Finance manages money, including its investment and allocation, and studies how these activities can create or increase wealth. Individuals skilled in finance can pursue diverse career paths, such as investment banking, financial planning, corporate finance, and portfolio management. In the United States, over 831,000 people were employed in the financial sector in 2019. Learning finance is crucial as it provides the ability to make informed decisions about investments, budgeting, and strategic planning, which are essential for personal growth and professional success.
Top In-Person & Virtual Finance Classes
Finance Courses at Practical Programming
Practical Programming is a dynamic technology training provider which aims to equip students with valuable coding skills. While participating in these classes, students can delve into the intricate world of Python, data science, machine learning, and web development, propelling their technical understanding to greater heights and opening the door to various high-paying career opportunities. All of the courses offered by Practical Programming are hands-on, career-focused learning experiences that aim to teach students practical, real-world coding and technology skills.
Python for Finance Immersive
- Price: $1,895
- Duration: 30 hours
- Locations: Chicago, NYC, Live Online
The Python for Finance Immersive course at Practical Programming is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of Python programming and its application in finance. Throughout the program, students will delve into the fundamentals of Python dictionaries and classes. They will work with real-world financial data, learning to process, analyze, and visualize it using an exploratory data analysis approach.
Algorithmic Trading with Python
- Price: $895
- Duration: 12 hours
- Locations: Chicago, NYC, Live Online
At Practical Programming, the course Algorithmic Trading with Python provides students with a comprehensive understanding of how to apply Python programming to algorithmic trading. The curriculum covers critical topics such as testing and optimizing strategies, backtesting, risk management, and various automated trading concepts, equipping students with the specialized skills to create, test, and implement algorithmic trading strategies.
Finance Courses at Wall Street Prep
Wall Street Prep is an eminent online learning platform providing specialized financial training programs. It empowers students and professionals to master financial modeling, investment banking, corporate finance, and private equity skills, ensuring they are adequately equipped for high-powered finance careers.
Financial Planning & Analysis Bootcamp
- Price: $1,699
- Duration: 3 days
- Locations: Live Online
The Financial Planning & Analysis Bootcamp at Wall Street Prep offers an immersive learning experience in financial analysis and corporate finance modeling, aiming to equip students with the practical skills required in the financial planning and analysis profession. Students will explore building financial models and interpreting financial statements and gain insight into budgeting, strategic finance, and corporate valuation methodologies.
Private Equity Bootcamp
- Price: $1,699
- Duration: 3 days
- Locations: Live Online
The Private Equity Bootcamp at Wall Street Prep is a comprehensive course designed to equip aspiring private equity professionals with the tactical skills and insight needed for the industry. In this interactive and practical course, students learn how to build financial and valuation models, perform due diligence, structure deals, and understand the entire merger and acquisition process.
Introduction to Project Finance Modeling
- Price: $1,699
- Duration: 3 days
- Locations: Live Online
Introduction to Project Finance Modeling at Wall Street Prep provides students with an in-depth understanding of the theoretical concepts and practical techniques of project finance modeling. It covers financial structuring, cash flow waterfall, debt and equity financing, and risk analysis, equipping students with key skills to build and analyze project finance models.
Finance Courses at Training the Street
Training The Street offers practical, hands-on, instructor-led financial training programs for students to build their skills in corporate valuation, financial modeling, and related fields. The courses are designed to transform theoretical knowledge into real-world expertise, preparing the students for their roles in the financial industry, particularly in investment banking, private equity, portfolio management, business development, and corporate finance.
Principles of Capital Markets
- Price: $2,500
- Duration: 2 days
- Locations: NYC
The Principles of Capital Markets training course provides students with an understanding of how global capital markets operate and how market participants interact in these markets. In a comprehensive overview of equity markets and instruments, debt markets and fixed income instruments, and financial derivatives, students will learn to master important principles, including mathematics behind securities pricing, market structures, and key market players' roles.
Finance Courses at NextGen Bootcamp
NextGen Bootcamp, a highly regarded tech education school, provides a robust and practical learning experience for high school students keen on acquiring tech-based skills. With courses spanning coding, software development, data science, and more, NextGen Bootcamp crafts an engaging and comprehensive learning environment where students hone their skills under the tutorship of seasoned professionals and gear up to thrive in today's tech-centered job market. NextGen courses are ideal places for students to spend their summer learning valuable skills that will assist them in their college computer science and design courses or their professional lives.
Excel, Finance, & Investing Summer Program
- Price: $1,395
- Duration: 25 hours
- Locations: NYC, Live Online
The Excel, Finance, & Investing Summer Program at NextGen Bootcamp is a comprehensive course aimed at giving students the necessary tools and knowledge to make savvy investment decisions. Throughout the course, participants will learn how to create a budget, estimate earnings, project future growth rates, follow the stock market, conduct a competitive analysis, build a hypothetical investment portfolio, and more.
