Within the financial industry, various areas play crucial roles, including banking, credit, capital markets, leverage, money management, and investments. Each of these areas contributes to the overall functioning of finance and the growth and development of wealth.
When deciding to learn finance, you may desire to acquire new skills, explore different career paths, or enhance your financial knowledge. Learning finance equips you with tools to manage and grow wealth while fostering financial literacy. From a professional standpoint, developing financial skills can significantly strengthen your resume, opening up opportunities across various industries and roles.
Opting for on-demand finance courses offers numerous benefits. By choosing this flexible learning format, you can determine when you dedicate time to your studies. Whether you work full-time or have other commitments, on-demand courses allow you to listen to lectures or engage with course modules at your convenience, even if you have just a few minutes available each day. This flexibility empowers you to tailor your learning experience to fit your schedule.
However, it's important to note that studying finance through on-demand courses typically involves independent learning. While you have the freedom to progress at your own pace, it also means that you may need to seek answers to your questions independently. This self-reliance can be valuable, as it encourages problem-solving and resourcefulness. Online communities, forums, and supplementary resources can be valuable tools for finding answers and connecting with others pursuing similar learning journeys.
The 10 Best On-Demand Finance Classes
- Coursera—Business and Financial Modeling Specialization
- Coursera—Trading Strategies in Emerging Markets Specialization
- Udemy—Intro to Finance Accounting
- Finance Unlocked—Banking Essentials pt 1
- Finance Unlocked—Trading Finance
- edX—Introduction to Corporate Finance
- edX—Fundamentals of Financial Mathematics and Capital BudgetingÂ
- Udemy—Python for Financial Investment Fundamentals and Data AnalyticsÂ
- ONLC—Accounting Ondemand: Business Accounting, Bookkeeping and PayrollÂ
- ONLC—QuickBooks Desktop On-Demand: Comprehensive (Introduction & Beyond the Basics)
#1: Coursera—Business and Financial Modeling Specialization
Coursera offers several on-demand courses. You can take the Business and Financial Modeling specialization for students interested in the analytical side of finance. This five-course specialization training teaches Students how to make spreadsheet modules and different modeling techniques. Through this, students will learn ways to make informed business decisions. They will spend time working with applications for investment analysis. The specialization is the combination of five individual courses.
Key Information
Even with five combined courses, the course takes six months to complete by putting 2 hours a week into training. The course may take more or less time, depending on the time you can commit to it. To access the course, students must pay the course of their subscription of $59 a month or $399 a year. Financial aid is available for the course. You can choose to audit the course for free. Auditing the course will not provide you with any of the course benefits. Beginners are welcome to take the course to become proficient in financial modeling, or it can be taken as a refresher course for those in the industry. No prior financial knowledge is required to attend this course.Â
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Each course and school will offer different benefits. One thing to consider when choosing what school or course to take is to look at what additional benefits you will receive by attending. Coursera offers students the following:
- Â A certificate upon completion if you are not auditing the course
- Â Hands-On learning through all modules
- Â Beginner level, perfect for anyone to attend, no matter the experience level
- Â Course offered with subtitles and ten different languages
- Â Flexible scheduling to work on modules when you like
One student who finished the specialization states, "Really a great set of courses to understand and apply models to many different scenarios. I was able to use the skills I learned right away in my profession." Olusola O. said, "This course is very demanding and requires a high level of concentration with total attention." However, they still enjoyed the course and the results they got out of it.Â
#2: Coursera—Trading Strategies in Emerging Markets Specialization
Students who want to learn finance from a different perspective can attend Coursera's Trading Strategies and Emerging Market Specialization. During the course, students at different trading strategies professionals use while learning the trading basics. After analyzing the various trading strategies, students will start to develop and decide their strategies to use in the market. Students will start by learning to comprehend the financial statements of various companies and the transactions that take place on the stock market. From there, they will examine two of the seven trading strategies in emerging markets. The course concludes with students using their course knowledge to design their strategies.Â
Key Information
According to Coursera, the course should take six months to complete when working three hours a week. The course could take longer or shorter to complete depending on the time you can commit to it. The course may take more or less time, depending on the time you can commit to it. A subscription fee of $59 a month or $399 a year is required for students to access the course. The course is eligible for financial aid and can be audited for free. Auditing the course will not provide you with any of its benefits. This course is designed for beginners to gain proficiency in trading and those in the industry who wish to refresh their knowledge. Prior financial knowledge is not required to attend.Â
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Students who enroll in this course will access various benefits provided by Coursera.Â
- Â A certificate upon completion if you are not auditing the course
- Â Hands-On learning through all modules
- Â Beginner level, perfect for anyone to attend, no matter the experience level
- Â Course offered with subtitles and ten different languages
- Â Flexible scheduling to work on modules when you like
One former student said, "The course was very interesting and the faculty taught everything in a clear and crisp manner." Nitesh S. states that the course provides "good insights and a must for a person who is seriously interested in trading."
