On this free online course, you'll learn about different investment choices, the returns and risks associated with each, and the evidence about their historical performance. You'll explore investment strategies, as well as the practicalities about involvement in personal finance markets. And you'll look at how to avoid the individual and group behavioural traits that can impair effective investment decision making.

Research shows that UK households are poor at investment management with a limited understanding of investment choices, risks and returns. The resultant 'savings gap' threatens a scenario where many cannot afford to retire.

Elsewhere households fail to plan properly, to make their investment choices fit with their risk appetites and the time horizons for access to their funds. This course aims to give you the tools to avoid these personal finance nightmares.

Throughout, the course will provide recent and current case studies on investment issues, to demonstrate how the ideas and issues explored in the course are reflected in the arena of personal investments.

Managing my investments aims to give you the knowledge and confidence to take charge of your investments and your financial future.

After completing this course you will be able to:

• understand how to make different investment choices
• discuss returns and risks associated with investments and historical performance 
• explore practicalities of involvement in personal finance markets
• understand individual and group behavioural traits that impair effective investment decision making.