Excel, Finance, & Investing Summer Program Online
- Price: $1,299
- Duration: 60 hours
- Locations: Live Online
At NextGen Bootcamp, the Excel, Finance, & Investing Summer Program Online offers students an intriguing in-depth exploration into financial analysis and modeling using Excel. The course curriculum educates students on the stock market, trading strategies, risk management, and portfolio optimization. It provides a practical understanding that empowers them in finance and investment scenarios.
Finance Courses at UCLA Extension
UCLA Extension is an esteemed program dedicated to professional development and personal growth within the University of California, Los Angeles community. Offering various dynamic courses in business, arts, engineering, and public health, they encourage students to enrich their professional knowledge, explore new interests, and stay ahead of emerging trends in their respective fields.
Business Valuation
- Price: $765
- Duration: 11 weeks
- Locations: Several (see school website)
The Business Valuation course at UCLA Extension thoroughly explores the theories and practical methodologies for valuing small-to-medium businesses. In this comprehensive course, students will learn key strategies such as income, market, and asset-based approaches to business valuation while learning how to evaluate financial statements, forecasts, and business plans critically.
Real Estate Finance
- Price: $800
- Duration: 11 weeks
- Locations: Several (see school website)
Real Estate Finance at UCLA Extension is a comprehensive course that allows students to explore the nuances of financial management within the real estate industry. Students will learn about underwriting, property and portfolio management, taxation, insurance, property valuation, and how economic trends influence real estate investment, equipping themselves with a holistic understanding of real estate finance.
Finance Certificate
- Price: $9,000
- Duration: 6 months (full-time), 1 year (part-time)
- Locations: Several (see school website)
The Finance Certificate program at UCLA Extension offers comprehensive coverage of finance theories, corporate finance strategies, and investment analysis to provide students with robust, practical finance skills. Students can expect to learn about financial instruments and capital markets, capital budgeting, mergers and takeovers, and more while developing their analytical, decision-making, and communication skills within financial environments.
Finance Courses at Bauer College of Business
Bauer College of Business, located at the University of Houston, offers an enriching learning experience that covers a broad spectrum of business fields. Students at Bauer can delve into topics such as finance, accounting, marketing, entrepreneurship, and supply chain management, all while being trained in handling real-world business challenges and enacting solutions.
Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers
- Price: $1,420
- Duration: 8 hours
- Locations: Several (see school website)
The Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers course at Bauer College of Business aids professionals in applying financial knowledge in their operational decision-making. The course covers key topics such as interpreting financial statements, understanding the time value of money, making capital budgeting decisions, and using financial data to drive strategic business decisions.
Finance Courses at Georgetown School of Continuing Studies
Housed in the heart of Washington, D.C., offers a vibrant learning community where students can scale new heights in their respective careers. Here, students can pursue a wide array of programs that range from professional certificates, bachelor's and master's degrees, to more custom offerings in numerous fields such as leadership, real estate, technology, and business —empowering them to keep pace with the ever-changing world and meet the evolving demands of their industries.
Principles of Finance
- Price: $1,055
- Duration: 18 hours
- Locations: Several (see school website)
Principles of Finance at Georgetown's School of Continuing Studies is a course that introduces students to fundamental financial concepts, such as the time value of money, risk and return, capital budgeting, and financial statement analysis. The course teaches how these concepts are applied to making investment decisions and explores the relationship between risk and return, thereby equipping students with the skills necessary to make informed financial decisions.
Finance Courses at Columbia University Precollege
Columbia University Precollege programs offer high school students the opportunity to experience college life in the Ivy League while enjoying the vibrancy of New York City. Here, students can deepen their knowledge and broaden their perspectives by exploring a specific subject area, such as business, computer science, creative writing, or engineering, in rigorous university-level courses taught by distinguished Columbia professors.
Introduction to Finance and Investment Management
- Price: $6,225
- Duration: 1-week
- Locations: NYC
At Columbia University's Precollege Summer Immersion program, high school students can attend the one-week course on Introduction to Finance and Investment Management where they can learn fundamental concepts and applications of corporate finance, investing, financial planning, and portfolio management. Highlighting the real-world relevance of the skills being taught, the course aids students in developing analytical skills to help them make informed financial and investment decisions, along with an understanding of the ethical considerations in finance.
Finance Courses at Fordham University Summer Session
At Fordham University Summer Session, students can dive deep into their areas of interest and advance their studies. With a wide array of courses offered, ranging from humanities to social sciences, business, and beyond, every scholar can learn from esteemed faculty and enhance their knowledge base while experiencing what summer in New York City has to offer.
Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom
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Price: $1,000
- Duration: 6 hours
- Locations: NYC
Fordham University's Summer Session offers a course called 'Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom,' through which undergraduate students can gain practical experience by creating, marketing, and managing their mutual fund. Participants will also expand their understanding of the time value of money and risk and return, delve deep into portfolio theory, probes ethical issues in finance, and visit leading financial institutions to network with professionals and experience the industry workings firsthand.
Finance Courses at Bentley University Center for Financial Services
Bentley University Center for Financial Services is a premier institution dedicated to advancing knowledge and careers in the financial domain. Students can delve into intricate financial concepts, gain essential industry insights, and learn from renowned experts in fields varying from investment banking to risk management, preparing them for a solid career in various financial services industries.
Wall Street 101
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Price: $3,180
- Duration: 1 week
- Locations: Boston, Live Online
Wall Street 101 at Bentley University Center for Financial Services teaches students a broad understanding of the financial markets and Wall Street, imparting vital insights on investing, trading, and the operations of global economies. The course occurs in a highly interactive learning environment through simulation trading exercises. These exercises enable students to engage with real-time data and understand the mechanisms of trading, risk management, and portfolio construction.
Finance Courses at Summer Springboard
Summer Springboard is a distinguished pre-collegiate summer program that enables high school students to explore potential career paths and enrich their academic understanding of various subjects. Offering unique courses in diverse subjects like biotech, business, medicine, and engineering creates engaging learning environments where students delve into their fields of interest while also building essential leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Finance & Investing
- Price: $5,198
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Locations: NYC
The Finance & Investing course at Summer Springboard introduces students to key economic concepts and current market trends, equipping them with practical knowledge on various finance and investing operations. Students learn about stock market trading, asset allocation, investment principles, portfolio management, and risk diversification strategies while gaining insights into potential careers in the finance industry.
Finance Courses at UCLA Precollege Summer Institutes
UCLA Precollege Summer Institutes offer high school students an immersive, hands-on learning experience across a wide array of subjects, ranging from the arts and sciences to business studies. Students are provided with a unique opportunity to explore academic interests in depth and experience the vibrant campus life at UCLA, thus making it a wonderful stepping stone into the world of higher education.
Introduction to Investments
- Price: $3,451
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Locations: Los Angeles
UCLA's Precollege Summer Institutes offers an 'Introduction to Investments' course where students will learn methods and theories of investment, learning about stocks, bonds, real estate, risk, diversification, and trade markets. The course also incorporates real-world case studies, offering students the ability to engage with coursework that highlights strategies utilized by professional investors, preparing them for informed decision-making when considering future investments.
Finance Courses at The Knowledge Academy
The Knowledge Academy is a comprehensive educational platform designed to equip students with diverse professional and technical skills. Known for their versatility, they offer a variety of courses ranging from project management and IT service management to cyber security and data protection, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals ready to meet the demands of the evolving job market.
Finance for Non Financial Managers
- Price: $1,095
- Duration: 1-day
- Locations: Several (see school website)
The Finance for Non Financial Managers course at The Knowledge Academy provides individuals outside the realm of finance with an understanding of key financial principles, helping them contribute more effectively in strategic decision making. Covering a wide range of topics, from understanding vital financial documents to evaluating performance using key financial ratios, the course equips students with the tools to assess financial health and make informed judgments in their business roles.
Financial Management Training
- Price: $1,095
- Duration: 1-day
- Locations: Several (see school website)
At The Knowledge Academy's Financial Management Training course, students will learn in-depth financial principles, including capital budgeting, risk management, corporate finance, and business strategy. The course aims to equip students with practical skills applicable to financial decision-making, prepare them for changing financial landscapes, and strengthen their understanding of financial theory and its relevance in the business environment.
Key Information about Learning Finance
When learning finance, individuals delve into topics such as financial planning, corporate finance, risk management, investment strategies, and the principles of micro and macroeconomics. While beginners can successfully learn Finance, the complexity of the field can make it challenging without a strong foundation in mathematics and economics. The time it takes to learn finance hinges on the learner's commitment and the depth of knowledge sought, with an undergraduate degree typically spanning four years, whereas self-learning modules may offer flexibility.
Grasping the basics of mathematics, particularly statistics and algebra, as well as understanding economics and business, are prerequisite knowledge that can enhance the learning experience in Finance. To facilitate efficient learning, students will benefit from mastery of software applications such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets for data analysis and financial modeling; these can be downloaded from the companies' respective websites or accessed through cloud-based platforms.
