Can I Learn Investing For Free?

If you’re interested in learning about investing, you may wonder how much it will cost to do so. There are many resources available that can help learners get started with investing, including live courses, on-demand training, and online material like YouTube videos and written tutorials. While live study is usually the most expensive training option, many resources are available for free and can provide learners with an overview of investing, or can teach them some basic concepts on which to build. Although most individuals who are serious about learning investing will require more structured training, free study materials can be a great starting place in a longer educational journey. Read on to find out more about what free resources are available in investing, how best to utilize them, and some potential drawbacks of working with free content.

What Free Resources are Available for Learning Investing?

Free investing resources are available in several forms for those interested in learning this in-demand skill set without having to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars in formal training.

YouTube Videos

One popular tool some learners turn to when learning investing is YouTube video content. 

Students can select from hundreds of YouTube videos that take only minutes to watch and explain a specific investing skill or competency, such as the different types of interest, the best trading platforms for beginners in 2024, and how to invest in cryptocurrency. Longer videos are also posted on YouTube that break down the basic steps needed to get started investing in the stock market or explain how those who are new to investing should select stocks. Learners can pick and choose which video content will provide them with useful insights without wasting time on the topics they already know. 

Noble Desktop, an educational provider based in New York City, offers a free Stock Market Investing Fundamentals webinar in which participants spend an hour exploring topics like the Capital Gains tax, valuation principles, stocks, and bonds. This YouTube video is perfect for those looking to learn about what principles control the stock market and what moves it.

Online Tutorials and Written Content

Another way to learn about investing without having to spend a penny is through online tutorials, blogs, and other written resources. Aspiring Investors can find valuable information on investing by looking at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s investor education and advocacy branch, investor.org. It provides a brief introduction to key financial concepts like risk and return, savings and investment, and diversification. This information is available for personal use or can be printed and shared with students to teach them investing basics.

Free Online Investing Simulators

Another great way to get started with investing without spending money is by working with a free online investing simulator like Investopia’s Stock Market Simulator. Simulators provide those who are new to investing with a risk-free way to experiment with various investing techniques without touching their own money. Some online simulators even provide real market values so that those using them will have real-world experience investing in a safe environment. The more practice learners can acquire with tools like online simulators, the better prepared they’ll be once they begin investing with their own money or a client’s money.

Free Online Investing Content for Teenagers

It’s never too early to learn how to make sound investments. Teenagers who know how the stock market works can start investing money and see returns on it before they’re even in college. Many online resources are available for teens interested in learning investing basics. Thinking Money for Kids is a partnership between the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the American Library Association. It provides a range of educational resources like games, books, and interactive content to public libraries around the country to prepare young adults to take control of their personal finances and develop sound investment strategies to prepare for the future. The Council of Economic Education designed an investing education program for teenage girls. This three-part online class covers topics like building a portfolio, investing, saving, and stocks. Merrill Edge’s Investing Classroom also posts online content pertaining to bonds, ETFs, stocks, and mutual funds for teenagers.

Free On-Demand Investing Courses

In addition to online videos, written tutorials, and investing simulators, some educators also post free on-demand investing classes. Top educators like Udemy, Skillshare, and Coursera post a range of free video content that varies in length from just a few minutes to several hours. Coursework is available on topics like compound interest, using Excel for valuation, reading candlestick charts, and the free Google tools available for trading the markets. It’s important for learners to research the provider before enrolling in an on-demand class since not all self-paced coursework is available for free. Some educators require a platform subscription or charge by the class for training, whereas others offer some free video content and some for-pay content.

One of the main benefits of enrolling in an on-demand investing class is the flexibility it affords. Unlike live study, in which lessons take place at regularly scheduled intervals and the instructor gets to dictate the learning pace, it’s up to the student to establish their learning speed when studying with on-demand content. This means they have the flexibility to pause, rewind, and even rewatch entire courses as often as they wish to ensure they’re comprehending the material. Self-paced classes are a good option for those who have busy work schedules or other commitments that would make it difficult or impossible to attend live training.

How to Make Use of Free Investing Resources 

Like any type of investing training, it’s up to the learner to make the most of the free investing resources they’ve selected. This will require self-motivation and some research.

