For those who want to become investors, knowing about the nitty-gritty of how investing works is essential, as it gives a better understanding of the risks involved. The easiest way to do that is with the help of beginner courses, which introduce learners to the basic and complex concepts necessary for investing correctly. Knowing about the various courses available can help beginners make an informed decision and develop the mindset required to become successful investors.
1. Stock Market From Scratch for Complete Beginners
This Udemy course is great for beginners in investment and finance. It is among the top choices for starting and growing an investment portfolio. The course is easy to understand and covers all the basics needed. This includes insights into the different financial intermediaries and how they impact the markets, an introduction to growth and value investing, and information on choosing the right broker.
Anyone who wants to learn all the basics on a budget can enroll in the Stock Market from Scratch for Complete Beginners course. Individuals applying for the course must pay just under $95 for lifetime access to course material. Additionally, Udemy also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if the course does not deliver what it promises.
2. BUS-123: Introduction to Investments
For a complete learning experience, one can check out the BUS-123: Introduction to Investments course by Southwestern Community College. The course, which is available on the website for free, offers a deep dive into finance and investments without overly complicating the learning experience. The course has 43 lectures in all and provides an extensive learning experience. Those unfamiliar with investments can also apply, as the course provides lessons on various topics such as stocks, bonds, different types of investments, short-term and long-term investments, and various investment tools.
3. Financial Markets
Coursera offers an investment course that can be a great choice for beginners taught by Dr. Robert Shiller, a Sterling Professor of Economics at Yale University. The course Financial Markets provides an opportunity for learners to gain more holistic knowledge surrounding investments and finance. It also offers applicants advice on starting a career in finance. They learn crucial financial tools and concepts, including understanding stocks, investing in mutual funds, investment banking, behavioral finance, market caps, and dividends. The course can take upward of 30 hours for a learner to complete. Though Coursera offers it for free, learners who want to get a certificate upon course completion have to pay approximately $50.
4. Investing 101: Understanding the Stock Market
SkillShare is a well-known online learning platform that provides resources learners can use to educate themselves about several things. For instance, Investing 101: Understanding the Stock Market is a free course that beginners can register for. The program syllabus covers topics such as the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and how a stock exchange functions. Learners start from basics like what a stock is, what a broker does, what exchange-traded funds are, and why some companies choose to go public after a certain time. The class is taught by a business company, making it an expert-guided resource. The complete course can take no more than a couple of hours, based on the learner’s speed. It consists of 8 lessons in total and is free of charge.
5. Investing Master Class
It is a course that teaches learners the ins and outs of investing. Introduced by the platform Wealthsimple, Investing Master Class educates individuals about the opportunities, risks, cautions, and strategies of becoming a successful investor. It also delves into the commonly used finance jargon. Learners only need to go through ten video lessons to complete the course. It covers different topics such as stock market investing, passive investing, and the advantages of automating one’s finances.
6. ESG and Sustainable Investing 101
Udemy offers a two- to three-hour course that educates beginners on the basics of sustainable investments. The course costs about $69.99 and has 24 downloadable lessons that learners can access at their own pace if needed. ESG and Sustainable Investing 101 is beneficial for those who want to learn about sustainable investments in particular. This course will teach them how to rank ESGs, understand the factors that shape these ratings, and provide additional learning. The video lessons are followed by quizzes to ensure that students learn and retain the discussed information.
Individuals can also enroll in schools or universities to learn more about finance. There are several options for those who prefer learning in a classroom environment to learning online via a screen. Some top-ranking universities with credible finance and investment courses for beginners are the University of Pennsylvania, Amherst College, Cornell University, the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, Columbia University, and New York University. These courses can cost anywhere more than $1000, based on the level of education, duration of the course, and the syllabus. Different courses will also have varying eligibility, so applicants must carefully check whether they qualify for a specific investment course for beginners.
