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As the global economy continues to face a digital transformation, the fintech industry must keep up with consumer needs. How? By finding new and improved ways of automating the delivery and use of financial services. But before you jump into the technical side of this industry, you need to learn financial theory. This no-risk intro course is a great starting point for professionals with minimal finance knowledge.

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As the global economy continues to face a digital transformation, the fintech industry must keep up with consumer needs. How? By finding new and improved ways of automating the delivery and use of financial services. But before you jump into the technical side of this industry, you need to learn financial theory. This no-risk intro course is a great starting point for professionals with minimal finance knowledge.

As a participant in the course, you will learn how to find important values on the following three types of financial statements:

  • Income statement
  • Balance sheet
  • Cash flow statement

You will also learn how to compare and contrast company performance by studying these five key financial ratios:

  • Debt Ratio
  • Current Ratio
  • Return on Sales Ratio
  • Asset Turnover Ratio
  • Return on Equity Ratio

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to define various finance concepts.
  • How financial statements are used in accounting.
  • How to read primary financial statements.
  • How to calculate and analyze ratios.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores concepts used regularly by fintech professionals
Emphasizes essential finance concepts
Develops foundational finance skills

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Try It: Finance Fundamentals with these activities:
Review pre-requisite materials
Review foundational concepts and principles like present value, time value of money, and cost of capital before diving into the course.
Browse courses on Finance
Show steps
  • Read assigned chapters from the course textbook.
  • Complete practice problems and exercises related to the foundational concepts.
  • Attend a refresher workshop or online course on financial concepts.
Practice using a financial calculator
Sharpen your skills in using a financial calculator to solve problems related to time value of money and other financial calculations.
Browse courses on Time Value of Money
Show steps
  • Find a financial calculator or use an online financial calculator simulator.
  • Review the basic functions and operations of the calculator.
  • Practice solving problems involving present value, future value, annuities, and bonds.
Watch video tutorials on financial ratios
Explore different types of financial ratios and learn how to calculate and interpret them effectively.
Show steps
  • Search for reputable online tutorials or videos on financial ratios.
  • Watch the tutorials, taking notes on key points and formulas.
  • Try applying the ratios to actual company financial statements.
Five other activities
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Solve financial statement analysis exercises
Practice analyzing income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to improve your understanding of financial data.
Show steps
  • Find practice exercises from textbooks, online resources, or the course materials.
  • Work through the exercises, step-by-step, to calculate financial ratios and identify trends.
  • Compare your results with provided solutions or ask for feedback from peers or instructors.
Join a study group or online forum
Connect with fellow learners to discuss course concepts, share perspectives, and enhance your understanding.
Show steps
  • Find a study group or forum related to the course topic.
  • Participate in regular discussions, ask questions, and share your insights.
  • Collaborate on projects or assignments to reinforce your learning.
Develop a financial model
Put your financial knowledge into practice by building a financial model to analyze investment opportunities or business scenarios.
Show steps
  • Identify a business or investment scenario that you want to analyze.
  • Gather relevant financial data and assumptions.
  • Build a financial model using a spreadsheet or modeling software.
  • Analyze the results and make recommendations based on your model.
Volunteer at a non-profit organization
Gain practical experience in utilizing financial concepts and making financial decisions.
Show steps
  • Identify non-profit organizations that align with your interests.
  • Offer your services in areas related to finance, accounting, or data analysis.
  • Participate in projects and activities that involve financial decision-making.
Create a financial analysis report
Apply your knowledge by creating a comprehensive financial analysis report on a publicly traded company.
Show steps
  • Select a company and gather its financial statements from reputable sources.
  • Calculate relevant financial ratios and analyze the company's financial performance.
  • Write a report summarizing your findings, including recommendations for investors.
  • Share your report with others for feedback and discussion.

