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Rebel Finance School 2025 starts Monday 2nd June, 8pm UK time. This is your ultimate guide to Rebel Finance School. What’s happening, what the sessions are, guest speakers, new content and so much more!
Not signed up yet?! Sign up now! Then read on to find out more about the plans for 2025!
What is Rebel Finance School?
Rebel Finance School is a free course that me and my wife Katie created in lockdown in 2020. We achieved financial independence in 2019 and we wanted to help other people take control of their finances too.
It is a 10-week course designed to take you from the very beginning of your money journey, working out where the money goes, tracking your net-worth and getting out of debt all the way to investing, sorting out pensions and planning for a comfortable retirement.
The course is completely free and always will be.
Why is Rebel Finance School free?
Katie and I achieved financial independence in 2019 and retired from normal work. We went travelling and found out pretty quickly that purpose and mission are key to a happy and fulfilled life. We have made it our mission to help other people with their finances and tackle some of the biggest problems in the finance world.
We don’t need to earn money any more but we do need something to do. In traditional retirement a lot of people volunteer, whether that’s in their local school or charity shop or for a cause they believe in. This is our version of volunteering our time and energy, using the strengths and skills we’ve developed.
2025 plan for Rebel Finance School
Watch the video to learn more about the plan for 2025!
Every year Katie and I work to improve the course. This year has been a huge year of learning for us as we have toured New Zealand, done the Financial Freedom Tour of the UK and Ireland and worked on our book.
At every meetup we hear stories, learn what’s worked from the course, what didn’t and how to help more. The book has been an incredible creative journey learning how to explain the different concepts concisely in print and we will be carrying these learnings into the course this year.
The changes you will notice this year are:
- Objections. So many people say to us “Donegans, your course is great but it won’t work for me because…” They then insert a reason… I have kids, I am too old, I am too young, I don’t have time, and more. We want to tackle these this year and help to unlock as many people as possible. We are designing a bonus session before the course even starts to tackle the biggest objections to getting on top of your finances! See below for the full list of dates and times for the course this year.
- Cashflow and Net-worth. We have completing redesigned weeks 1 and 2 of the course. After working through the process of writing the process we have found better ways to explain cashflow, net-worth and some of the other key concepts. We are so excited to share the new start to the course with you which will be even more powerful.
- Net-worth tracker. This weekend Katie got inspired to completely redesign the net-worth tracker given the new insights from writing the book. We have been testing the spreadsheet with the ninjas and will have a brand new version, explanation of how to use it and charts for you in 2025! Did someone say data visualisation!? Exciting!
- Volatility training. We have realised we need to do more to prepare people for the wild volatility ride in the stock market and are designing a brand new session with the Ninjas to prepare ourselves for future volatility.
- Drawdown strategy. One of the biggest holes in our content has been draw down strategy which means how to get your money out of your portfolio to live off it. We are tackling that this year with the help of John Buston. We will have two new bonus sessions after the course covering drawdown strategy, rebalancing and living off your portfolio! The 10 week course is becoming an 11 week course this year!
- New Zealand Session. we are putting more structure into our New Zealand practical session with the amazing Ruth the Happy Saver from New Zealand and working to help unlock people with investing, Kiwi Savers, PIE accounts and more.
- USA Session. We will have a specific USA session tackling 401ks, Roths and more.
- 4% Rule. We will have an extra special session with Bill Bengen the creator of the 4% rule on his latest research and how to apply the 4% rule in your life. We are super excited to have Bill back on Rebel Finance School to work through everything post retirement.
- Financial Forecasting 2.0. We were in Spain this year presenting at the first ever European CampFI and we used the financial forecasting model to help unlock people with their finances. The reactions from people being able to see their financial future in black and white was life changing. Katie redesigned the spreadsheet, we developed the methodology and we are going to run the Financial Forecasting session again this year to help you model your financial future, work out if you have enough and the impact of your designs on your financial life.
As I write this I am amazed at all the new sessions and things we are running this year. We are so excited. If you want to help us with any of these then please contact us about becoming a Ninja.
