Break the Paycheck Trap
Take control of your income, spending and debt, build savings, and set up a money system that runs without willpower.
Best for: New to managing money, or tired of living paycheck to paycheck
Finance courses
Learn money skills
at your own pace.
Three online courses by Dr. Paul Etienne, DBA: getting out of the paycheck trap, managing money as a couple, and investing in the stock market for the long term. Video lessons and study guides you can start today.
Choose your course
Three courses, three different starting points
Not sure where to begin? If money feels out of control, start with Break the Paycheck Trap. If you are building a life with someone, take From I Do to Financial Freedom together. If your budget is steady and you are ready to grow it, go to Build Wealth Through Smart Stock Investing.
From I Do to Financial Freedom
Talk about money without arguing, plan and save together, and protect each other with the right insurance and estate plan.
Best for: Engaged couples, newlyweds and anyone planning a life together
$199See the course
Build Wealth Through Smart Stock Investing
Learn how the stock market really works, how to pick quality companies, and how to build a portfolio that grows over time.
Best for: Beginners ready to start investing for the long term
Course 1: Personal finance
Break the Paycheck Trap
Master Your Money, Build Your Freedom
A step by step course that shows you how to take control of your income, your spending and your long term goals. You learn to budget, pay off debt, build savings, and set up systems so your money works for you instead of running your life. You finish with the mindset, the tools and a written plan to move past financial survival and start building real freedom.
What you will learn
- Know exactly where every dollar of your income goes each month
- Build a budget that fits your real life, not a perfect version of it
- See the true cost of your debt and follow a payoff plan with a real timeline
- Know which debt to attack first, and why
- Build an emergency fund from scratch, even when it feels like nothing is left
- Find and close the spending leaks that drain your budget every month
- Understand how your credit score is calculated and the exact steps to raise it
- Set up automations, monthly reviews and savings habits that keep running on their own
What the course covers
- 01
The Reality Check
Face your finances, work out your cash flow and net worth, and drop the money beliefs holding you back.
- 02
Budgeting That Actually Works
Zero-based, 70/20/10 and pay-yourself-first budgets explained, then your first budget built step by step.
- 03
Destroying Debt
The true cost of debt with real interest examples, snowball versus avalanche, and your own payoff plan.
- 04
Building a Savings Safety Net
A $1,000 starter fund, then three to six months of expenses, where to keep it, and four ways to build it.
- 05
Smarter Spending and Earning
Clear the fog of small habits, make specific spending cuts, and raise your income through side work and raises.
- 06
Credit and Confidence
The five FICO factors, how to check and dispute errors, and the traps to avoid, from payday loans to co-signing.
- 07
Staying Free
Automation, monthly money rituals and the layered system that keeps you free for the long term.
Plus a final quiz and closing lesson.
Who it is for
- Anyone who earns an income but feels they have nothing to show for it
- People carrying credit card, car, student or medical debt that never seems to shrink
- Anyone who tried budgeting before, gave up, and decided they are just bad with money
- People in their 20s and 30s who were never taught personal finance at school or at home
- Good incomes that still feel stuck, as well as people starting from zero
No prior financial knowledge, extra money, high income or perfect credit needed.
Course 2: Couples and families
From I Do to Financial Freedom
A Money Mastery Course for Couples
A course for couples who want to build, manage and keep financial wellness in their relationship. It gives you a shared language for money, a plan you both agree on, and the knowledge to make informed decisions together, from the first budget to retirement and estate planning.
What you will learn
- Talk about money openly and understand each other’s spending habits
- Plan your spending and saving together, and manage debts like student loans and credit cards
- Plan for big goals such as buying a home, travel or having children
- Grow your money together through investing and plan for a comfortable retirement
- Protect each other with the right insurance, and plan your estate, including wills
- Settle money disagreements and make financial decisions as a team
What the course covers
- 01
Understanding your financial backgrounds
Where each of you comes from with money, and why it shapes how you spend and save.