#3: Udemy—Intro to Finance, Accounting, Modeling, and Valuation
Udemy offers several finance courses, so you can find the one that fits your learning goals. In the Intro to Finance, Accounting, Modeling, and Valuation course, students will spend time analyzing and understanding various statement sheets, including income, balance, and cash flow statements. Students will learn where to get and apply different data to different modeling practices. They will practice creating financial models for various sheets. Students will start by learning to analyze various financial statements. From there, they will learn where to get data for creating financial models. Once they gather the data, they will start creating financial models.Â
Key Information
Udemy students with 4.5 hours of video, but it may take up to 8 hours to complete various projects. The course costs $139.99; however, Udemy often offers its courses on sale. The courses are beginner-friendly.
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Students who enroll in this Udemy course gain access to several different benefits. If needed, students can take the course using one of the 12 different language subtitles to make learning as easy as possible When students complete the course; they will receive a certificate they can use on their resume; they will also gain lifetime access to the course to refresh themselves on the information at any point in time The course also provides NASBA CPE Credits Arun M. states that the "information is valuable" and that "all the sessions were so simple." Having an introductory course be simple and easy to follow can set students up for success.Â
#4: Finance Unlocked—Banking Essentials- Part 1
The Banking Essentials Part 1 class offered by Finance Unlocked provides a comprehensive understanding of the banking industry and its core principles. The class covers a range of topics essential for individuals seeking to develop their knowledge in banking. Students learn about the different types of banks and their roles within the financial system. They gain insights into the functions and operations of commercial banks, investment banks, and central banks. They will also learn about the history of bank capital requirements and bank capital post-2008 financial crisis.Â
Key Information
This course provides students with 2.5 hours of video content to follow. The course costs $44 a month for a subscription to finance Unlock. You can also opt for a yearly $400 subscription. The subscription will give you access to all available courses on the platform. This is a beginner-level course Students need no prior experience.
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Students can utilize the course subtitles available in English, Spanish, and Chinese when taking the course Students will receive a certificate once they finish this pathway If students are interested in earning CPD credits, this course does count for three credits One former student said Finance Unlock provides "an incredibly useful platform for anyone interested in finding out what finance entails."
#5: Finance Unlocked—Trading Finance
The Trade Finance class offered by Finance Unlocked focuses on providing a comprehensive understanding of trade finance Students learn about the fundamentals of trade finance, including the different types of trade transactions, the roles of importers and exporters, and the key documents involved in international trade Students will begin by familiarizing themselves with trade jargon before diving into the different benefits of trade finance From there, students will learn about the risks involved and how to use trade finance as a risk management tool Students will also explore ways to invest in trade.Â
Key Information
This course provides students 1.5 hours of video content from various financial professionals. The course costs $44 a month for a subscription to finance Unlock. You can also opt for a yearly $400 subscription. The subscription will give you access to all available courses on the platform. This is a beginner-level course Students need no prior experience.
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Students will receive a certificate once they finish this pathway. If students are interested in earning CPD credits, this course counts for 2.5 credits Kashvi states, "The delivery style makes it easy to learn, even for a layman. The platform is very user-friendly and appealing too." Former students seem to prefer the on-demand learning style that Finance Unlock provides, as each video module in the pathways comes from a different financial professional.Â
#6: EdX—Introduction to Corporate Finance
In this Introduction to Corporate Finance course, students will learn various financial concepts and rules and how they will be applied to value firms, bonds, and stocks. Students will use Excel throughout the course for various processes, including valuing bonds and stocks, computing NPV and finding IRR. Students will learn to create simple models. Students will begin the course by learning the foundations of the time value of money and the present value. They will then dive into return rates and capital budgeting Finally, they will start looking at stocks and bonds.Â
Key Information
This self-paced course will take four weeks to complete, with students only working three to four hours per week. Time may vary depending on each person's time commitment to the course. The course is free to audit. However, students can opt to upgrade the course for $225. Upgrading will provide students with more benefits when completing the course. While this is an introductory course, students are expected to understand Microsoft Excel and basic accounting principles.Â
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Students who choose to pay for the verified track version of this course will gain access to more benefits than if they audited the course. Students who complete the course will earn a shareable certificate. The instructors of the course will grade their assignments. While the course is on-demand, there is still instructor interaction. One former student states, "good exposure for a beginner and helps people to actually start caring about their financial condition in, which we can greatly improve."Â
#7: EdX—Fundamentals of Financial Mathematics and Capital Budgeting
In the Fundamentals of Financial Mathematics and Capital Budgeting course, students will look into the determinants of value Students will learn two main approaches to valuing a business with concerns, discounting cash flows and valuation ratios. They will perform necessary calculations to measure risk. They will then learn the time value of money, including the present value, the future value, and interest rates. Students will spend time working with various calculations to perform different financial functions.Â
Key Information
The course can take students four weeks to complete working one to two hours a week. Time may vary Depending on time commitment. The course is free to attend but can be upgraded for a fee. For the $99 upgrade, you get additional benefits for the course. This is a beginner-level course.