Rebel Finance School Dates – 2025
We’ve laid out all the RFS 2025 sessions, dates, times and guest presenters for you. You can also find all the session on our events calendar!
| Week | Date (all 8pm UK time) | Session | Special Guests |
| Prep week! | Mon 26th May | Is it too late for me?! Catching up to FI | Bill Yount and Jackie Cummings Koski |
| Prep week! | Sun 1st Jun | What’s holding you back? Moving past challenges and taking control of your finances | |
| 1 | Mon 2nd Jun | Create a Gap: Unleash Your Financial Superhero | |
| 1 | Wed 4th Jun | Q&A Create a Gap: Unleash Your Financial Superhero | |
| 2 | Mon 9th Jun | Net-Worth: Build Your Financial Fortress | |
| 2 | Thu 12th Jun | Q&A: Net-worth | |
| 3 | Mon 16th Jun | Money Mindset Makeover: Craft Your Financial Identity | |
| 3 | Thu 19th Jun | Q&A: Transform Your Money Mindset | |
| 4 | Mon 23rd Jun | Debt Demolition: Strategies to Blast your Balances | |
| 4 | Thu 26th Jun | Debt Demolition Q&A | |
| 5 | Mon 30th Jun | Money Talks: Master the Art of Financial Communication | |
| 5 | Thu 3rd Jul | Q&A: Money Talks | |
| 6 | Mon 7th Jul | Investing Unleashed: Assets, Liabilities, and the Stock Market Showdown | |
| 6 | Thu 10th Jul | Q&A: Unleashing the Secrets of Investing, Assets, and the Stock Market | |
| 7 | Mon 14th Jul | Index Investing: The Silent Giant of Long-Term Wealth | |
| 7 | Thu 17th Jul | Volatility training | Ninjas |
| 8 | Mon 21st Jul | Practical Prosperity: Opening Accounts, Reducing Tax and Getting Started | |
| 8 | Tue 22nd Jul | Practical Prosperity for Kiwis: Applying Financial Independence in New Zealand | Ruth the Happy Saver |
| 8 | TBC | Practical Prosperity for Americans: Opening Accounts, Reducing Tax and Getting Started | TBC |
| 8 | Thu 24th Jul | Q&A: Practical Prosperity: Opening Accounts, Reducing Tax and Getting Started | |
| 9 | Mon 28th Jul | Future-Proof Your Finances: Stress-Testing Your Wealth and Winning the Money Game | |
| 9 | Thu 31st Jul | Q&A: Future-Proof Your Finances | Bill Bengen |
| 10 | Mon 4th Aug | FIRE Finale: Igniting Your Financial Independence and Embracing Happiness | |
| 10 | Thu 7th Aug | Q&A: Mr Money Mustache | Mr Money Mustache |
| Bonus | Mon 11th Aug | Drawdown – UK Specific session | John Buston |
| Bonus | Thu 14th Aug | Drawdown strategy, staying the course, global version. | Bob Haines |
| Bonus | Mon 18th Aug | Financial Forecasting 2.0 – making maths based decisions, charting your financial future and more | |
| Bonus | Mon 25th Aug | What’s the point?! Finding Purpose. | Doc G |
We’re so excited!
We couldn’t be more excited about what we have to share with you this year. If you have done the course before there is so much new content, new insight for you to help you on your journey. If you have never done the course before we are going to lay everything out from the very beginning for you.
There has never been a better or more important time to get on top of your finances.
Why better? Because the tools, financial platforms, education and more available to you now is better than ever before. Not just from us. We’ll be sharing other content and resources throughout the course.
Why important? Because the pace of change is increasing, markets fluctuate, jobs are changing and disappearing at a faster pace than ever and getting your finances in order will give you the financial stability to ride out any storm that arrives.
What are you waiting for?!
Sign up now to Rebel Finance School and we can’t wait to see you on the course!
Alan and Katie
Frequently Asked Questions
This section should cover most of the frequently asked questions. If we have missed something please ask it in the comments below and we will update this FAQ with new questions and answers.
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I’m really excited about the course and I think the inclusion of the extra drawdown sessions is a brilliant idea. I want to retire in the next couple of years and this is my biggest worry- how to do it correctly and in which order to minimise tax and avoid costly mistakes. Thanks!!
Nina that is so cool we have got that covered this year. please let us know your feedback on the session. I am sure it will be geeky but we will make it fun! Thank you for commenting. Alan
Looking forward to the course but have been financially nerdy for years and now retired and have a pension pot so looking forward to the drawdown session!
Hey Carol that is awesome. Congrats on the pension and retirement! that is awesome. We can’t wait for the drawdown session either! Alan
I’m so excited about the course yet I’m feeling sad as my partner is not on the same page as me with finances and he is not interested in doing this with me.
