Is Investing a Hard Class?

You may be interested in learning about investing but aren’t certain how difficult this financial skill set will be to acquire. Perhaps you’ve heard rumors that it can take years to be able to invest in the stock market with confidence and this has made you hesitate. While the time it takes to learn how to make sound investments depends on various factors, including the depth of training you select and your prior financial experience, anyone who’s willing to devote the time and effort to learning investing will be able to do so. Read on to learn about the most challenging aspects of learning investing, some strategies to make the learning process easier, and the types of training available that can streamline this process.

What is Hard about Learning to Invest?

Learning about investing is a largely subjective process that is different for each individual. Those who come from a background where they have prior financial experience and understand concepts like financial ratios will likely find it much easier and more natural to acquire investing knowledge than those who must start from scratch and learn the basics, including financial literacy terminology and best practices. The subjective nature of learning investing also depends on the level of fluency you’re hoping to achieve with this skill set. For example, those who will need to use investing for work-related purposes, such as to apply for a new career as a Stockbroker, will likely need to be much more well-versed in investing than those who are interested in learning the basics for their own use. Regardless of your reasons for learning investing or your ultimate goals for studying this skill set, there are several core challenges most learners will need to overcome.

Although all learners have their own unique strengths and abilities, one of the most difficult parts of learning investing is the sheer volume of information you’ll have to take in and the speed at which you must do so. Those who make sound investments must take in thousands of data points on any day, which are provided via the internet. Each change brings another resource to review. Some individuals who are new to investing find it challenging to separate the important information from the rest. With time and practice, it’s much easier to choose the data you need and ignore the rest. However, those who are new to investing will likely find it difficult to determine which information they need to make smart financial decisions and which is simply wasting their time. It also may be hard to determine which resources are the most reliable for investment-related information. Some resources contradict others, which can make it even more challenging to separate good information from less reliable sources.

Another challenging component of learning investing is determining when to sell. Beginners often focus their efforts more on when is the right time to buy. Learning the best time to sell requires spending time watching the market to avoid selling too early or late. Those who are just getting started with investing may also struggle to understand the reactionary market. It can be tempting for some, especially investing novices, to pull their money out when it starts to drop in reaction to inaccurate information flooding the market. In some instances, reactionary market numbers continue to drop until the information fueling them is corrected. It’s essential to learn to be patient and study the market before removing money.

How Can I Make Learning Investing Easier?

It takes most individuals between one and five years to really master investing. However, this process can be expedited with the help of learning resources, including free online material, on-demand classes, and live coursework.

Free Online Investing Resources

One way that some learners approach their investing study is through free online resources like written tutorials, YouTube videos, and blogs. Since this content is available online for free, it provides a low-stakes way to get started learning basic investing concepts without having to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars on training. Those interested in learning investing can select from hundreds of YouTube videos that take just a few minutes to watch and explore topics like the core components of financial planning. They can also select longer video content that requires an hour or more to view and break down the steps needed to get started investing in the stock market. Noble Desktop, an educational provider based in Manhattan, offers a free Stock Market Investing Fundamentals webinar in which participants spend an hour studying topics like valuation principles, the Capital Gains tax, stocks, and bonds. This short course is perfect for those looking to learn about what principles control the stock market and what moves it.

Additionally, informational content is available from other online sources for aspiring Investors. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s investor education and advocacy branch, investor.org, provides a brief introduction to key financial concepts like risk and return, savings and investment, and diversification. Those who want to experiment with investing before they risk their own money can do so by using a free online investing simulator. Simulators provide a safe way for aspiring Investors to learn different investing techniques without having to touch their personal finances. Some online simulators even use real market values to mimic the stock market. 

On-Demand Investing Courses

Those interested in making it easier to learn investing may also wish to work with on-demand coursework. These classes are available from providers like Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare and are offered for learners at all levels, including those who are just getting started with investing. On-demand classes are typically a more cost-effective approach to studying investing. Some classes are available for $100 or less (and some are even offered for free by providers). These classes provide a flexible way to learn investing. All lessons are pre-recorded and placed online. Since no instructor is present, it’s up to the student to dictate their learning speed. They can pause, rewind, or rewatch entire videos to ensure they’re understanding the consent. Self-paced study is a good option for those who need to balance their investing training with other professional or personal commitments.

Live Investing Training

One of the most effective ways to make it easier to learn investing is to enroll in a live course. Live classes come in several formats and are available for learners at all levels, including investing novices. Students can opt for short skills classes that cover a specific investing skill, such as stock market investing, and take just a day to complete. Noble Desktop’s Stock Market Investing provides participants with a full day of hands-on training in essential stock market investing skills, such as how to analyze the factors that influence stock prices and how to work with financial statements. Other live classes like bootcamps and certificate programs are longer and more involved and provide an overview of several financial skills and competencies. Noble offers a Financial Analyst Training Program for those interested in taking a deeper dive into how Microsoft Excel can be used in financial accounting and corporate finance to create advanced financial models.

Live courses like bootcamps and certificate programs provide a structured, interactive approach to learning financial concepts. Those who enroll in live coursework either complete their training online using a teleconferencing platform or in person at a designated training facility in or near a major city. Students have access in real-time to an instructor who has industry experience with investing and is able to share their expertise and experience. Learners are encouraged to ask questions in the moment for immediate clarification. They can even share their screen (with permission) with the instructor for additional help. In live classes, participants also benefit from studying alongside others, which can provide an added sense of support during training. Those who thrive in the traditional classroom environment will likely find this type of training to be the easiest and fastest way to master investing concepts.

Best Ways to Learn Investing Without Difficulty

Although live training is usually a more expensive training option than self-teaching resources, the additional financial investment pays for itself for most learners. Live classes take place at regularly scheduled times, which provides students with a structured framework to learn investing. The instructor establishes the learning goals and the lesson pace. This format ensures that those enrolled will meet predetermined learning goals before progressing to a new investing skill. Live investing bootcamps and certificates also usually provide participants with the option of whether to enroll part-time or full-time. Full-time study typically takes several days or weeks for most programs and provides a condensed and focused training environment. Part-time training usually takes weeks or months to complete but affords students additional time to balance their studies with other commitments. 

Not only does live training make it easier for most individuals to learn investing, it also often provides additional incentives for those who enroll. The time students spend in class is intended to help them develop the skills they need to succeed professionally in finance-related jobs or to make sound financial decisions with their personal finances. It’s also a great opportunity to receive professional development training. Some certificate programs offer professional development incentives like job interview prep sessions, access to networking events, resume feedback, LinkedIn profile reviews, or 1-on-1 mentoring sessions. These are included with tuition and ensure that students are job-ready upon graduation.