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Students who pay for the upgraded version of their course gain unlimited access to the course. They can contact edX support at any point in time. They will also receive a shareable certificate upon completing the course. Unfortunately, no former students have taken the time to review this course.
#8: Udemy—Python for Financial Investment Fundamentals and Data Analytics
Throughout the Python for Financial Investment Fundamentals and Data Analytics course, students will learn how to code with Python. With this easy-to-learn language, students will work with conditional statements, functions, sequences, and loops. They will also learn how to use the data analysis toolkit; Pandas Students will build investment portfolios and calculate risks for investments. They will perform monte carlo simulations and carry out in-depth investment analysis.Â
Key Information
This course provides students with 9 hours of video. The course costs $129.99; however, Udemy often puts its courses on sale. The course is beginner-friendly and does not require any prior knowledge before enrolling in the course.Â
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Students enrolling in this course can take advantage of the subtitles available in 14 different languages. This can help anyone take the course and understand the content, no matter where they are in the world or their language. Once students complete the course, they will receive a certificate they can put on their resume and share with employers. They will also gain lifetime access to the course to refresh themselves on the information at any point in time. Megan G., who completed the course, said, "The course makes it easy to understand the basic concepts built upon throughout the course I can highly recommend."
#9: ONLC—Accounting on Demand: Business Accounting, Bookkeeping and Payroll
During the Accounting On-Demand course, students will learn the fundamentals of accounting. They will spend time learning the basics of bookkeeping and accounting before jumping into accounting equations. Students will analyze transactions and begin entering information into sheets. They will prepare different financial statements, including income, retained earnings, and balance sheets. They will learn the life cycle of accounting. Students will also learn other aspects of bookkeeping, like sales tax, budgeting, and payroll.Â
Key Information
The course will take five days to complete on average. There are 21 hours and 36 minutes of video Access to the course for 180 days. The course costs $495. Students need to pay the class fee before gaining access to the course. The course is beginner-friendly Students do not need any prior experience to attend this course.Â
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When you enroll in this course, you still get some additional benefits. Students can access support 24/7 as they can access the program 24/7. They will receive a printed training guide once they enroll in the course. Students must purchase QuickBooks Pro or Premium before they begin the course. One former student mentioned that they never took this type of training before, but they enjoyed it as it "felt relaxed".
#10: ONLC—QuickBooks Desktop On-Demand: Comprehensive (Introduction & Beyond the Basics)
The QuickBooks Desktop On-Demand course presents what an administrator needs to know to manage customers, vendors, employees, and banking transactions for a business using the Intuit QuickBooks Desktop application Students will learn the basics of QuickBooks before jumping in and starting a new company to work with throughout the course They will create various lists that their company will use Students will learn how to use QuickBooks to manage inventory, including ordering and receiving inventory. They will set up incomes and learn to process payments. They will also learn to customize the program to fit their company's needs.Â
Key Information
The course has 15 hours and 11 minutes of video, which, on average, takes four days to complete. You have access to the course for 180 days. The course costs $595, which needs to be paid in full before you can access the course. While the course requires no previous experience with QuickBooks, students must have basic proficiency in Windows OS and accounting practices.Â
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When you enroll in this course, you still get some additional benefits. Students can access support 24/7 as they can access the program 24/7. They will receive a printed training guide once they enroll in the course. Students must purchase QuickBooks Pro or Premium before they begin the course Students who have taken the course have stated that it was "very knowledgeable and helpful, " and they "would recommend this course for every beginner or if you just need a refresher."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an On-demand Finance Class Worth It?
Whether an on-demand finance class is worth it depends on your specific learning needs, preferences, and circumstances. On-demand classes offer flexibility and convenience, allowing you to access course materials and lectures at your own pace and schedule. However, there are several factors to consider when evaluating the value of an on-demand finance class.