I hope he will change his mind 😜
Nadia, I am so sorry to hear this. Boo. Few thoughts: 1. have you asked him directly to watch it with you. Have you offered Pizza and bear and watch it on the television? 2. This is a problem a LOT of people face and we will have tools on the course to help you. 3. this is a long game and we have time to work on them! Alan
I would like to join the course to learn how our finance can help use and reach the goal for retirement
Reena of course you are welcome? Did you put your email address in on this page? https://rebeldonegans.com/finance/rfs/ This will then send you an email with course notes, links and more. Alan
Ditto to previous comments – already retired and living probably quite an adventurous life, so really looking forward to the drawdown bonus session, want to continue to maximise what we’ve got and delve into it in the best way possible. Thanks for including this aspect. Did your course at warp speed catch up a couple of years ago, and out pots (even though retired) have improved since that time!
Wendy that is awesome. I am so glad the course helped. You are so right, even in retirement one can optimising things a bit and we are super excited about the draw downs session and sharing that information. We have been learning so much! Thank you for commenting!
Hi Katie & Alan,
I did the course last year, loved it, and did nothing! What’s wrong with me ;-) … I think being over 50 and an expatriate makes things more challenging as I don’t know where in the world I’ll be in 2-3 years (by the way, I’d love to have this aspect covered in the Rebels Finance course). But, this might be a bad excuse. Anyway, I look forward to redoing it, but this time I’m making a promise to myself: “”Listen and take action no matter what!”.
See you very soon
Pascale, which country do you live in? and you are right we just need to take action, an average plan executed beats a brilliant plan not executed every single day! You are wonderful. Covering transition between countries is hard for us as we don’t know everyone’s countries. Is there a more general version that we could cover?. Thank you for writing and let’s get you in the game!. Alan
Also excited about the drawdown section! I am retiring Feb 2nd and want to make sure everything is set up right! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this whole course!
Alison it is our pleasure. We are excited about this section too. We are having fun writing it with John!
I’m just getting started with managing finances this is perfect timing, thank you. I would love to take money out of the equation, so I just do the work I’m called to do without needing to consider if it will pay me enough to allow me to do it.
Lesley, that is exactly what we did and we would love to help you do the same. This is so exciting. See you on the course! Alan
Hello!
Thank you so much for doing this course.
I tried to watch the Catching up to FI but can’t find/get closed captions like I could with your introduction video. As I am hard of hearing I am dependent on subtitles.
Is there CC somewhere or a text I could read?
Hey Eva, I think Closed Captions should be auto added on YouTube when it is broadcast on the 26th of June. Monday. Are you tunning in live? This is so exciting and can’t wait to see you. oh and I know that they are available on Zoom if you join via zoom live on the night too! Alan
I’m really looking forward to the course and joining live this year. I love the additions, particularly looking forward to the forecasting and drawdown sessions.
Hey Sue, the forecasting workshop was game changing for us. This is so exciting. We are looking forward to it! Thanks for commenting. See you soon!
Alan and Katie
Hey, looking forward to the course. Attended last year but saw you’ve refined it further and added sessions on drawdown strategy etc. which is great. I subscribed to your calendar but it’s currently only showing the tour dates and not the RFS course dates. Do I need to do something else? Thanks
Hey Amanda, thanks for spotting that. We will fix that this week and get it ready! We are so excited about the new sessions as well. This is going to be epic and fun! If you have signed up to the course you will get an email with all joining links and more!
Will I be sent an email with a link to join each of the 10 sessions, or do I need to come directly to this website and click the YouTube link above?
Thanks
Hey Matt, you will get it by email if signed up to the course. All good. If not they are available on the course notes page here: https://rebeldonegans.com/finance/rfs/course-notes/
Really looking forward to getting started but feeling a bit overwhelmed already if I’m honest!! 😬
Hey Shirley, thanks for your message. We are looking forward to the course too. What do you have to think about to feel overwhelmed? Alan
Thanks Alan, I think it’s just all the group chats and links on messenger! I’m on the FB group and between that and the various links to watch and all these groups that have been set up I feel a bit snowed under……and I’ve not even started the course yet! Not quite sure what groups/links/chats I should be focusing on lol. I’m sure it’ll all become clear on Monday.
Shirley, that makes complete sense. Those things get to me sometimes too! The only thing you really need is the Monday night courses. You can ignore all the other noises and then if you need help go into the facebook group and ask for it. I would stay focused on the Monday night sessions as that is most of what you need. Does that help? ALan
Absolutely! Thanks for coming back to me. 😊
So glad everything is available on catch up as my evenings can be unpredictable with work, but my mornings are usually quieter. Though I will try to join live as I think that’s a good discipline. Really impressed so far with the two intro sessions – straightforward, jargon free mostly (and when jargon is used it gets explained in simple terms), and so far so good.
Jim thank you so much for the feedback. We are working to make the course more and more accessible and if we ever slip up and use Jargon just ask us! Thank you so much for commenting. Alan
You sent email about Resources Library but no tab for it.
this one? 📚 The Rebel Finance School Library Or maybe this one Resources
How do I find the GAP tracker you talked about in Week 1?
