How to Learn Python for Finance Online

If you’re just starting to learn a new skill, you can find dozens of tips and resources online; learning Python for finance is no different.Python is used to gather financial data for various purposes, such as for predicting economic conditions or as part of a banking app. Learning Python for finance can help you launch or advance a career as a Financial Analyst or Financial Manager. If you’ve always wanted to learn Python for finance, there are plenty of options at your fingertips. From free tutorials to live classes, your options are outlined here so you can decide how to learn in a way that works best for you. 

What is Python for Finance?

Programmers use Python for web development, data analytics, data science, finance, and more. Python is an object-oriented, interpreted, and high-level programming language that places emphasis on code readability by using significant indentation. Its simplicity, flexibility, and its status as a free, open-source programming language make Python incredibly popular around the world.

Python has been in use for more than 30 years and is a free program available to the public. This means there are many resources available to learn this highly useful programming language. Python is generally considered a beginner-friendly programming language to learn, meaning you do not need to have previous coding experience to start learning Python. However, as with any new skill, learning Python can prove challenging, especially when learning more advanced Python skills such as those involved in data science. Learning Python can bolster resumes in the fields of technology, finance, retail, marketing, and more. 

Read more about what Python is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Python for Finance?

Python is an open-source programming language that has been in use for over 30 years. This free-to-use programming language enjoys massive popularity thanks to its many uses. Python is used for web development, data science, data analytics, and more. In the finance industry, Python is used by Traders, Analysts, and Researchers, as well as companies like Stripe and Robinhood. Python’s simplicity and flexibility make it a popular programming language in the finance industry because it makes creating formulas and algorithms far easier than comparable programming languages. Python libraries and tools also make it easier to integrate programs with third parties, a common need in FinTech. 

Python’s analytics tools, such as the Pandas library, allow for the creation of data visualizations and interactive dashboards that reference large quantities of data. The Python libraries PyBrain and Scikit allow for machine learning algorithms that enable predictive analytics. You’ll find Python programming at work in cryptocurrency, stock trading, banking apps, and more.

Live Online Python for Finance Training

Live online training connects you with an instructor in real-time and allows for real-time collaboration with classmates. Live online classes offer many of the same benefits as in-person classes, but without a commute and without the limited choices of classes offered in a local area. Remote learning enables you to learn from anywhere you choose and to take classes from schools around the world, which enables you to find a class time and curriculum that works for your schedule and goals. Live online Python for finance classes also allow you to gain hands-on experience under the guidance of an expert instructor. You can use these activities to solidify the skills you learn, build a professional portfolio, deepen your understanding of real-world situations, and more.

For those with no prior Python development experience, Noble Desktop’s live online Python for Data Science Bootcamp covers Python programming fundamentals and other data science skills applicable to the finance industry. After you have completed this course, you can advance to the Python for Finance Bootcamp, which teaches you how to gather and analyze financial information using Python, use Python for risk management, manage portfolios, and more. Those wishing to break into the finance technology sector can enroll in Noble Desktop’s FinTech Bootcamp, which is actually a collection of courses covering Python for data science, automation, data visualization, machine learning, finance, and also teaches SQL and financial modeling. If you intend to gain a Python certification such as through the PCEP Certification Exam or the PCAP Certified Associate in Python Programming Exam, the Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training offers courses that prepare you for these exams. Tuition for these classes includes the exam fee in the price. You can also find many live online Python programming classes from City Lit and other schools. Compare live online Python for finance classes with the Classes Near Me tool.

On-Demand Python for Finance Classes

On-demand classes, also called self-paced or asynchronous classes, consist of pre-recorded videos and other static material that you work through at your own pace. On-demand classes do not meet at a specific time. Rather, learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Skillshare, and Coursera offer classes that you can access at any time and work through as quickly or slowly as you want. The one exception to this are the courses that have a defined deadline for certain assignments or by which to complete the class for credit. You can access these classes through a paid monthly subscription ranging from around $30 to $60 per month. Some classes are also offered for free or are available through a free trial.

Their affordability, convenience, and flexibility make on-demand classes a popular choice for learning skills. However, there are drawbacks to consider. The main problem students discover with on-demand classes is that they cannot easily access an instructor. A course may offer email assistance, but that means waiting hours or days for an answer to your question. In the meantime, you are stuck, unable to complete your course. On-demand classes also have some disadvantages in regards to hands-on learning. You can often download materials and follow along with written instructions or a video tutorial, but if you run into issues at any point in the exercise, you must wait for an email response from your instructor before being able to proceed. You also have to complete these exercises without collaborating with others.

On-demand classes make a good starting point when you want to gain a foundational or high-level understanding of a topic. You can also use self-paced classes to complement an in-person or live online class. Some students prefer to use on-demand classes for beginner-friendly, simpler skills, then build upon those with an instructor-led course. 

Explore on-demand Python classes to discover free and paid self-paced learning options.

Free Intro Courses & Tutorials

If you don’t feel ready to dive into a full course on Python for finance, you can start learning basic skills with a free introductory course. Noble Desktop’s free video seminar Intro to Python Fundamentals offers a high-level overview of Python programming basics. This video course is intended for those who do not have an existing knowledge of Python programming, and serves as a valuable starting point for learning Python for finance. 

You can also find free Python introductory courses on sites like Udemy and Coursera, as well as Youtube. Some classes are entirely free while others can be accessed using a free trial, after which may require students to pay a premium subscription fee.

Read about more free Python for finance videos and online tutorials.

Comparing Online Methods with In-Person Learning 

There are three primary training methods for learning Python for finance: in-person, live online, and on-demand/self-paced classes. Each of these training methods offers advantages and drawbacks to consider. You can also combine these methods for a customized approach to learning Python for finance. 

