Considering a career in finance? This overview of finance, from its core definition to common career paths including CFO, Public Accountant, and Hedge Fund Manager, is a must-read for anyone interested in managing large sums of money.

How to Learn Finance

If you're interested in learning finance, it’s best to start with an overview of the topic and field. Finance, at its core, is the management of any amount of money, though, for our purposes here, it's the management of large amounts of money. Finance includes borrowing, saving, lending, forecasting, investing, budgeting, and studying money. Areas of note in finance include public, personal, and corporate finance.

Since money drives the global economy, finance career opportunities will always be available. Many of these opportunities are expanding at a fast pace. Before diving into the study of finance, it's essential to familiarize yourself with a number of its most common career paths. These include:

Chief Financial Officer
Public Accountant
Hedge Fund Manager
Real Estate Agent
Venture Capitalist
Commercial Banker
Financial Planner
Investment Banker

Some of these careers, like Chief Financial Officer, will deal with finance more than others. While a Financial Planner will work with finance more than a Real Estate Agent, the latter must still maintain a firm grasp of the subject to properly study the real estate market, both local and nationwide, and analyze real estate trends to become a top-producing agent.

The number of options for learning finance might appear overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, classes, and more to choose from; it all depends on your learning style and personal preferences.

Here, we’ll discuss the various methods of learning finance so you can make an informed decision about how you’d like to get started.

What is Finance?

In its most basic definition, finance is the management of money. Finance includes investing, lending, budgeting, borrowing, saving, forecasting, and studying money. There are multiple areas of finance, including personal, corporate, and public finance.

Personal finance deals with keeping your debt down, budgeting, growing your assets, and increasing cash flow, among others. The three main types of corporate finance are capital budgeting, capital structure, and dividend policy. Among the significant concerns of public finance are the budgeting process and an entity’s revenue source.

Read more about what finance is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Finance?

At its root, finance deals with managing money. This includes investing, saving, budgeting, forecasting, borrowing, and lending. Here are three solid career paths to follow with a firm understanding of finance.

Accountant - This lucrative field is ideal for anyone with a love of numbers, though it is not necessary to be successful. Within a company, an accountant often creates, interprets, and analyzes a wide range of financial statements. Company accountants and management come together as partners to create budgets. Finally, accountants handle the tax matters of a company, including filing returns and planning out tax liabilities.

Business Development Officer - Companies hire Business Development Officers to develop and execute strategies that lead to increased sales and higher profits. These officers also seek out business opportunities and secure the best business deals. They are responsible for negotiating deals and meeting with potential investors.

Financial Data Analyst - These professionals analyze data to assist financial institutions in making better business decisions. Among their numerous responsibilities is compiling information from different divisions of a company. These analysts also look for ways to improve the company's current methods of data collection.

In-Person Finance Training

In-person training is a highly popular option for those looking to learn new skills. Students enjoy the supportive environment of learning among their peers and receiving face-to-face feedback and guidance from an in-person instructor. Another benefit of an in-person classroom is its ability to help students learn through direct participation with others. A side benefit of in-person learning is expanding your network as you make and develop new connections. One drawback to consider is the extra time you'll need to set aside to commute to and from class.

If in-person learning is the best fit for you, Noble Desktop and other providers offer numerous in-person training options. Classes last from several hours to several weeks. You'll find many bootcamp and certificate program options focusing primarily on finance. Classes range from real estate finance to FinTech. Noble offers a great FinTech Bootcamp, a Financial Analyst Training Program, and a Financial Modeling Bootcamp.

Live Online Finance Training

Virtual training is a popular alternative to in-person courses for many reasons. The online format allows students flexibility in where they choose to learn that in-person training does not. You can take classes from the comfort of your couch, or anywhere you prefer. This virtual learning route is especially attractive for those looking to avoid a classroom commute and people residing in areas that do not have in-person options. A few drawbacks to this learning style are that some students find a home environment too distracting to learn, and they feel they need in-person interaction to thrive.

If you find online learning fits your learning style, Noble Desktop and other course providers offer numerous live online finance classes. A number of these courses provide in-person and online instruction options. Many of the Noble Desktop courses take place at its Madison Avenue campus in New York City, though you can also take these courses online from wherever you choose.

Financial Analyst Training Program - Noble Desktop’s Financial Analysis Training Program is a seven-day bootcamp where knowledge of finance or accounting is helpful but not required. In this bootcamp, you'll learn core Excel skills, Advanced Excel for financial modeling, and corporate finance.

Financial Modeling Bootcamp - Noble's Financial Modeling Bootcamp is an intensive financial modeling class where you'll learn finance and accounting concepts and skills. During the class, your Excel skills will grow from beginner to advanced. For this course, prior financial knowledge helps, but it is not required. Please see the full course listing for details on prerequisites or their equivalent.

Python for Finance Bootcamp - This bootcamp by Noble Desktop is designed for Risk Managers, Portfolio Managers, Financial Analysts, other finance professionals, and anyone looking to start a career in finance technology and data analysis. You will learn the major Python financial libraries to gather and manipulate financial data. You will also learn to apply statistical measures like linear regression to financial uses such as stock prices. Please see the complete course listing for information on prerequisites.

Another finance-related course to consider is Noble Desktop’s FinTech Bootcamp.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you need more time before jumping in and committing to an entire course but are still looking for an overview of the subject, you can start learning about finance for free online. Check out Noble Desktop's YouTube page to expand your skill set and gain valuable insights.