- 02
Setting financial goals together
Turn two sets of hopes into one shared list of goals.
- 03
Budgeting and debt management
One plan for spending, saving and paying down what you owe.
- 04
Big expenses and investment strategies
Saving for the home, the trips and the children, and growing your money together.
- 05
Insurance and estate planning
Protecting each other from the unexpected, and putting wills and plans in place.
- 06
Conflict resolution
How to handle money disagreements and make decisions as a team.
Starts with a short course overview and introduction.
Who it is for
- Engaged couples building a financial foundation before the wedding
- Newlyweds lining up their goals and managing money as one household
- Couples considering marriage who want to talk through money first
- Individuals preparing for a future relationship
- Parents helping an engaged or newly married son or daughter
- Marriage counselors, coaches, therapists and financial advisors who work with couples
Pairs well with the book Understanding Your Finances Through Life’s Changes, which covers the relationship side of money.
Course 3: Investing
Build Wealth Through Smart Stock Investing
Long-term investing, explained without the jargon
A practical, beginner friendly course on how the stock market really works and how to use it to build wealth. It skips risky short term trading and focuses on the long term strategies successful investors use. You learn to evaluate companies, spot strong opportunities, and build a portfolio that grows through consistency, discipline and smart decisions.
What you will learn
- How the stock market works and why it is one of the most powerful tools for building wealth
- How to think like an investor instead of a trader
- How to identify strong, high quality companies
- How to read basic financial metrics and make informed decisions
- Long term strategies such as buy-and-hold and dollar-cost averaging
- How to build a diversified portfolio that fits your goals
- The common mistakes that cost beginners money, and how to avoid them
- How to keep a consistent investing plan for long term growth
What the course covers
- 01
Why investing in stocks matters
How inflation erodes cash, why income alone is limiting, and how owning businesses builds wealth.
- 02
How the stock market works
Exchanges, brokers and the main investment types, until you feel ready to place your first trade.
- 03
Long-term investing strategies
Buy-and-hold, dividend investing, index investing and dollar-cost averaging.
- 04
How to pick the best stocks
Financial health, key metrics, strong leadership and competitive advantage.
- 05
Portfolio building
Diversification, asset allocation and how to combine different investments.
- 06
Risk management
Market swings, emotional decisions and the habits that keep you disciplined.
- 07
Tools for smart investors
Researching stocks, reading financial reports and tracking how your portfolio performs.
- 08
Creating your wealth plan
Your goals, an investing routine and a long term strategy you can stick to.
Bonus module: advanced insights from top investors, tax-advantaged accounts and ways to speed up long term growth.
Who it is for
- Beginners who want to start investing but do not know where to begin
- Working professionals looking to grow their income and build wealth
- Anyone tired of living paycheck to paycheck and aiming for financial independence
- Entrepreneurs who want a second source of income through investing
- Anyone who wants stocks explained without complicated jargon
No investing experience needed. A phone or computer is enough, and a brokerage account such as Fidelity, Charles Schwab or Robinhood is recommended so you can follow along.
How the courses work
Simple to buy, easy to finish
All three courses are hosted on Khollege, the online learning platform where Dr. Etienne teaches. When you click Enroll you go straight to the course page there to check out.
Buy once, keep it
Each course is a one-time purchase. There is no subscription, and you keep your access.
Start right away
Access opens the moment checkout finishes, so you can watch the first lesson tonight.
Learn anywhere
Watch on your phone, tablet or computer, at your own pace, and pick up where you left off.
Real help
Stuck on a lesson? Ask through Khollege’s course help and you will get an answer.
These courses are for general education only and are not personalized financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. Prices are shown as listed on Khollege and are confirmed at checkout. See the full Disclaimer.
Want this taught live to your team or congregation?
Dr. Etienne can turn any of these courses into a workshop or a series for your company, school, church or non-profit.