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Are you considering Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as an investment strategy? Is your individual retirement account or 401(k) set up to earn the maximum return possible? Are you nearing retirement and want to learn how to make money when you don't have a job? Or do you need to learn how to manage debt and use credit wisely?

Wake Tech offers a variety of personal finance classes to help you build a foundation for better financial decision-making. Contact the Workforce Development Registrar's Office to inquire about courses that may not be listed below.

Finance Courses

Creative Real Estate Investing

  • Course ID: SEF-3001A2
  • Overview
  • Course Outline
  • Requirements
  • Intended Audience
  • More Details
Learn how to invest in real estate - how to find, evaluate, buy, sell, finance, and manage property. This course, for the beginning investor or the seasoned manager, includes negotiation "secrets" and teaches you about short sales, REOs, buying investment properties in college towns, and much more!

Course Objectives

Students will be able to define basic real estate terminology, determine if real estate investing is suited for individual student, learn to buy and profit from real estate investing.


Outline of Instruction

Class 1
Introduction to Real Estate Investing
• What are the first steps to take when deciding to invest in real estate
• Are you going to be an active or passive investor
• Investing for income, capital appreciation, personal use or combination
• Is this something you will do full-time or on the sideline
• What is your time frame
• Tax benefits of Real Estate Investing
• Investing for tax considerations
• Schedule E
• De-mystifying tax questions on Real Estate Investing
Forming your Real Estate Team
Review of the steps to follow when embarking on purchasing investment property

Class 2
The most common mistakes real estate investors make and how to avoid them
• Financing or not getting financing ahead of time
• Doing everything on your own
• Overpaying
• Underestimating expenses
• Inadequate research
Building a Portfolio: How to evaluate, find and choose rental properties
• Tenant screening
• Importance of a home inspection/ negotiating on a home inspection
• Property manager pros and cons
• General good practices with tenants
• Fannie Mae Guide to Becoming a Landlord

Class 3
Building a Portfolio Part 2
• How to evaluate, find and choose rental property
• Evaluating risk and return
• Researching the market: avoiding mistakes
• Foreclosures and Short Sales: pros and cons
• Flipping properties
• What to look for before making a bid on the property. Inspections and appraisals
Financing Options for Investment Property
• Financing options for different types of properties (duplex, vacation home, etc.)
• Paying with cash vs. financing
• Equity repositioning
• What affects your interest rate and down payment terms
• Concept of leverage and what makes up the interest rate and rate of return
• De-Mystifying tax questions on Real Estate Investing
Conclusion: Making a retirement plan for your future with Real Estate Investing


Contact Hours

12

CEUs

Yes

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

None

Learning Supplies Needed

Provided

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

None

Requirements for Successful Completion

100% attendance

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

N/A

Intended Audience

Anyone interested in the field of analyzing properties and investing in real estate.

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

N/A

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Related Courses

Course Contact Information

Community & Career Education Staff
919-532-5700
[email protected]

No active courses available at this time.

To be notified when this course becomes available, please use Wake Tech’s Notify Me service for SEF-3001A2-Creative Real Estate Investing .

"Flip It"...A look into investing in today's real estate market

  • Course ID: SEF-3001EO2
  • Overview
  • Course Outline
  • Requirements
  • Intended Audience
  • More Details
Examine investment opportunities in real estate, including personal residences, rental properties, and "flips," and learn how to determine which investments are smart ones. Homeowners will learn to evaluate their homes as investments, calculating value accurately, considering improvements to increase marketability, and exploring financing options. Novice investors who want to start slowly will learn about taking advantage of a depressed market for short and long-term gains.

Course Objectives

Students will learn to evaluate their homes as investments, calculate value accurately, understand how to increase value and marketability, and explore financing options.


Outline of Instruction

1. Part 1: Introduction to Class
a. About the Instructor
b. About you - what are you trying to obtain from the class by week 9
c. Weekly articles - send to me in advance
d. Decide on your goals
e. How to Obtain info
f. Determining good comps
g. Start on Finance options & NC Contracts

2. Part 2: Finances
a. Review / Q&A of last weeks class / Go over articles sent over past week
b. Guest speaker if available (Lender)
c. Traditional institutional financing options
d. Private money
e. Comparing Loan options and how it affects your investment
f. Establishing returns
g. Finish NC Contract info

3. Part 3: Rentals
a. Review / Q&A of last weeks class / Go over articles sent over past week
b. Goals of your rental
c. Guest Speaker if available (Property Manager)
d. How to identify a good rental property
e. Cash flow and numbers
f. Ins and Outs of a lease
g. Tenant issues, Marketing of Rental, Misc. Issues

4. Part 4: Flips (Part 1)
a. Review / Q&A of last weeks class / Go over articles sent over past week
b. Goals of your Flip
c. Finding the Flip
d. Budget & Timelines
e. Example House Video
f. Students will create a sample repair list & budget between Parts 4 & 5