Other course providers with free online finance classes include Udemy and New York Institute of Finance through edX. You'll learn how to understand an estate plan, the cost of capital, and corporate funding alternatives, to name a few.

Read about more free finance videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Finance Classes

Today, everyone is living hectic lives. If your personal and professional responsibilities are currently too much to set aside enough time to learn a new skill set, then an on-demand or self-paced finance training option could be the right fit for you. Whenever the time is right, you can access these courses on demand, giving you the freedom to learn as much or as little as you prefer during each session.

Offerings are available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students. While free courses are available, others are offered at a low rate, making them much more affordable than other learning routes. Since these courses are self-paced without a live instructor, they best fit students who can self-motivate.

Some students may find the need for an instructor to provide feedback or accountability. For others who can only carve out time here and there or are looking for a budget-friendly option to start learning finance, these on-demand classes are an excellent alternative to real-time courses.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

With all of the different resources available to help beginners learn finance, you may be wondering which one is best for you. When it comes to learning, different people will have different styles and preferences. A great approach is to experiment with multiple tools, try them out, and see which one fits your needs better than the others. One of the top things about directing your own learning is that you get to pick your ideal combination of tools; you don't have to stick with what a teacher chooses.

Another essential thing to consider is your current schedule before choosing a learning method. You may have several responsibilities, like a full-time job or family commitments. If this is the case, devoting time to a structured course that you need to attend at the same time every day may not be possible. That's where self-paced classes or video tutorials enter the picture, as they might be a better fit since you can access them whenever your schedule opens up. On the other hand, those with a more flexible schedule may prefer a structured course offered in-person or live online.

Why Learn Finance?

The reasons to learn finance are seemingly endless. No matter which industry you work in, your company cannot operate without cash flow for things like salaries and investing in the company. Perhaps your position doesn't manage a budget. Still, finance remains at the heart of business decision-making. If you understand finance and can communicate that understanding, you'll find it easier to acquire the additional funding needed for a project.

Learning finance makes you a more efficient problem solver, looks great on your resume, and is essential to the financial health of your family's current situation and future. Additionally, jobs dealing with finance are in high demand and pay well. Imagine what you could do with a solid understanding of finance and a large salary.

Read more about why you should learn finance.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost

Becoming financially literate is a relatively easy task, especially with thousands of financial resources available to help one become financially literate and independent. The challenges with learning finance come when pursuing finance as a career. A financial career can require skills in programming languages and programs like Python, SQL, and Microsoft Excel. All of these skills present their own set of challenges. However, learning these skills can lead to rewarding careers.

Before learning finance, you should develop several soft skills to help you prepare for your career. These skills include interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, and communication skills. Most of the financial careers available will require you to deal with clients in some fashion. These skills can ensure that you provide clients with the best service possible. You should also consider which area of finance you wish to enter before starting your training. Depending on which career you wish to pursue, the length, difficulty, and cost of training will vary.

When discussing finance, you may worry about the costs involved with dealing with money. However, the costs of finance are quite low. Regarding personal and small-business finance, you may encounter small banking fees depending on your bank, or you may have a small subscription fee if you use programs like Microsoft Excel. Most of the costs associated with finance will come from training. Some financial positions require degrees, while others focus on your financial literacy and skills. A finance degree can cost between $24,000 and $75,000. Other training options can range from $40 to $2000+. You can find various free resources online to help start your financial journey.

Read about how difficult it is to learn finance.

Learn Finance with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Some believe the only way to learn finance, whether for a career or personal benefit, is through a lengthy, time-consuming degree program. Luckily, there are many alternatives. Many people feel the bootcamp or certificate training model is the superior path.

As a premier provider of online education, Noble Desktop provides multiple ways to learn finance. They offer numerous thoughtful educational options to expand your finance skill set quickly, whether you're new to the field, already working in finance, or in a position that requires a deep understanding of it. Here are some of Noble Desktop's most popular programs.

FinTech Bootcamp - Taught by expert instructors, this extensive FinTech bootcamp is intended for beginners. You can complete this course in four weeks full-time or four months part-time. Among the topics covered are the fundamentals of Python, data structures, and how to use SQL to query databases.

Python for Finance Bootcamp - This 18-hour detailed Python for Finance Bootcamp is designed for Risk Managers, Financial Analysts, Portfolio Managers, and those seeking a career in finance technology and data analysis. Students will learn the major Python financial libraries, how to analyze financial statements from the SEC website, and how to apply statistical measures.
Financial Analyst Training Program - While some knowledge of accounting and finance is helpful for this seven-day Financial Analyst Training Program, it is not necessary nor required. If you're looking to carve out a career path at a top financial firm, this bootcamp is the most effective and affordable course to learn these skills.

Other Noble Desktop courses to consider are the Premiere Pro Bootcamp, Video Editing Certificate, and Premiere Pro classes and bootcamps.

Key Takeaways

Finance is the management of money. This includes:

Borrowing
Saving
Lending
Forecasting
Investing
Budgeting
Studying money

Common Finance careers include positions like:

Chief Financial Officer
Public Accountant
Hedge Fund Manager
Real Estate Agent
Venture Capitalist
Commercial Banker
Financial Planner
Investment Banker

There are various types of finance training, including in-person, live online, and free or paid on-demand training. Essential topics can include:

Financial modeling
Corporate finance
Accounting concepts
Data analysis

You can receive comprehensive finance training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.