40 portfolio and why it has been the default for decades

• How bonds work and why they stabilize your portfolio
• Gold as the 5,000-year store of value and a portfolio diversifier
• Stocks and equity -- what you actually own when you buy a share
• Reading financial statements -- the three essential reports

• How market indexes are built and what they measure
• Economic cycles and how they affect different asset classes
• Behavioral biases and rebalancing -- the rules that protect you from yourself
• Putting it all together to build your first real portfolio

What You Will Be Able to Do After Level 1

By the end of these twelve weeks, you will be able to:

• Explain the time value of money and compound interest to anyone
• Open a brokerage account and buy your first index fund or ETF
• Build a simple but effective portfolio with proper asset allocation
• Read the three core financial statements at a basic level
• Recognize and resist common behavioral biases in your investment decisions
• Understand where you are in the economic cycle and what that means for your portfolio

Who This Level Is For

Level 1 is designed for complete beginners. If you have never invested before, or if you have been investing without fully understanding why, this level gives you the foundation to make informed decisions. Even experienced investors benefit from revisiting these fundamentals -- the basics are where the biggest mistakes happen.

Weekly Lessons