To learn Python for finance, you must first master Python programming fundamentals. Even with a beginner-friendly programming language like Python, students typically benefit most from an instructor-led course. An instructor-led course can be either an in-person course or a live online class. Both course types connect you to an instructor who can answer your questions in real-time and provide personal feedback. This real-time communication is most beneficial when it comes to completing hands-on assignments. 

How do in-person classes and live online classes compare? In-person classes have the advantage of connecting you with local professionals such as your instructor and classmates. This format also works well for those who prefer a traditional learning environment. In-person classes also provide the necessary equipment such as computers and software. Live online classes are similar to in-person classes, but use remote learning technologies. Live video allows you to see and communicate with your instructor and classmates in real-time as you engage in class discussion and assignments. Live online classes may also offer additional benefits such as one-on-one mentoring, job assistance, and financial assistance. Plus, since you can take classes from schools all over the world, you have far more options with live online classes than you would in-person classes, which are limited to local offerings. Both class types tend to cost the same amount of tuition.

On-demand classes are also called self-paced classes because you advance through them at your own speed. There are no specific meeting times and few, if any, deadlines, so this type of Python for finance training works well for those who need a flexible, asynchronous learning schedule. The major drawback of on-demand classes is that you typically must email an instructor your questions, causing you to wait several hours or days for a reply, if your course even puts you in contact with an instructor. This stagnates your progress or may even bring your learning to a standstill until you hear back. For this reason, on-demand classes typically work best as an introduction to a topic or skill to be followed up with an instructor-led course. You can find free on-demand Python classes as well as classes available on paid subscription platforms such as Coursera and Udemy.

Tips to Succeed when Learning Python for Finance Online

Tips for Free Resources

Free resources can provide an excellent starting point for learning Python for finance and related skills. You can often use free learning resources to gain a high-level overview of a topic or skill, explore which skills are relevant to your goals, and develop a timeline for learning. 

When exploring free resources, look for information on the skills required to pursue your professional goals. Next, look at the different learning methods available for attaining those skills. Free videos, webinars, and documentation can also help you better understand which training methods work best for you. Do the visual and auditory contents of video courses appeal to you? Do you prefer a class where you can interact with others, such as an instructor and classmates? Do you learn best by seeing, reading, hearing, or doing? What methods work best for your budget and schedule?

Free resources like Noble Desktop’s Python Learning Hub are especially convenient because they bring multiple resources together in one place. 

Tips for Learning with Videos

Video classes and tutorials offer a helpful way to learn new skills. You can follow along with a tutorial step by step, pause the video, and rewatch it as many times as you choose. Video classes let you learn at your own pace and review the information at any time. When exploring a complex subject like Python for finance, start by learning about Python programming fundamentals if you are not already familiar with them.

You can start with free video resources such as those found on Youtube, then follow up with paid video classes found on LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare. These platforms have videos on Python programming fundamentals, machine learning, financial technology, and more. Another tip for learning with videos is to download any supplemental materials such as software or exercises before beginning the related video. This will allow you to follow along with exercises and tutorials without pausing to hunt down the necessary materials in the middle of a lesson. 

Tips for Live Online Learning

Live online classes meet in real-time, which enables instant feedback from your instructor and the ability to collaborate with classmates. When selecting a live online class, check the class’s timezone to ensure the class meeting time will work for your schedule. Remote learning enables you to learn from any location you choose, but also means the school offering the class may be several hours ahead or behind your own timezone. Before enrolling in a live online class, you will want to make sure you have installed any necessary software or tools, they are running correctly on your computer, you have a reliable internet connection, and you feel comfortable navigating the remote learning environment. Many live online classes, including those offered by Noble Desktop, offer free setup assistance to make sure your virtual training runs as smoothly as possible. If your live online class requires assignments completed outside of the class meeting time, staying on top of deadlines will enable you to pace yourself through the assignments and make sure you stay on track.

Key Insights

• There are three main ways of learning Python for finance: on-demand classes, in-person classes, and live online classes. 
• On-demand classes consist primarily of video content that you can pause, rewatch, and follow along with. This type of content works best as a starting point to be followed by an instructor-led course.
• Live online classes connect you to an instructor virtually in real-time. Before starting a virtual class, you will want to make sure your computer is set up, you have a stable internet connection, and you feel comfortable navigating the remote learning environment.
• Live online classes in Python for finance are available through Noble Desktop.

Learn Python for Finance with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online classes that help you master Python for finance. You can start by learning the Python programming basics, then progress to advanced Python uses, or you can explore classes that specialize in teaching the financial uses of Python programming. Noble’s classes offer many benefits including expert instructor guidance given in real-time, small class sizes, and free retake options.

If you do not have previous experience with Python programming, Noble’s Python for Data Science Bootcamp provides the foundational knowledge needed before you learn Python for finance. This bootcamp covers Python programming basics including loops, objects, and functions, handling different types of data, using conditional statements, using object-oriented programming, data visualizations, making predictions, and more. Once you have completed this bootcamp, you can proceed to the Python for Finance Bootcamp in which you will learn how to gather and manipulate financial data using Python’s major financial libraries.

Looking to launch a new career using Python for finance? Noble Desktop’s FinTech Bootcamp prepares students for entry-level positions in financial technology and data science. This certificate program includes multiple courses in which you will learn about Python for data science, automation, data visualization, machine learning, and finance. You will also learn about financial modeling.

Learn more about Noble Desktop’s live online Python classes and live online Finance classes to compare different courses and options.