Comparison of Finance Training Formats

Once you’ve decided to learn finance, the next important decision is how you plan to master the skills. Most students find they learn better through guided training--and there is no shortage of hands-on, project-based, expert-guided training in finance education. Read on to learn about the different options in finance training and their advantages and disadvantages.

What is Finance?

Financeis an umbrella term that covers all things money, including financial analytics, financial modeling, banking, investing, and financial technology (or FinTech). Finance involves investing, lending, budgeting, borrowing, saving, forecasting, and the study of money. It’s possible to trace back our modern-day financial structures thousands of years--and the principles of finance matter just as much in today’s world.

There are three main areas to consider within the world of finance. Personal finance involves budgeting, investing, managing cash flow, and borrowing to finance large purchases while keeping debt down. Corporate finance covers capital budgeting, capital structure, and dividend policy. Public finance deals primarily with the revenue and budget of a public entity, whether a government or quasi-government organization. These three branches allow for a wide variety of job opportunities within the field of finance, so you can find a position that matches your interests and expertise. 

What Can You Do with Finance Skills?

Learning finance can open doors to so many different fulfilling and lucrative careers. If you’re interested in being involved with the financial decisions of corporate entities and organizations, you might enjoy becoming a Financial Analyst, Management Analyst, Investment Banker, or Financial Manager. On the flip side, if you’d like to help individuals and families manage investments and plan for retirement, becoming a Personal Financial Advisor or an Accountant might be the right fit for you. There are other positions you can take on with finance training, such as Bookkeeper, Tax Examiner, Loan Officer, or Revenue Agent, so there is something for everyone in this fast-paced field.

One benefit of learning finance is entirely personal: understanding how to invest, save, and create a budget can make a big difference in your family’s current and future financial health. It also makes you a more efficient problem solver and critical thinker, in both your personal life and at work. Lastly, finance training looks great on your resume--even if you’re taking on a job in an entirely different field. Whatever you decide to do career-wise, learning finance won’t be a mistake. 

Why Training Format Matters

There are so many different ways to learn material, and there is no “best” way--except the way that works best for you. Before deciding on what class to take, it’s important to have a sense of your own learning style and needs as a student. Perhaps you prefer the excitement of an in-person classroom, thriving on the energy of a roomful of classmates and a passionate teacher. Then again, you may like the comfort and familiarity of working from your home, in which case a live online class is the perfect choice. You may also find it hard to carve out time--or on the flip side, you’re a fast learner who wants to jump quickly from one concept to the next. Either way, a self-paced class can provide the flexibility you’ll need. There’s a finance class for every learning style. 

Types of Training Formats

There are four main ways to learn finance: live in-person classes, live online courses, on-demand classes, and free resources. Each one has been outlined below so that you can consider the pros and cons. 

Live In-Person Classes

In-person classes are considered the best way to master finance as quickly and efficiently as possible. Held on location at scheduled times, these classes offer face-to-face interaction with your fellow students and your expert instructor. If you encounter any challenging material, you can ask questions in real time instead of spending unnecessary time figuring it out on your own. You are also able to work with other students, allowing you to practice teamwork skills and build relationships. This collaborative environment is available for both full-time and part-time classes and provides structure and accountability, two things that can help you succeed.

Live Online Classes

Live virtual courses are considered the middle ground between on-demand and in-person classes. You’ll attend scheduled class times from the comfort of your own home (or wherever you choose) to learn from an expert instructor. Live online classes offer instant feedback from your teacher and interactions with other students, creating the opportunity for a deeper understanding of the coursework. These classes are ideal for students that thrive in a structured learning environment but perhaps don’t live near any in-person offerings. Or, if you simply prefer online learning, then a live virtual class could be for you. 

Live online classes do have some downsides, though. If you rely on the accountability of attending things in-person, you may struggle to stay focused in an online course. These classes can also vary in cost, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the length and depth of the program. Financial assistance is rarely available for these courses, but you can typically set up a payment plan to help make these courses more accessible.

On-Demand Classes

Also known as self-paced, on-demand classes offer the most flexibility of any class option but don’t win any awards for speed. They do have quite a few benefits for busy professionals, though. Not only can you learn from wherever you want, you can also learn whenever you want. There are no due dates or scheduled class times, so you can take your time on challenging topics or skip over ones you’ve already mastered. 

These classes are ideal for learners with complicated schedules who need to squeeze their studying in around their work and other obligations. You’ll need to be an independent and self-motivated student to succeed in an on-demand class. It’s very easy to lose momentum or fall behind when you don’t have any outside accountability, so these courses tend to take longer than a structured live course. 

Free Courses

You could take advantage of free resources like YouTube making the most of the insights, tools, and short tutorials made available by industry experts. Coursera boasts hundreds of various training sessions and videos lasting from just a few minutes to a few days. 

While free resources are financially helpful, this method can take the most time. You’ll be responsible for sourcing all your learning materials and ensuring that you’ve covered all the important subjects of finance, and this process can take a substantial amount of time. Additionally, like on-demand courses, it’s easy to lose motivation and fall behind with free resources.

Depth of Training Formats

It’s important to keep in mind that training formats will provide various levels of depth in their curriculum. Some courses, like intro classes, focus on the basics. Other classes may focus on specific tools or skills, while some may provide an in-depth holistic approach to an overarching subject, like finance. These are all outlined for you below. 