One important consideration with self-teaching materials like YouTube videos and on-demand classes is that they’re not taught in a live environment. Students, therefore, will be responsible for finding answers on their own if they have questions. This may require additional time and effort but is an essential consideration with this type of material. Having someone on standby to consult with investing-related questions is a good idea. This can be a friend who works in investment banking or a former instructor who has a background in stock market investing. 

Learners who use free self-teaching materials will need to be self-motivated not only to find answers to questions but also to follow through with their studies. Since no formal deadlines or class meetings are in place with this type of training, aspiring Investors should be willing and able to devote some time each day to their studies and to practice the skills they’re learning. This can pose challenges for some learners who may have busy professional or personal lives. Adhering to a schedule can provide the structure necessary to get the most out of self-teaching materials.

Before selecting free investing resources, it’s a good idea to research the provider. Since so much content is posted online, and since the stock market fluctuates every day, online content can quickly become dated. Selecting current materials, as well as content provided by reputable educators, ensures the content you’re working with reflects the current best market practices. Additionally, reading student reviews of on-demand classes they’ve taken can be a great way to determine if the free self-paced course is a good match for your learning needs.

Free investing resources aren’t usually sufficient to provide a well-rounded education for finance professionals or others who want to fully master investing. Often, they’re the first step in a much longer educational journey that involves live coursework at some point. Some individuals may also opt to use resources like YouTube videos or online tutorials as a supplement for live coursework as they complete their studies to ensure they’re maximizing their time and efforts.

Limitations of Free Resources 

The main limitation of free investing resources is that no instructor is present in this type of training. Unlike live classes, where the teacher is available at all times to field questions, provide individualized support, and clarify challenging concepts, free resources are pre-recorded and placed online. Students who are new to investing or who have little prior financial knowledge may find it hard to know where to look for answers to questions. 

It often takes learners much longer to self-teach with free investing resources than to learn this skill set through live training. This is because lessons are self-paced, and there aren’t homework assignments with deadlines as part of this type of training. Those who aren’t self-motivated to carve out time to practice the skills they’re learning may find that they neglect their training or that they let other commitments take over their focus. 

While free resources can be a good starting point in a longer path toward learning investing, or provide information on a specific finance tool or skill, they usually won’t suffice to prepare individuals to use their skills in a professional setting. Those who want to work in a finance-related career like venture capital or angel investing will likely need to invest in live training to ensure they’re mastering advanced-level financial concepts.

What to Do After Utilizing Free Investing Resources

Once students become familiar with the basic investing terminology and practices through free resources, the next step for some learners is to enroll in a live class. Live investing coursework takes many forms. Students can select from in-person training at a center in or near a major city or opt to complete their studies remotely using a teleconferencing platform like Zoom. Instruction is available for students at all levels, including those who are new to investing and need to learn the basics. Skills classes, bootcamps, and certificates are each available. Although live coursework is the most expensive way to learn investing, the cost associated with coursework is well worth it for most learners since they receive hands-on training and small class instruction through this type of study. 

Skills classes in investing are an affordable and relatively fast way to focus studies on one or more investing or finance-related skills. Noble Desktop provides a one-day skills class on core investing topics that’s open to learners at all levels. In Stock Market Investing, participants receive instruction on topics like DCF analysis, P/E ratios, and financial statements. For those seeking more intensive training in a range of financial skills, Noble has longer programs available as well. Students can enroll in Noble’s Financial Analyst Training Program and fully immerse in corporate finance skills like building valuation models for public companies, reading financial statements, and using advanced Excel techniques like Goal Seek and cash flow projection tools, which have applications in financial modeling.

Another incentive to live investing training is that these courses often include additional educational or professional incentives. Some programs provide students with the option of a free course retake for six months or a full year. Other courses offer 1-on-1 mentoring, career counseling, job interview prep sessions, access to networking events, or LinkedIn profile critiques. These features are included with tuition in some programs and are in place to ensure that graduates can secure a job in finance once they graduate. 

Once students progress from basic financial literacy and become familiar with core investing concepts, they may wish to pursue more advanced-level training options like certifications. Several certifications are available for financial professionals. These require sitting for an exam that’s offered by a third party. Those who pass the test earn an industry-recognized certification that can be included on their resume to show they’ve attained a level of mastery over the subject matter that was taught. Some popular certifications aspiring Investors may wish to pursue are the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), the Certified Financial Planner (CFP), the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), or the Certified Public Accountant (CPA).