5. Part 5: Flips (Part 2)
a. Review / Q&A of last weeks class / Go over articles sent over past week
b. Guest speaker if available (General Contractor)
c. Go over in-depth budgets
d. Compare list of repairs and budgets for Example House from week 4
e. Combine student's repairs/budgets to a master list and see if home is profitable
f. Misc. Items & Tips

6. Part 6: Taxes, LLC's, Personal Residences and Foreclosures
a. Review / Q&A of last weeks class / Go over articles sent over past week
b. Guest Speaker if available (CPA for taxes)
c. How to structure investors and use of LLC's
d. Utilizing personal residences as investments, upgrades to make, etc.

7. Part 7: Overall/Recap of class, Specific examples/problems/questions
a. Review / Q&A of last weeks class / Go over articles sent over past week
b. Go over each topic covered and review
c. Extensive Q&A


Contact Hours

21

CEUs

No

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

none

Learning Supplies Needed

Provided

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

None

Requirements for Successful Completion

80% attendance

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

N/A

Intended Audience

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

N/A

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Related Courses

SEF-3001A2


Course Contact Information

Community & Career Education Staff
919-532-5700
[email protected]

No active courses available at this time.

To be notified when this course becomes available, please use Wake Tech’s Notify Me service for SEF-3001EO2-"Flip It"...A look into investing in today's real estate market .

Retirement Planning Today

  • Course ID: CSP-4000JI2
  • Overview
  • Course Outline
  • Requirements
  • Intended Audience
  • More Details
You've worked hard to provide for your family and save for your future - now, your money should work for you! This course will show you how to keep more of what you've earned, whether you're approaching retirement or just beginning to think about it. You'll learn how to set goals and work toward them, with practical information that you can apply immediately. The course addresses financial issues for all kinds of employees, including the self employed, and includes a comprehensive, illustrated textbook. Class sizes are limited, so register today!

Course Objectives

Learn how to determine the amount of money you need to retire.

Create your own goals for a successful retirement.

Learn how to eliminate debt and improve cash flow

Learn how to properly convert your IRA to a Roth IRA

Learn how to select the retirement plan distribution choice that is right for you

Learn how to transfer the risk of potential financial losses before or during retirement

Learn how to reduce or eliminate taxes, expenses, delays and legal challenges with estate planning

Learn how to plan your retirement income to preserve a comfortable standard of living


Outline of Instruction

Life Planning for Retirement

Retirement Needs and Expenses

Retirement Roadblocks and Mistakes

Retirement Income Sources

Retirement Plan Distributions

Investments

Risk Management and Asset Protections

Estate Planning


Contact Hours

6

CEUs

No

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

None

Learning Supplies Needed

Materials provided

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

None

Requirements for Successful Completion

100% attendance

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

None

Intended Audience

Whether you are about to retire, have 20+ years to go, are self-employed, or just want to make sure you are on the right track, this course offers retirement planning for everyone.

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

N/A

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Related Courses

Course Contact Information

Community & Career Education Staff
919-532-5700
[email protected]

No active courses available at this time.

To be notified when this course becomes available, please use Wake Tech’s Notify Me service for CSP-4000JI2-Retirement Planning Today .

Principles of Retirement Planning

  • Course ID: CSP-4000JR2
  • Overview
  • Course Outline
  • Requirements
  • Intended Audience
  • More Details
Are you ready to learn the fundamental working knowledge of the principles of conservative retirement planning as they apply to retirement planning? The materials cover varied aspects of conservative retirement planning, such as changes in planning paradigms, history of markets, impact of bear markets, retirement budgeting, aspects of financial decisions and more, while highlighting the ABC Planning Model. Students increase their awareness of the overall risk in the markets, as well as possible asset allocation models to help manage exposure to risk. This course also covers conservative retirement planning, income planning, asset allocation and appropriate financial decisions. It is not designed to give specific solutions to individual needs.

This is not a financial seminar; this is a financial course of study where you leave with the knowledge and confidence to make financial decisions suited to your level of risk and in line with the goals and objectives you establish.

Course Objectives

Understand the development of risk in the markets

Learn to strategically allocate assets in a conservative manner

Develop an income plan for your retirement

Know the difference between fixed-principal and fixed-income assets and how to use them

Develop your own financial profile

Know what questions to ask a potential advisor

Determine your personal risk tolerance

Develop your own retirement budget.


Outline of Instruction

Keeping Up With the Changes?
Chapter 1: Understanding Conservative Retirement Planning defines what conservative retirement planning is and helps identify who is a conservative planner. Chapter 2: Reasons Behind Current Market Shifts discusses changes in planning perspectives and paradigms, which affect the conservative planner. Chapter 3: Deciphering Market Jargon discusses six well-known Wall Street maxims and whether they might actually be myths. Chapter 4: Old Market Strategies vs. New Retirement Planning Strategies explains the need for a new conservative planning model and why Wall Street may be a broken culture, exposing its "greed is good" nature.

