How it's organized
10 modules in 3 progressions. Each module builds on the previous, but each is useful on its own. Skip, repeat, or jump in where you are.
The 10 modules
Tap any module to see what's inside. The assessment will recommend the order that fits your situation.
1Money Mindset & Cash Flow20–30 min›
Audit your relationship with money before doing anything else. Cash-flow tracker built in.
- Identify your real monthly spend
- Distinguish needs / wants / leaks
- Spot the 3 lifestyle patterns that erase income
2Emergency Funds & Saving25 min›
Build a financial security buffer that actually protects you. Calculator gives a target sized to your situation.
- Compute your real emergency-fund target
- Choose where to hold it
- Build the habit without sacrificing the basics
3Banking Without Getting Robbed20 min›
Use banks strategically. Understand fees, account types, and the system's incentives.
- Audit hidden fees you're paying right now
- Pick checking, savings, and money-market accounts correctly
- Know when to leave a bank
4Credit Scores Decoded25 min›
The 5 factors that determine your score, ranked by how much each moves the needle.
- Pull your credit report (free, legally)
- Identify the 3 highest-leverage actions for your score
- Know what to ignore
5Debt Strategy30 min›
The true cost of debt, when it's useful, and how to get out efficiently.
- Calculate the real cost of any loan
- Avalanche vs. snowball: pick the right one for you
- Recognize debt traps before signing
6Taxes & Paychecks Demystified25 min›
Read your paycheck. Calculate your effective rate. Know which deductions actually apply to you.
- Understand every line of your pay stub
- Calculate marginal vs. effective tax rate
- Optimize withholdings and benefits
7Investing for Humans35 min›
Long-term compound growth without the jargon. The 4-criteria evaluation any fund or ETF must pass.
- Run the compound-interest calculator on your numbers
- Evaluate any investment on cost, risk, liquidity, fit
- See how fees compound against you over time
8Protect What You've Built25 min›
Insurance without over-insuring. The 4 policies most adults actually need and the rest that are sold to them.
- Decide what really needs insurance
- Compare policies on the same terms
- Skip the products that mostly transfer money to brokers
9Consumer Protection20 min›
The patterns predators use to extract money from people who have it.
- Recognize the 6 most common predatory patterns
- Question any "guaranteed" or "exclusive" offer in 30 seconds
- Know what to do if you're targeted
10Your Financial Master Plan30 min›
Integrate everything into a one-page plan you can actually open in 6 months and update.
- Write your one-page master plan
- Set review checkpoints
- Build the habit of revisiting
Who it's for, and what you'll walk away with
By the end you can read a paycheck, size an emergency fund, choose a debt-payoff method, move your credit score, run your own tax and compound-growth numbers, and write a one-page plan you actually use.
A 1–2% annual advisor fee can quietly erase a third or more of a portfolio over 30 years. You run the real numbers yourself in Module 7.
Tools and resources
🧭 After Module 10: the optional Bitcoin path
The honest question: if a CD or money-market account pays less than inflation, is "saving" really protecting your purchasing power? Inflation is invisible until it isn't. After finishing the 10 modules, some people want to explore what harder forms of money exist and how to think about them. That's what Bitcoin Sovereign Academy is for.
This is opt-in, not required, and the 10 modules stand on their own. No Bitcoin literacy assumed.
Common questions
Is this really free? What's the catch?›
All 10 modules and the calculators are free: no signup, no email required, no advertising tracking. I (Dalia) build this because financial literacy is the cheapest leverage available to most adults. If you find it useful and want to support it, there's an optional Lightning tip address at the bottom of the page. That's the only ask, and it's optional.
Do I need any background in finance?›
No. The modules are written for adults with no finance background. Math is explained as it appears.
How long will it take?›
4–6 hours of focused time, spread over 2–3 weeks if you do one or two modules per week. Faster if you binge.
Is this about Bitcoin?›
No. This is universal financial literacy. Bitcoin is mentioned in two places: (a) when it's relevant to a specific topic like inflation or storage of value, and (b) as an optional follow-up after Module 10 for readers who want to go further. The 10 modules don't assume or require any Bitcoin knowledge.
Will you sell me a course or financial product later?›
No. There's no upsell. No course bundle. No "premium tier." No affiliate links. If that changes, this answer will change first.
Who's behind this?›
Dalia, an independent financial educator. Background, motivation, and the full Sovereign Academy network are linked at the bottom of the page.
Bring FSA to your organization
The same 10-module curriculum, packaged for teams, schools, cities, and reentry programs, with facilitator-ready materials and Spanish-language options. The individual course stays free; partnerships add facilitation and custom rollout.
Start where you are. The 2-minute assessment points you to the right first module.
Take the 2-min assessment →Or skip the assessment and start with Module 1.
Questions, feedback, or institutional partnerships?
dalia@thesovereign.academy
Support the project (optional, all content is free):
⚡ sovereigndwp@getalby.com