BUS 177 — Unlock Financial Freedom: A Smart and Practical Guide to Early Retirement
Quarter: Spring
Instructor(s): Amber Ma
Date(s): Apr 9—May 7
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Thursdays
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 7:00—8:30 pm (PT)
Tuition: $435
Refund Deadline: Apr 11
Unit(s): 0
Enrollment Limit: 45
Status: Open
Quarter: Spring
Day: Thursdays
Duration: 5 weeks
Time: 7:00—8:30 pm (PT)
Date(s): Apr 9—May 7
Unit(s): 0
Tuition: $435
Refund Deadline: Apr 11
Instructor(s): Amber Ma
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Enrollment Limit: 45
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Open
Have you imagined retiring years earlier than most—shifting your “go-go” years from your 60s to your 40s or finally pursuing long-delayed passion projects? In this course, you’ll learn how to define your ideal retirement age and calculate exactly what’s required to fund your desired lifestyle. Discover strategies to double your income every 2–3 years through smart career moves, hidden revenue streams, and personal entrepreneurship. You’ll also learn the key difference between lifespan income and limited income—insight that can help you build lasting wealth.
We’ll explore how to optimize your spending so your money works smarter and how to spot financial opportunities before they go mainstream. Finally, we’ll unpack the hard and soft skills you can develop quickly to accelerate results and stay ahead of the curve. Early retirement isn’t about cutting back—it’s about creating freedom, choice, and peace of mind. With a step-by-step playbook, this course empowers you to design and live the life you want, at any career stage.
AMBER MA
Adjunct Professor of Accounting, University of San Francisco; Certified Public Accountant
Amber Ma teaches accounting at both the University of San Francisco and Golden Gate University. She has worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young as well as major technology companies, including Tesla, Uber, Meta, and Amazon. She has led accounting training at her corporate jobs, attracting hundreds of non-accounting colleagues to join her interactive training courses.
Textbooks for this course:
(Required) John Wooden and Jay Carty, Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success: Building Blocks for a Better Life (ISBN 978-0800726256)
(Optional) Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy (ISBN 978-1589795471)
(Optional) Thomas J. Stanley, Millionaire Women Next Door: The Many Journeys of Successful American Businesswomen (ISBN 978-0740755705)
(Optional) Jennifer Risher, We Need To Talk: A Memoir About Wealth (ISBN 978-1939096463)
(Optional) Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy (ISBN 978-1589795471)
(Optional) Thomas J. Stanley, Millionaire Women Next Door: The Many Journeys of Successful American Businesswomen (ISBN 978-0740755705)
(Optional) Jennifer Risher, We Need To Talk: A Memoir About Wealth (ISBN 978-1939096463)