Thanks
I’m hoping this will show as a clickable link How big is your gap
Another brilliant week. You guys are amazing! I’ve also just looked over all the sessions and bonuses this year, absolutely above and beyond, thank you!
There is so much cool stuff coming. We are making it happen and slowly building things! Thanks Sarah! LOVED reading your comment. Alan
Loving the Thursday Q and A session, 2 Donegan doses a week! Excellent! This is my 3rd year on the course and always something new to learn and apply as life changes happen and Im in a very different and better place than when I attended previously. Thank you both, it has literally been life changing ❤
Hi
I’ve just signed up for the course.
We are sort of financially independent. We live in Greece from the money we earn renting our uk home but we live on a tight budget so I’m hoping the course can improve our lifestyle. Even just a little bit.
Love that goal Melanie. Thanks for joining and commenting! Alan
A bit to the party but I’m on catch up.Where can I get a copy of your book please?And listening to Radio 4 Money Box on Saturday July19th I heard a familiar name on the radio..Mrs Donegan FIRE club interview.Where can I listen to the interview again please.Many Thanks
Peter, so glad you are in and watching and joining. that is AWESOME> Book will be out later this year and I have no idea where that interview is I am afraid. I did a quick google search just now and couldn’t find it. Sorry. Alan
Hi, when is going to be the next course? Thanks
Patricio
Next, new live course will be Summer of 2026. Usually around the start of June but you can still do the 2025 course, it’s all up on youtube still, https://rebeldonegans.com/finance/rfs/
Hey, Kids!
I’m back! I had started the 2025 course in June determined to implement more of the assigned resources. But, in July, my dear, sweet husband passed away and I was… distracted. I watched a lot of the live videos in 2024, and my husband would say, “These guys, again?” His dementia prevented him from differentiating the content of the videos. But he sure knew your faces and voices!
After my first trip through the course in ‘24, I made a list of resources that I had found helpful. I gave copies to some friends, my UPS guy, and a friend I reconnected with after my husband passed. You know the syndrome; woman finds Utopia, becomes obsessed to spread the Message to friends and family to convert them, too. One of those friends is going through Rebel Finance right now during her Winter Break, and I’m joining her. I’m excited to end 2025 and begin 2026 by picking up the pieces and putting them back together in a productive way to prepare for my own future.
Thank you, Katie and Alan, for creating this free resource! I’m determined to utilize more of the resources you provide to improve my financial life. I’m inspired to do you proud, and make sure you know that all the hard work you’ve put in here has been life changing for me, and I expect for others, too.
Wishing the happiest of New Year’s to you for 2026,
April from The Hollow
April what a beautiful message. I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I am excited for your financial future as well, sounds like you are back and determined which I love. I am sat here at dinner with Katie and I am writing an article about how to do an annual finance review. Having fun and tomorrow is our annual finance review. We will have been doing our monthly finance meeting for 10 years tomorrow which is crazy. I am so glad you wrote. It is so lovely to hear from you. And on the woman finds utopia and trys to share it comment, we are fully on that mission! lol. Love you. Happy New Year. Alan and Katie
@alandonegan May I know why I am removed from facebook group? All I know is that I posted interesting link to Steven Bartlett interview that agrees with your views 😢
Hey Aida, I have no idea. I am sorry. I can’t find an Aida that had been removed from the group. I searched the logs for 10 minutes this evening and couldn’t find anything. I would need to know your facebook name to find you. I am sure it was just some facebook weirdness. Find me and message me your name and I will see if I can find you and sort it out. Alan
I’m hoping that the RFS can be watched on re-run.
I fall into one of the FAQ ir comments, “it’s too late for me to invest properly as I’m to old, 63”
I do have some investment, a pension and a bit of precious metal.
I’m hoping to retire at 65 with my wife who will be 55, so we can enjoy some extended quality time together.
We love travelling, walking, training, reading and drinking coffee, oh and my wife loves to decorate and re-arrange the house.
Hopefully I’ll be able to join your school and community 🙏🏼
Lance-Simon, thanks for the comment and you can 100% watch on catch up. It will be on YouTube so you could put it on the television and watch it with your wife in the evening? maybe with a drink! Might make our jokes more bearable!?
And 63 is not too late. It is never too late to improve your finances. You might not get all the way to financial independence but does that mean you shouldn’t review the pensions, organise the money and buy back a bit more freedom? The very least we can do is review your situation and optimise….
Can’t wait to hear what you think of the course. Peace and Pineapples. Katie and Alan