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs are focused on professional development, meaning they’ll cover topics that will be relevant to a career in web development or programming. These are longer than attending a quick course or bootcamp, and can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months (depending on if you attend full-time or part-time. While their curriculum is robust and a certificate of competency will look good to potential employers, they may not be the best option if you’re wanting to focus on one individual skill or want to complete a course quickly. 

It’s important to note that certificates can cost substantially more than a quick course, but the higher cost is often worth the more in-depth curriculum that these programs provide.

Training Bootcamps

Bootcamps are typically held live either in-person or virtually. Bootcamps allow for in-the-moment discourse with an expert instructor. If you’re struggling with a particular subject, you can ask questions and receive feedback instantly. Additionally, live bootcamps offer a level of accountability that many students say they need to succeed. Schedule class times and assignment due dates motivate you to stay on track. 

These courses are shorter (a few hours to a few days) and cost less than a certificate program, in part due to how they primarily focus on one skill or tool, as opposed to an entire subject.

Introductory Courses

The shortest classes you’ll find will be introductory level courses. These classes can typically be completed in just a day or two. These classes are designed for complete beginners, so they’ll focus on the basics of IT and the fundamental techniques and tools associated with it. These classes are often held live, either in-person or online, allowing you to chat with your instructor and receive feedback in real time. It’s important to keep in mind that these classes won’t cover advanced subjects, so if you want to learn more than just the basics, an introductory class may not be the best option for you.

These classes are often your cheapest option (not including free resources, of course), creating a low-pressure way to test out a new subject of interest. If you end up loving it, you can move on to an advanced course or attend a bootcamp or certificate course.

Learn Finance Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is an award-winning computer training center where you can learn the skills you need to advance your career. Offering classes across the finance spectrum--from data analytics to financial modeling to the basics of Microsoft Office--Noble Desktop can help you grow your skill set, whether in-person or live online from your home or office. The instructors at Noble Desktop are professionals in their field, and their project-based approach offers you hands-on experience that transfers seamlessly into the business world. Find out why so many students turn to Noble Desktop to uplevel their skills by enrolling in a class today.

Their Financial Accounting Bootcamp is a good place to start. A two-day intensive designed for beginners, the class covers material that is useful for those seeking careers in accounting, bookkeeping, and other finance-related fields. The course introduces the fundamentals of financial accounting, including understanding financial reports, income statements, essential line items, and profit ratios. From there, you’ll learn the specifics of accrual accounting (as compared to cash accounting), ultimately moving to more advanced topics such as components of balance sheets and cash flow statements. The Financial Accounting Bootcamp is a hands-on course led by industry experts, so you’ll walk away with a solid grounding in financial accounting.

Noble also offers a Data Science Certificate program which will teach you Python, SQL, automation, and machine learning to help you unlock fulfilling and well-paid opportunities working in Data Science roles in the financial industry. The in-person or live online certificate program will help you learn predictive modeling skills, data analysis, and SQL querying, along with gaining skills in Python programming. You’ll create machine learning models, make dashboards and visualizations, and build a portfolio that will prepare you for a career in data science. Even better? An experienced Data Scientist will help you create a resume, assist you with your portfolio, and even mentor you one-on-one as you begin your job search.

Finally, their FinTech Bootcamp which will teach you valuable programming and data analysis skills. You’ll find there are scheduling options that meet your needs whatever they are: to kickstart your career in FinTech, you can take the class over four weeks (weekdays only), or you can opt for the evenings-or-weekends model and complete the course over four months. The latter option allows you to keep your day job, working toward skill-building in your free time. Either way, you’ll begin by learning the fundamentals of Python and data science, working with SQL to query databases, and creating dashboards and other data visualizations. You’ll progress to building sophisticated statistical models using machine learning and understanding advanced libraries and applications of Python specifically for financial analysis, including SEC filings, stock prices, portfolio and risk management, and financial ratios. 

Key Takeaways

• Finance covers anything you can think of that deals with money: investing, lending, budgeting, borrowing, saving, forecasting, and the study of money. Studying finance can lead you to a host of careers that are both exciting and well-paid.
• Skilled Data Scientists work across all areas of finance, from algorithmic trading and automated pricing to fraud detection and risk management, in both front-office and back-office jobs.
• Understanding the basics of Accounting can prepare you to evaluate financial health and value investment opportunities for businesses and individuals.
• FinTech is a relatively new field--and it’s booming. FinTech training can set you up to work in such areas as accounting, cybersecurity, insurance, machine learning, and wealth management.
• Investment Bankers work with corporate clients to merge, acquire, and invest in capital markets. It’s a high-energy field that attracts strong negotiators and good communicators--and if you’re up for working hard in a fast-paced environment, you’ll find the payoffs are great.
• Choosing your training format will be extremely important. You’ll need to decide if in-person, live online, on-demand, or free courses are best for your needs. 
• Training options can vary in both length and depth of knowledge. It’s helpful to understand the differences between certificate programs, training bootcamps, and intro courses to ensure you pick the right option for you.
• You can receive comprehensive finance training in-person or live online through Noble Desktop. With industry professionals on their teaching staff, Noble Desktop is committed to preparing learners for the business world through dynamic, hands-on classes. Take an individual class, a multi-day bootcamp, or a months-long certificate program and discover how learning with Noble Desktop can help get you to the next level.