Career center

Learners who complete Try It: Finance Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts use skills and knowledge learned in Finance Fundamentals to create and manage financial plans, and investment opportunities for clients. Finance Fundamentals introduces core financial concepts, financial statement analysis, and ratio analysis. As a career, Financial Analysts use these skills to interpret the financial performance of companies, forecast future financial performance, and assess the risk associated with investments.
Auditor
Finance Fundamentals provides foundational knowledge of financial statements and their analysis that can lead to a career as an Auditor. Auditors examine financial statements to ensure accuracy, and compliance with laws and regulations. They use skills learned in this course to interpret complex financial information and analyze financial data.
Investment Banker
Finance Fundamentals prepares one for the more advanced level of financial modeling and valuation needed to succeed as an Investment Banker. Investment Bankers help companies raise capital and advise on mergers and acquisitions. They need to understand how to interpret financial statements and use financial ratios to assess a company's financial health.
Credit Analyst
Credit Analysts rely heavily on concepts and skills learned in Finance Fundamentals. They use these concepts to evaluate a borrower's creditworthiness and make recommendations on loan approvals. Finance Fundamentals helps build a foundation for understanding income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and how to calculate key financial ratios.
Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Managers oversee investment portfolios for individuals and institutions. Finance Fundamentals provides a strong foundation for this career by teaching how to read and analyze financial statements, as well as how to calculate important financial ratios. These skills enable Portfolio Managers to make informed investment decisions and manage risk.
Financial Planner
Financial Planners help individuals and families manage their finances and plan for the future. Finance Fundamentals introduces key concepts such as financial statement analysis and ratio analysis, which are essential for understanding a client's financial situation and making sound financial recommendations.
Risk Manager
Finance Fundamentals provides an excellent foundation for a career as a Risk Manager who is responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing financial risks. Skills learned in this course include how to read and analyze financial statements, as well as how to calculate key financial ratios.
Budget Analyst
Finance Fundamentals provides a good basis for someone interested in a career as a Budget Analyst. Financial skills learned in this course, such as understanding financial statements and how to calculate financial ratios, can be applied by Budget Analysts to prepare and manage budgets and ensure that organizations' funds are used efficiently.
Loan Officer
Finance Fundamentals may be useful for a career as a Loan Officer, who assesses the creditworthiness of borrowers and makes decisions on loan approvals. It provides a good foundation for understanding financial statements and their analysis and can help one develop the skills needed to evaluate financial data and make sound lending decisions.
Insurance Underwriter
Understanding financial statements and ratios, which Finance Fundamentals teaches, is important for Insurance Underwriters who evaluate risks and determine insurance premiums. This course can provide a solid foundation in assessing the financial health of individuals and companies and making informed decisions about insurance coverage.
Actuary
Finance Fundamentals may be useful for someone who wants to be an Actuary. Concepts taught in this course, such as how to understand financial statements and calculate financial ratios, can help Actuaries assess and manage financial risks and make informed decisions.
Banker
A foundational course like Finance Fundamentals can support a career as a Banker, who provides financial services to individuals and businesses. The course introduces essential financial concepts, financial statement analysis, and financial ratios, which are fundamental to understanding and managing financial transactions, evaluating financial performance, and making sound banking decisions.
Financial Advisor
Finance Fundamentals provides a solid base for a career as a Financial Advisor, who guides individuals and businesses in making informed financial decisions. By understanding financial statements, ratios, and financial theory, as taught in this course, one can help clients manage their finances, plan for the future, and achieve their financial goals.
Market Researcher
Market Researchers analyze market trends and customer behavior to inform business decisions. Finance Fundamentals can be useful as Market Research often involves analyzing financial data and understanding financial concepts. Skills learned in this course can enhance one's ability to gather and interpret financial information, which is valuable in market research.
Business Analyst
Finance Fundamentals may be helpful for those aspiring to be Business Analysts, who analyze business processes and make recommendations for improvement. The course provides a strong foundation in financial principles, financial statement analysis, and financial ratios, which can be beneficial for understanding the financial aspects of businesses and making data-driven recommendations.

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Try It: Finance Fundamentals.
Classic intermediate accounting textbook that provides a comprehensive coverage of the topic. It covers all the major financial accounting topics, including financial statement analysis, the time value of money, and the accounting for different business transactions.
Provides the reader with an introduction to value investing. It covers the core concepts and theories of value investing, including topics such as the margin of safety, the intrinsic value of a stock, and the importance of patience.
Guide to the basics of investing. It covers the core concepts and theories of investing, including topics such as asset allocation, the diversification of risk, and the importance of long-term investing.
Covers the role of luck and randomness in investing. It discusses how our perception of risk can affect our investment decisions, and how we can overcome these biases to make better investment decisions.
Classic corporate finance textbook that provides a comprehensive coverage of the topic. It covers all the major corporate finance topics, including capital budgeting, capital structure, and the cost of capital.
Provides a detailed overview of quantitative equity investing. It covers the core concepts and theories of quantitative equity investing, including topics such as the use of data science and machine learning in investment decision-making.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of financial statement analysis and valuation. It covers the core concepts and theories in financial statement analysis, including topics such as financial ratio analysis, the DuPont analysis, and the discounted cash flow analysis.
Provides a detailed overview of machine learning for asset managers. It covers the core concepts and theories of machine learning, as well as how to apply machine learning to asset management.
Classic security analysis textbook that provides a comprehensive coverage of the topic. It covers all the major security analysis topics, including fundamental analysis, technical analysis, and the valuation of stocks and bonds.

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