How do Beginners Learn FinTech?

You can begin learning FinTech without any prior knowledge. Beginner-level FinTech classes will help you develop foundational skills, like financial literacy or coding, depending on which area of FinTech you’re interested in exploring. Students interested in the finance side of FinTech can enroll in finance and accounting classes, while students more interested in the tech side of FinTech can enroll in beginner-level coding classes and advance to cybersecurity or machine learning classes. Although a background in finance or tech is required for more advanced-level courses, beginners can expect to find FinTech courses prepared with their skill level in mind. 

Getting Started with FinTech

Before getting started with FinTech, think of your long-term goals. Working in the FinTech industry doesn’t mean you need equal experience with finance and technology. What you plan to do in the industry may lean more heavily one way or the other. You should choose a FinTech class that will help you reach your overall goals. Individuals interested more in the finance side can enroll in finance, accounting, or data science classes. Individuals looking to work more on the technology side should consider enrolling in cybersecurity, programming, or machine learning classes. 

If you’re looking to develop a strong background in finance, you can enroll in beginner-level classes that focus on finance and accounting before moving on to financial analysis. Beginner-level finance classes will cover broad topics, like understanding financial statements and the basics of financial markets, as well as calculating financial risk and managing personal finances. In a financial analysis class, students will work on using financial information to make decisions. This includes comparing financial metrics, analyzing financial statements for trends, and building financial models. 

Individuals interested in the tech side of FinTech can build up their tech skills by enrolling in beginner-level classes. Subjects they should focus on include coding with Python, cybersecurity, and machine learning classes. Although you can find introductory classes to all three topics, most classes will likely expect you to have some coding knowledge. Python is one of several languages commonly used in the FinTech industry that you may want to pick up before getting started with FinTech. 

The First Steps When Learning FinTech

Both live FinTech classes and on-demand FinTech classes will have you taking the same basic steps when first learning FinTech. Although many individuals working in FinTech may end up with more knowledge of finance over tech or tech over finance, learning both will help you get started in the FinTech industry with a solid foundation of the way that technology impacts financial transactions. An introductory class that covers financial topics will first make sure you understand the basics. This includes financial concepts like NPB, IRR, financial statements, and stock fundamentals. Some introductory FinTech classes require students to have background knowledge of finance; in those instances, you can inquire about supplemental resources the training center offers students prior to taking the course.

Tech-heavy classes or comprehensive FinTech classes will often begin with lessons in Python programming, programming concepts, data science, and data visualization. Learning these skills will help you pursue a career as a Financial Analyst, Data Scientist, or similar role. Most classes do not require prior knowledge or experience with coding; however, it’s useful to have some degree of prior coding experience. 

An often overlooked aspect of learning FinTech is understanding how to communicate with others. Many professional workplaces in the world of FinTech look to hire candidates with excellent communication skills. This is if you need to explain the projects or assignments you’re working on to your team members, your supervisors, or company stakeholders. Learning FinTech through a FinTech course will help you learn to communicate with others and gain valuable experience explaining difficult concepts to others. 

Free FinTech Tools for Beginners

You can use free tools to get started with FinTech. On YouTube, you can find free introductory videos posted by training centers like Noble Desktop and others. Many schools will make playlists with related videos to help you learn basic concepts, how to navigate platforms and programs used in FinTech, and how to troubleshoot problems. You can also find free tutorials and How-to guides uploaded to websites and forums that can help you get started with FinTech concepts, from financial analysis to Python programming. 

If you prefer learning by reading, you can check your local library for FinTech resources. They may have books on FinTech concepts and tools for you to check out. Keep in mind that when you use free resources to learn, you’re self-teaching. Although pre-recorded videos are a useful means of learning the basics, learning without instructor guidance can prove difficult. It’s recommended that beginners learn the basics of FinTech using these free tools before enrolling in live classes to receive a more thorough education in FinTech. 

Live FinTech Training for Beginners

Live FinTech training is the most efficient way for you to learn FinTech. When enrolling in a FinTech class, you have the option of live in-person training or live online training. In-person FinTech classes provide students with a traditional learning experience where they commute to a physical classroom for a scheduled class. Students will work alongside their classmates under the guidance of an instructor who can provide them with demonstrations, offer feedback, and answer their questions. This face-to-face mode of learning is available in short and long-form classes, from one-day classes to several month-long certificate programs. 

Live online classes take place in a virtual classroom using a web conferencing platform. Students attend scheduled classes from the comfort of their home or office under the guidance of a live instructor. Attending a live online class eliminates the need to commute while still maintaining some of the structure found in an in-person class. The curriculum for an in-person class and its online counterpart is typically identical, and students will have the same opportunity to engage in class. 

