Course

Alternatives & Real Estate

Beyond the basic stock-and-bond portfolio.

REITs, commodities, crypto, hedge funds, private equity and credit, annuities, and even art. What they are, who they're really for, and why most people probably shouldn't chase them.

7 lessons·~35 min total

Lessons in this course

1
REITs: real estate without the tenant calls
A REIT lets you own a slice of professionally managed real estate the way you'd own a stock. Apartments, hospitals, data centers, warehouses.
5 min
→
2
Commodities basics: gold, oil, wheat, copper
Raw materials that fuel the economy. Why some investors hold them and what to know before adding them to a portfolio.
5 min
→
3
Crypto: what it actually is
A neutral, plain-English explanation of cryptocurrency — what it is, what makes it different, and what to think about before owning any.
5 min
→
4
Hedge funds: what they actually are
Glamorous, mysterious, and mostly inaccessible. Here's what hedge funds actually do — and why their average performance might surprise you.
5 min
→
5
Private investments: what is behind the curtain
Private equity, private credit, venture capital, hedge funds. What they actually are, why everyone wants in, and why most people probably should not chase them.
6 min
→
6
Annuities: what they are and why most people don't need them
Insurance products that pay a stream of income. Sometimes useful, often oversold by commission-driven salespeople. Here's how to tell the difference.
5 min
→
7
Art, wine, watches: alternative assets explained
These markets exist, and some have real returns. They're also illiquid, opaque, and full of people trying to take advantage of you.
4 min
→

PREMIUM

Final exam + certificate

When you finish this course, take a 15-25 question final exam to test what you've learned. Pass and earn a verified ClearMoneySchool certificate you can share on LinkedIn.

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