Career Paths & Job Outlook for Finance
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in business and financial operations occupations is expected to grow 7% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. In the same report by BLS, they project about 715,000 new jobs in these fields primarily due to globalization, a complex tax and regulatory environment, and an increasingly digital economy.
Entry-level positions in finance, such as financial analysts and investment banking analysts, typically see starting salaries ranging from $50,000-$80,000. Those with more experience, such as finance managers or investment bankers, can expect salaries to range from $90,000 to over $150,000. Finance is integral to various roles; for example, budget analysts use it to develop and manage an organization's financial plans, financial examiners use it to ensure compliance with financial regulations, and personal financial advisors use it to provide clients with strategies for financial planning.
What Can You Do With Finance?
With a knowledge of finance, an individual can accomplish many tasks, leveraging various tools, features, libraries, frameworks, and skills to create meaningful and practical outputs. For instance, a financial analyst can use Excel's advanced features, such as pivot tables, power query, and solver, to perform in-depth financial analysis. This can create financial models, forecasts, or investment appraisal outputs. Moreover, an individual can utilize programming languages like Python and its libraries such as Pandas, Numpy, and Matplotlib for financial data analysis and visualization. This can lead to the creation of automated trading algorithms, prediction models for stock prices, or intuitive dashboards for financial reporting.
With the right skills in finance, one can also master corporate finance concepts and valuation methodologies to perform company valuations. This can involve using discounted cash flow analysis or comparable company analysis. Higher-level languages like R can be used for statistical analysis and predictive financial modeling, leading to credit risk, portfolio optimization, or econometric models. Investment bankers, for example, can use such languages to create Monte Carlo simulations for risk analysis.
Lastly, using financial management software like QuickBooks allows for effective bookkeeping and financial statement production. With these tools, a finance professional can accurately record a company's financial transactions and create income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Overall, the outputs generated from finance, supported by the use of proper tools and skills, are not only vital for the decision-making processes of organizations, but they also provide critical insights into market trends and investment opportunities.
Top Finance Tools For Beginners
- Excel: Microsoft Excel is arguably the most essential tool in finance. Financial professionals can process and represent data, conduct complex calculations, execute statistical analysis, develop financial models, create forecasts, and more.
- Financial Statement Analysis: Understanding how to read and interpret financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement) is crucial in finance. It helps assess a company's performance, financial strength, and future prospects.
- Powerpoint: Microsoft Powerpoint is another essential tool for crafting presentations to convey financial data, marketing strategies, business plans, and more.
- Python: A popular programming language for financial analysis and quantitative finance. Python is useful for automating tasks, data analysis, modeling, forecasting, and creating algorithms.
- R programming: R is a programming language and software environment for statistical computing and graphics. It is widely used in financial engineering and quantitative finance for tasks such as analyzing data, performing statistical operations, and creating graphics.
- Tableau: A powerful data visualization tool that utilizes interactive dashboards and is commonly used by finance professionals for displaying and interpreting complex financial data.
- SQL: SQL is used for managing and manipulating large datasets. It's essential for finance professionals working with large amounts of financial data.
- QuickBooks: Small businesses often use this accounting software to manage sales and expenses and keep track of daily transactions. It can also be used to pay bills, generate invoices, and prepare taxes.
- Stata: A software package used for statistical analysis. Stata is widely employed in financial analysis for its data management, statistical analysis, graphics, simulations, regression, and custom programming capabilities.
- Bloomberg Terminal: Bloomberg Terminal is a software system provided by the financial data vendor Bloomberg L.P. that enables professionals to analyze real-time financial market data and place trades on the electronic trading platform. This tool provides access to a vast array of financial instruments, markets, and financial news.
Finance Comparison to Other Tools & Fields
Finance intrinsically relates to numerous fields and programming languages. Subjects like accounting, economics, and statistics are closely tied to Finance as they provide the fundamental concepts necessary for understanding financial systems, such as financial statements analysis, supply and demand, or statistical models prediction.
Python and R are particularly relevant in programming languages due to their powerful data analysis and modeling capabilities, which are crucial for financial forecasting and decision-making. However, while fields like accounting focus on the systematic and comprehensive recording of financial transactions pertaining to a business, Finance goes beyond to analyze, create, and advise on the management of money and investment.
Finance Advantages
First, a career in finance offers financial stability and lucrative compensation depending on the role and level of expertise. Second, skilled professionals can find work in a wide range of industries, such as banking, insurance, investments, and financial planning, creating numerous opportunities for growth and specialization. Lastly, finance has a direct impact on decision-making processes and the overall success of businesses. Hence, professionals in this field play crucial roles that enhance their problem-solving, strategic planning, and analytical skills.