Before enrolling in an in-person or live online class, you should consider which modality of learning suits your needs, including your schedule and your learning goals. If you prefer attending a traditional classroom setting, you’ll likely want to enroll in an in-person class. However, if you have a busy schedule and can’t commute to an in-person class, or if you can’t find an in-person class offered in your area, consider how comfortable you’d feel in an online learning environment. 

The Next Step

In a beginner-level FinTech program, you’ll find yourself learning the basics of data analysis, financial analysis, and Python programming. Beginner-level classes usually last around 1-2 days and will help you gain practical hands-on experience to prepare you for intermediate and advanced-level classes. 

Advanced-level FinTech classes may come as part of a series for you to take after completing a beginner-level class, or you may need to enroll after completing prerequisites. If you’re ready for more advanced-level FinTech training, you can enroll in bootcamps or certificate programs that focus on advanced data science, financial modeling, cybersecurity, or machine learning. In these programs, you’ll learn how to take your FinTech skills to the next level and prepare to begin or advance your career in the field. 

The FinTech industry offers plenty of opportunities to work in a niche area. As the prevalence of technology in finance grows, the industry also grows. The need to compete with others in the market has placed FinTech companies in the position of needing to hire skilled employees who have a solid foundation in FinTech along with the ability to fill niche gaps. You can turn to advanced FinTech training to develop the skills you need to develop yourself into a suitable candidate for a top company. Noble Desktop offers a wide range of intermediate and advanced FinTech training that can help, from their Python for Finance Bootcamp to their Advanced Python for Data Science Bootcamp. 

Learn FinTech with Noble Desktop

Learn FinTech skills by enrolling in one of Noble Desktop’s FinTech programs. Noble Desktop offers most classes live online, where students will learn under the guidance of an instructor via a web conferencing platform, and in person at their midtown Manhattan campus. 

Noble’s FinTech Bootcamp is an interactive program covering the essential skills needed to begin a career in the FinTech industry. Under the guidance of an instructor, you’ll learn Python programming, data science, financial analysis, data visualization, and machine learning. Noble Desktop offers the bootcamp in a 4-week full-time schedule on weekdays, or a 4-month part-time schedule on evenings and Saturdays. In addition to five units covering Python and SQL as used for FinTech, you’ll also have the option of choosing a bonus 18-hour elective unit covering either Python or financial modeling. 

Students pursuing or currently in a finance-related profession, interested in using Python’s financial libraries to manipulate and analyze financial data, should enroll in Noble Desktop’s Python for Finance Bootcamp. Over the 18-hour live online course, students will learn how to use Python’s financial libraries and gain hands-on experience gathering and manipulating financial data, fetching APIs for company and economic data, analyzing SEC financial statements, building risk models, and applying linear regression for stock price predictions. Aside from a financial background, students should also have taken Noble’s Python for Data Science Bootcamp, or have equivalent knowledge. If you want to take the course but don’t think you have the financial background necessary, contact Noble after registration to access a free on-demand supplemental guide. 

Financial modeling plays an important role in the FinTech industry. Analysts working for a firm or taking on clients should understand how to use financial models to predict risk and evaluate and compare financial decisions. In Noble Desktop’s Financial Modeling Bootcamp, you’ll learn essential financial and accounting concepts as you work toward gaining the core skills required for a career handling equity research, financial planning and analysis, investment banking, private equity, or corporate finance. Prior financial experience is helpful when enrolling in the bootcamp, but not required. After completing the three-day course, you’ll receive a verified digital certificate of completion and have access to a retake for free within one year. 

Noble Desktop’s beginner-level Data Science Certificate program will provide you with the hands-on training needed to start an entry-level data science or Python engineering position. Spend four weeks full-time (weekdays) or 20 weeks part-time (evenings or Saturdays) learning how to program with Python, perform data analysis, query with SQL, and create predictive models. You’re guaranteed to succeed in this class as you spend 114 hours plus an additional six 1-on-1 mentoring sessions, where you’ll receive professional advice, detailed and personalized feedback, and map out your learning goals. No prior knowledge is required to enroll, making the class ideal for individuals looking to get started with data science, Analysts who want to transition to using Python and SQL, and Developers looking to gain additional skills.

After completing Noble Desktop’s Data Science Bootcamp, you can enroll in AI for Python, a hands-on course that covers the development of AI apps. You’ll receive an introduction to AI using Python at a beginner and intermediate level. The course includes lessons to help you develop theoretical and practical knowledge so that you have a strong enough understanding of AI concepts, along with practical experience with Python libraries. The 30-hour class will introduce you to ChatGPT, algorithms, and how to deploy your app.