How Do You Manage Risk In Retirement?
Chapter 5: The ABC Planning Model is explained in detail, showing the conservative nature of the model. Chapter 6: Yellow Money: Understanding Cash Assets identifies the type of assets in Column A, the importance of liquidity and their positives and negatives. Chapter 7: Green Money: Fixed Principal Assets describes which assets are ideal for the B Column and outlines three "Green Money Rules" and why they are important to the conservative planner. Chapter 8: Red Money: Understanding Growth Assets talks about the risk nature of Column C and what type of assets belong in a conservative investor's risk portion of their portfolio and discusses the difference between tactically managed and "Buy & Hold" managed assets. Chapter 9: Managing Volatility in Retirement discusses the effects of a bear market on a portfolio of assets and why the ABC Planning Model works well in a prolonged bear market.

Income Planning Challenges
Chapter 10: Challenges to Retirement Income Planning reveals the great need for income planning and eight challenges the retirement minded face in retirement. Chapter 11: Income Planning Concepts covers the basic concepts in developing a plan for funding your quality of life in retirement, along with possible solutions. Chapter 12: Problems with a 401(k) in Retirement covers seven problems with a 401(k) in while in retirement, including limited choices and beneficiaries. Chapter 13: Green Money Income Planning tells when to use annuities and guarantees in planning for retirement income. Chapter 14: Red Money Income Planning covers the importance of a sequence of returns as it relates to withdrawing income from securities accounts and how to balance the guarantees and risk in an income stream. Chapter 15: Tax-Free Income Planning tells how to incorporate tax-free strategies like municipal bonds, Roth IRAs and LIRPs.

How to Create Your Plan
Chapter 16: Finding an Advisor makes choosing and advisor who you like, trust and is competent easier to understand and includes more than 20 questions to ask a potential advisor. Chapter 17: How to Work Through a Retirement Planning Decision discusses the planning process of investigate, recommend, implement, review and adjust and shows the class the three elements of a decision and why a process is the best way to make a financial decision. Chapter 18: Seven Steps to an ABC Plan reviews the previous chapters while taking the student through a seven-step process to develop an ABC Plan.


Contact Hours

6

CEUs

No

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

N/A

Learning Supplies Needed

Materials provided

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

N/A

Requirements for Successful Completion

100% attendance

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

N/A

Intended Audience

Whether you are about to retire, have 20+ years to go, are self-employed or just want to make sure you are on the right track, this course offers retirement planning for everyone.

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

N/A

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Related Courses

Course Contact Information

Community & Career Education Staff
919-532-5700
[email protected]

Current Opportunities
Details Section Date(s) Location Price Seats  
329988 07/14/26 - 07/21/26 Northern Wake Campus 39.00 21 Register
329990 07/16/26 - 07/23/26 Northern Wake Campus 39.00 24 Register

If you would like to be notified when additional sections become available, please use Wake Tech’s Notify Me service for CSP-4000JR2-Principles of Retirement Planning .

Read Between The Lines: Helping Investors Understand the Numbers

  • Course ID: RLS-3700B2
  • Overview
  • Course Outline
  • Requirements
  • Intended Audience
  • More Details
Learn how to better protect, advise and serve your clients in their real estate investments. After completion of this program, the licensee will be able to protect their client's interests by advising effectively on the purchase and strategies behind residential real estate investing. This course has also been approved by the NCREC and meets the requirements to count toward mandatory CE training for licensed agents.

Course Objectives

Outline of Instruction

Contact Hours

4

CEUs

Yes

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

This course has been approved by the NCREC to count toward 4 credit hours of CE education.

Website

https://www.ncrec.gov/

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

This course meets the requirements the NCREC has set to count toward mandatory CE training for licensed agents.


CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

None

Learning Supplies Needed

If taking for credit; a photo ID and your NCREC license number must be presented at the beginning of class. All other materials will be supplied.

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

None

Requirements for Successful Completion

100% attendance

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

This course has been approved by the NCREC and meets the requirements to count toward mandatory CE training for licensed agents.

Intended Audience

NC Real Estate Brokers in need of CE hours to meet the requirements set forth by the NCREC.

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

Real Estate Agent
Provisional Broker
Real Estate Broker
Broker in Charge

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Real Estate Agent

Provisional Broker

Real Estate Broker

Broker in Charge

Related Courses

SEF-3001EO2

SEF-3001A2

RLS-3700A2

SEF-3001JQ2

SEF-3001NO2


Course Contact Information

Community & Career Education Staff
919-532-5700
[email protected]

No active courses available at this time.

