University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Solving the Retirement Puzzle Specialization

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Solving the Retirement Puzzle Specialization

Holistic Strategies for Retirement Planning.

Integrate income strategies, investments, and well-being into sustainable retirement plans

Dr. Craig Lemoine
Donovan J. Sanchez, CFP®

Instructors: Dr. Craig Lemoine

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Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

from 5 reviews of courses in this program

Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Analyze retirement risks and income sustainability using portfolio, annuitization, and alternative investment strategies

  • Apply behavioral and well-being insights to align financial decisions with personal values and life satisfaction

  • Evaluate annuities and other retirement income options to manage longevity risk and financial tradeoffs

  • Integrate estate planning, legacy considerations, and philanthropic strategies into comprehensive retirement plans

Details to know

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Taught in English
Recently updated!

May 2026

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Specialization - 3 course series

Alternatives as We Age: Retirement and Legacy Planning

Alternatives as We Age: Retirement and Legacy Planning

Course 1, 10 hours

What you'll learn

  • Understand the multifaceted aspects of retirement planning, including various definitions and the financial risks involved.

  • Analyze diverse retirement strategies recommended by wealth managers, such as annuitization, treasury, bucket, and market-driven approaches.

  • Evaluate alternative investments and model portfolios to ensure income sustainability throughout different stages of retirement.

  • Explore estate planning fundamentals and philanthropic strategies, particularly when dealing with land, alternative, and illiquid investments.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Estate Planning
Category: Land Management
Category: Philanthropy
Category: Investment Management
Category: Financial Planning
Category: Wealth Management
Category: Portfolio Management
Category: Risk Management
Category: Investments
Category: Succession Planning
Category: Case Studies
Category: Asset Management
Category: Risk Analysis
Category: Financial Modeling
Category: Portfolio Risk
Money and Happiness

Money and Happiness

Course 2, 6 hours

What you'll learn

  • Define key concepts related to happiness, subjective well-being, and financial well-being.

  • Identify how income, values, and financial behaviors influence personal well-being.

  • Describe strategies for aligning financial decisions with personal values.

  • Create a personalized plan to enhance happiness through intentional financial choices.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Relationship Building
Category: Personal Development
Category: Behavioral Economics
Category: Self-Awareness
Category: Goal Setting
Category: Emotional Intelligence
Category: Empowerment
Category: General Finance
Category: Consumer Behaviour
Category: Adaptability
Category: Financial Acumen
Category: Economics
Category: Financial Planning
Category: Decision Making
RiskWise: Annuities and Income

RiskWise: Annuities and Income

Course 3, 5 hours

What you'll learn

  • Explain what annuities are and how they are used to support retirement income, including protection against longevity risk.

  • Compare annuities with traditional investment‑based approaches and describe when guaranteed income may be useful within a retirement plan.

  • Identify and explain key annuity features and tradeoffs, including income options, guarantees, fees, and liquidity.

  • Apply retirement income concepts to realistic scenarios, evaluating long‑term outcomes, survivor considerations, and communication challenges.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Estate Planning
Category: Investments
Category: Insurance
Category: Financial Management
Category: Finance
Category: Case Studies
Category: Risk Management
Category: Communication Strategies
Category: Product Knowledge
Category: Portfolio Management
Category: Contract Review
Category: Ethical Standards And Conduct
Category: Financial Planning
Category: Wealth Management
Category: Analysis
Category: Portfolio Risk
Category: Insurance Policies
Category: Risk Modeling

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Instructors

Dr. Craig Lemoine
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
13 Courses9,889 learners

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