On-demand classes are a great way to begin your training, or if you are limited to the amount of time you can devote per week to a course, On-demand courses may also be great for students with high self-motivation and discipline. Holding yourself accountable to get the work done. It is easy to put training on the back burner while other things are happening in your life. Most of these classes will not have deadlines or instructors to keep you motivated and on top of the work.Â
When deciding if on-demand is the right way to go for your finance training, you need to consider your learning style and schedule. If you only have the time to put in an hour or two a week and cannot fit in a live class, on-demand can be a great option to get the training you want. If you know you need or prefer a more structured learning environment; you may opt for a live class. Several schools offer courses in the evenings or on the weekends for you to attend part-time.Â
It's important to note that the value of an on-demand finance class ultimately depends on your commitment, active engagement, and the resources provided by the course. If you are self-motivated, have a flexible schedule, and find that the on-demand format suits your learning style, it can be a valuable way to acquire financial knowledge and skills at your own pace. However, if you thrive in structured environments with real-time interaction or prefer more personalized guidance, a live or interactive finance class may better fit you.
What Will I Need for an On-demand Finance Class?
Equipping yourself with the appropriate tools and resources is crucial to ensure your readiness for a finance course. Here are some essential items you may need to succeed in a finance class:
- Computer and internet Access: In today's digital age, most finance courses, particularly online ones, require both a computer and an internet connection. Ensure that your computer meets the necessary technical specifications and that you have access to the online learning platforms or software used in the course.
- Spreadsheet Software: Proficiency in spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets is often vital in finance education. Take the time to familiarize yourself with basic spreadsheet functions and formulas commonly used for financial calculations, data analysis, and financial modeling. These skills will prove invaluable throughout your finance studies.
- Financial Databases and Software: Depending on the specific course and level of study, you may need access to financial databases or specialized software. Familiarize yourself with any recommended financial databases or software platforms mentioned in the course syllabus or by your instructor. These resources can provide real-world financial data and tools to enhance your learning experience.
It is important to carefully read and consider the specific requirements and recommendations provided by your instructor or educational institution, as they may offer additional suggestions or prerequisites for the course. By being well-prepared with the necessary resources, you can stay organized, actively engage with the course material, and maximize your learning potential in finance.
Can I Learn Finance On-demand for Free?
It is indeed possible to learn finance online for free. Similar to acquiring any skill, many online resources are available to students seeking to delve into finance without any financial investment. Platforms like YouTube offer many videos, while blogs and podcasts provide valuable insights and in-depth discussions on various financial topics. These free resources can be a solid starting point for learning finance.
However, it's important to note that learning finance through free resources may extend the time required to attain proficiency in the subject. While free resources can provide foundational knowledge, they may not comprehensively cover the more intricate and complex aspects of finance. If your goal is to pursue a career in finance, it is advisable to complement your self-study with formal education or enrollment in a dedicated finance course. These structured courses can provide a more comprehensive and accelerated learning experience, equipping you with the necessary skills and knowledge to enter the finance industry in a shorter time frame.
By enrolling in a finance course, you can acquire a deeper understanding of complex financial concepts and gain practical skills vital for a finance career. While free resources are an excellent starting point, enrolling in a course can significantly expedite your journey toward a new career, allowing you to achieve your goals within months rather than the years it may take to self-teach using free resources.
Is It Better to Learn Finance in a Live or Self-paced Class?
When deciding between a live or self-paced class, it is essential to consider individual preferences and various factors influencing the learning experience. Here are some aspects to contemplate before making a choice:
- Learning Style: Every student learns differently. A live class might be the preferred option if you thrive in a structured and interactive environment with real-time feedback. Live classes often provide opportunities for direct engagement with instructors and classmates, allowing for immediate clarification of doubts and active participation in discussions.
- Schedule Flexibility: Evaluating your schedule is crucial in determining the feasibility of attending a live class. Suppose you are available and can commit to a fixed in-person or online schedule. In that case, live classes can provide a routine promoting regular study and consistent progress. However, a self-paced course might be more suitable if your schedule is more constrained or unpredictable. Self-paced courses offer flexibility, allowing you to study and complete assignments at your own pace whenever you have free time.
- Personal Preference: Your preferences and comfort levels should also influence your decision. Some individuals prefer the structure and accountability of live classes, while others appreciate the autonomy and independence offered by self-paced courses. Reflect on your learning preferences and consider which format aligns better with your desired learning experience.
It is important to note that not every class will suit every person. Each student's circumstances, learning style, and schedule will differ, and what works well for one may not work as effectively for another. Take the time to evaluate your needs and preferences to make an informed decision that aligns with your learning goals and lifestyle.
The choice between a live or self-paced class should be based on learning style, schedule flexibility, and personal preference. Considering these aspects, you can select the learning format that best suits your needs and maximizes your learning potential.