To be notified when this course becomes available, please use Wake Tech’s Notify Me service for RLS-3700B2-Read Between The Lines: Helping Investors Understand the Numbers .

Real Estate Investing

  • Course ID: REA-3806AE
  • Overview
  • Course Outline
  • Requirements
  • Intended Audience
  • More Details
Have you ever heard the old saying, "Buy low, sell high?" News stories about the softening real estate market might scare away some novice investors, but experienced investors recognize weak markets as opportunities to pick up bargains. In many areas, now is the time to buy before prices start climbing again. In this course, you will learn how to make money in any area, in good times and bad, even if you have little money to start with. Real Estate Investing includes specially designed worksheets and hands-on activities to take the guesswork out of your investing efforts. Start developing a plan for your own investing efforts based on proven methods used every day by full-time, professional real estate investors. You will learn how to invest in foreclosures, manage a rehab project, and build your team of real estate professionals (title officers, lawyers, accountants, mortgage brokers, appraisers, and more). This course also explores the effects of higher interest rates and cover alternative strategies for a changing market. By the end of the course, you will be working toward your first (or next) deal.

Course Objectives

Discover how to make money in real estate, even if you have little to start with.

Study specially designed worksheets and hands-on activities to take the guesswork out of your investing in the real estate market.


Outline of Instruction

Lesson 1 - Why Invest in Real Estate?

Lesson 2 - Market Analysis

Lesson 3 - The Transaction Process

Lesson 4 - Wholesaling

Lesson 5 - Rentals, Lease Options, and Owner Financing

Lesson 6 - Foreclosures

Lesson 7 - Rehabs

Lesson 8 - Condos

Lesson 9 - Negotiation

Lesson 10 - Funding Your Transactions

Lesson 11 - Marketing Your Properties

Lesson 12 - Shifting Your New Business Into High Gear


Contact Hours

24

CEUs

No

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Learning Supplies Needed

Hardware Requirements:
This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:
PC: Windows 8 or later.
Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:
Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

None

Requirements for Successful Completion

90% attendance
• Students must successfully pass 10 quizzes with a minimum grade of 70% by the second quiz attempt.
• If all quizzes are not passed with 70 or better by the second attempt, the final exam score must be 70% or higher on the first attempt for successful completion.
• The Final Exam must be taken by the Wake Tech course end date.

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

N/A

Intended Audience

This course is for anyone who would like to learn about Real Estate Investing.

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

N/A

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Related Courses

Course Contact Information

Courtney Boney
919-532-5581
[email protected]

Current Opportunities
Details Section Date(s) Location Price Seats  
328695 06/17/26 - 08/07/26 Online 77.00 17 Register

If you would like to be notified when additional sections become available, please use Wake Tech’s Notify Me service for REA-3806AE-Real Estate Investing .

Stocks, Bonds and Investing: Oh My!

  • Course ID: BAF-3272IE
  • Overview
  • Course Outline
  • Requirements
  • Intended Audience
  • More Details
Looking for a good solid class in the basics of stocks, bonds, finance and investing? Haven't the slightest clue how to prepare for retirement, pay for college or even manage your personal finances? Do you wish you could do it all without having to pay a broker or a financial advisor? Well, look no further. The class you need is right here. Stocks, Bonds and Investing: Oh My! is an enjoyable class that walks you through the fundamentals of investing. The course not only teaches you about stock markets, 401(k) plans and retirement, it also addresses personal financial issues that are often ignored, but absolutely essential, to your success as an investor. Each lesson explains these concepts in detail, so you understand how and why things work in the investment world. Provide yourself with the independence and confidence you will need to make your own investment decisions.

Course Objectives

Learn the basics of stocks, bonds and investing so you can be independent and confident about your financial decisions

Discover how to prepare for retirement, manage your finances and pay for college without the need for hiring a broker or financial advisor


Outline of Instruction

Overview of Class

The Theory and Importance of Investing

First Things First

Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds - Part I

Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds - Part II

The Markets and Exchanges

Processes, Players and Operations

Trades and the Trading Process

Retirement Programs

Picking Stocks

Types and the Importance of Research

Researching Resources


Contact Hours

24

CEUs

No

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

N/A

Learning Supplies Needed

Hardware requirements:
This course can be taken on either a PC, a Mac or a Chromebook.

Software requirements:
PC: Windows 8 or later
Mac: macOS 12 or later
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:
Email capabilities and access to a personal email account

Instructional material requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

N/A

Requirements for Successful Completion

90% attendance
Student must pass 10 quizzes or pass final exam with 70% or better.

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

N/A

Intended Audience

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

N/A

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

Related Courses

Course Contact Information

Courtney Boney
919-532-5581
[email protected]

No active courses available at this time.

To be notified when this course becomes available, please use Wake Tech’s Notify Me service for BAF-3272IE-Stocks, Bonds and Investing: Oh My! .

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