Whether you're looking to start a career in finance or seeking to further your skills, a range of available courses offers extensive training in fields such as real estate finance and FinTech. Classes range from short online courses to intensive in-person bootcamps provided by Noble Desktop and other providers, designed to suit different learning styles and schedules.

Which Finance Training Format Is Right for Me? Compare Learning Methods

Understanding finance is understanding how the financial world operates around you. There are many different learning ways, and choosing the right training is critical to your success. When comparing types of finance training, there are many factors to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the different formats of finance training, how they compare, and how to determine which is best for you.

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.

Training Formats for Finance

If you wish to learn finance, you will find many options. If you have the time, you can take free short courses that suit your schedule or watch finance tutorials on YouTube, which you can pause and repeat. If you have more flexibility, consider taking a longer course for more in-depth training. This option is available in person or online.

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 Classes

Perhaps on-demand finance training is another option that could work for you. Through these courses, students can work at their own pace to learn all about finance. Featured topics include navigating and customizing spreadsheets, pivot tables, and generating charts for data visualization. For details, including any required prerequisites, check the course listings.

You can take advantage of free tutorials, blog posts, and seminars and use them as a unique opportunity to learn about finance as a beginner. Noble Desktop provides numerous classes, blog posts, and videos on financial topics for those looking to learn the subject. Take a look at their YouTube pageand find finance articles on the Learn Hub site. Indeed, this is a great way to get started, but you won't receive the same feedback or build your skill set and portfolio as you would from a live in-person or online course.

You can also benefit from the free seminars offered by Noble Desktop. The Exchanging Excel for Python seminar examines why so many industries, including finance, are switching out Excel for Python.

Comparison of Finance Training Formats

When deciding which finance training format best suits your learning style, it's important to study and compare the different methods.

The most engaging and interactive training methods are live online and in-person classes. Both formats are taught by expert live instructors. You can ask these instructors questions in real time and receive immediate feedback. Additionally, you will receive guidance about building your portfolio and have the chance to interact with peers also interested in learning finance.

Live in-person training offers additional benefits. Being face-to-face with other students allows for better networking opportunities, and the computer labs where you learn have the most up-to-date software. Many students find this style to be the most beneficial.

Now more than ever, live online training is a highly sought-after learning avenue for students. People appreciate the lack of a commute to class and the ability to learn from wherever they choose. For many, learning from the comfort of home is appealing and incredibly effective in how they absorb new information.

Usually the most affordable option, on-demand learning is a great way to begin studying the basics of finance. While this option is more budget-friendly, you won't receive many of the benefits of live instruction.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Finance?

Finance has some challenging skills to master, but it is not hard to learn. It is possible to teach yourself to understand the basics and become financially literate. Doing so can make it easier when pursuing training later on. However, there is more to finance than just financial literacy.

Financial careers will require other skills beyond the understanding of finance. If you are learning finance to pursue one of these careers, enrolling in a training course may be best to ensure your understanding of these other skills. These courses will allow you to enter the job market promptly. If you do not want to take a finance course, learning skills like Python, SQL, and Microsoft Excel could take years to master. These are skills that you will likely use on a day-to-day basis in a finance industry career. Enrolling in finance courses will ensure that you learn financial principles and how to utilize these other skills for your career.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Finance

If you're looking to save money or still deciding whether to fully commit to a full-length finance course, starting with a free tutorial or seminar can provide a high-level overview of the field. Noble Desktop's Exchanging Excel for Python seminar could be a great place to start.

If you want to develop a solid working knowledge of finance, plug a skill gap, or upskill to win that promotion in your current career, a finance bootcamp is the way to go. These comprehensive, high-level trainings provide a learning environment that is hands-on where you can ask an instructor questions in real time, whether taking the training in person or online. At the bootcamp's completion, you'll receive a verified certificate of completion.

Want to master finance for a new career or pivot to a new industry that utilizes this skill set? Those beginning their journey in learning finance can end up in areas like data science. Take a look at Noble Desktop's Data Science Certificate program to see if it may be a good fit for you. This program teaches you how to prepare and clean data for analysis, read and write complex database queries, and use Python to automate everyday tasks like formatting data.

Depending on your preferred learning method, the learning tool you choose should meet those preferences. For instance, perhaps you like to learn online from the comfort of your home. These online courses are fantastic options where you can interact in real time with expert instructors and gain all the knowledge you would from an in-person class. Other factors to consider when choosing a program are price and if you have enough free time to complete the coursework. Take your time to figure out which learning method works best for you.

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.