Python for Finance Prerequisites

Python for finance can open the door to a rewarding career as a Financial Analyst or another profession in finance and FinTech. Before learning Python for finance, you will want to master certain prerequisites to ensure you have a solid foundation on which to build your Python for finance skills. This guide will help you understand the best methods for learning Python for finance and what you should study first to make the learning process easier. This way, you’ll be successful however you choose to apply your new skills. 

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.

Is Python for Finance Easy to Learn?

Python is considered a beginner-friendly programming language to learn. However, it can prove difficult to learn without assistance from an instructor. Python for finance requires skills and knowledge that go beyond Python basics. This means that learning the finance and FinTech uses for Python requires a thorough understanding of Python principles. An instructor can help you build a solid understanding of basic and advanced Python skills. 

What to Know Before Learning Python for Finance

Before learning Python for finance, you should have good computer skills, especially if you intend to learn through online classes, and you should build a solid understanding of Python fundamentals. You will also need to understand Python for data science basics as these directly apply to Python’s uses in the finance industry and in FinTech.

Python Fundamentals and Python for Data Science

Python fundamentals include the ability to write basic statements and expressions, create variables, work with lists, index and slice lists, use functions and methods, understand different data types, the basics of IDLE programming, and object-oriented programming. As part of learning Python basics, you should complete hands-on activities using different data types such as lists, strings, tuples, and dictionaries.

After mastering the fundamentals, you will need to learn basic data science skills with Python. Data science skills to learn include structuring programs, working with arrays and dataframes, analyzing and visualizing data, and understanding linear regression. 

Noble Desktop’s live online Python for Data Science Bootcamp covers Python fundamentals and other data science skills essential to understanding Python for finance. By learning foundational Python skills and data science skills in a single class, you can save both time and money while streamlining your Python for finance training. 

Once you have passed the Python for Data Science Bootcamp, you can advance to the Python for Finance Bootcamp. The Python for Finance Bootcamp covers skills needed to launch a career in finance or FinTech. This class covers how to gather financial information using Python, use financial APIs, analyze 10k from the SEC website, use Python for risk and portfolio management, create strategies based on data collected, and more.

Key Insights

• Python for finance can help you launch a career in finance or finance technology, or advance an existing career in these industries. 
• Before learning Python for finance, you must first master Python programming fundamentals. 
• Python is considered a beginner-friendly programming language; however, this does not mean it is easy to learn through self-teaching. Most aspiring programmers learn best with the help of an expert instructor.
• You will also need to understand Python for data science. 
• An instructor-led course can help you master Python fundamentals, Python for data science, and Python for finance. Instructors answer your questions in real-time, provide personalized feedback, and can guide you through hands-on activities that build your professional portfolio.
• Noble Desktop offers live online bootcamps and classes that can help you master these skills.

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.