Fundamentals of Financial Services from Udemy

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The Financial Services industry is one of the most widely publicised, we all interact with it in different ways and yet sometimes we don't know what goes on within.

Fundamentals of Financial Services has been developed as an introductory repository of information for the way the industry works.

It is developed with the following potential learners in mind:

- Anyone new to the industry

- Anyone seeking knowledge about the basics relating to FS institutions, products and services

- Anyone sitting the any financial services exams - foundation or basic levels, including:

New employees at various financial institutions
Anyone interested in Economics and the Economy
CISI Level 2 “Fundamentals of Financial Services” candidates
ACCA students
AAT students
Finance diploma, degree students
Accounting diploma, degree students
Tax students
Financial Services entry level
Banking entry level
Apprentices in the Financial Services industry
Anyone interested in Economics and the Economy

We developed it to help people:

- Prepare for exams

- Learn more about the Financial Services industry

- Get a good foundation of the basics within the industry

We have provided information to suite the above mentioned groups of people and also anyone curious about the topic.

We wish you success your endeavour's within the industry and look forward to interacting with you on LinkedIn.

We welcome your feedback, questions and comments.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Banking - history of banking
Banking - distinctions between retail/investment etc
The role of banks
Central banks
Saving and borrowing
Evaluating different sources of borrowing (mortgage, overdraft, credit card, payday loans etc)
Calculating effective annual irs
Ethics and integrity in financial services
How the financial services sector links savers and borrowers, both on a household and corporate scale
Insurance
Ipos
Sources of return for shareholders
Calculating dividend yields

Benefits and risks of shareholding
Bonds
Advantages and disadvantages of bondholding
Credit rating agencies (s+p, fitch, moody’s)
Derivatives – call/put options, futures
Markets – stock exchanges and regions/sectors that they represent
Fund management (vs direct investment)
Forex
Pensions
Fintechs, crowdfunding, distributed ledger tech
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Banking - history of banking
Banking - distinctions between retail/investment etc
The role of banks
Central banks
Saving and borrowing
Evaluating different sources of borrowing (mortgage, overdraft, credit card, payday loans etc)
Calculating effective annual irs
Ethics and integrity in financial services
How the financial services sector links savers and borrowers, both on a household and corporate scale
Insurance
Ipos
Sources of return for shareholders
Calculating dividend yields
Benefits and risks of shareholding
Bonds
Advantages and disadvantages of bondholding
Credit rating agencies (s+p, fitch, moody’s)
Derivatives – call/put options, futures
Markets – stock exchanges and regions/sectors that they represent
Fund management (vs direct investment)
Forex
Pensions
Fintechs, crowdfunding, distributed ledger tech
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Fundamentals of Financial Services

Introduction and History of Financial Services

Banking - Retail and Investment

Banking - Central Banks

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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Provides an overview of various financial instruments, such as stocks, bonds, and derivatives, which is helpful for those seeking a broad understanding of the financial markets

Covers ethics and integrity in financial services, which is essential for building a strong foundation in responsible financial practices and regulatory compliance

Explores the history of banking and the roles of central banks, offering valuable context for understanding the current financial landscape and its evolution

Includes fintech, crowdfunding, and distributed ledger technology, which are important for understanding modern trends and innovations in the financial industry

Requires learners to calculate effective annual interest rates, which may require additional math skills or the use of external tools like calculators or spreadsheets

Examines credit rating agencies, which are critical for assessing risk in financial markets and understanding the creditworthiness of various entities

Reviews summary

Financial services foundational overview

According to learners, this course provides a solid positive foundation in the neutral fundamentals of the financial services industry, making it particularly useful for those positive new to the sector or preparing for neutral introductory exams. Students appreciate the positive broad coverage of topics, including banking, insurance, investments, and fintech. While many find the material clear and concise, some note that the course offers a warning high-level overview and may warning lack sufficient depth for those seeking detailed knowledge in specific areas. The course structure is generally well-received for its positive accessibility, though a few reviews suggest certain sections could benefit from warning further explanation or updated examples.

Explanations are generally clear.

"The explanations were clear and easy to follow, even for complex topics."

"Instructors did a good job explaining the concepts in a straightforward manner."

"I appreciated the clarity of the lectures; they weren't overly technical."

"The course material is presented in a way that is accessible to beginners."

Useful for foundational certifications.

"This course was a great help in preparing for my foundational financial services exam."

"I took this course specifically for my CISI Level 2 studies and found the content relevant."

"Recommended for anyone looking to get certified in basic finance concepts."

"Helped clarify key concepts needed for entry-level finance roles and exams."

Covers a wide range of subjects.

"The course covers a wide variety of topics from banking to fintech, giving a comprehensive overview."

"I liked that it touched upon so many different areas within financial services."

"It provides insights into various aspects including insurance, investments, and derivatives."

"Learned about central banks, asset management, IPOs, and more, which was great."

Excellent starting point for beginners.

"This course provides a solid foundation for anyone new to the financial services industry. I gained a good overview."

"I found this course to be an excellent starting point to understand the basics of finance."

"A really helpful introductory repository of information on how the industry works."

"Perfect for getting a broad understanding of financial services fundamentals."

Lacks depth in specific areas.

"While it covers many topics, I felt it stayed quite high-level and didn't go into much detail."

"Good for an overview, but don't expect deep dives into complex subjects."

"It provides a good introduction but would need supplementary learning for true expertise."

"Some sections felt a bit too brief, leaving me wanting more specific examples or explanations."

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 Fundamentals of Financial Services with these activities:

Review Basic Accounting Principles

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental accounting principles, which are essential for grasping financial statements and understanding how businesses operate.

Browse courses on Accounting Principles

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Review key accounting equations and their components.
Practice creating basic financial statements.
Identify the differences between accrual and cash accounting.

Attend a Financial Services Networking Event

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Expand your professional network and learn from industry professionals by attending a local financial services event.

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Research and identify relevant networking events.
Prepare an elevator pitch to introduce yourself.
Attend the event and connect with professionals.
Follow up with contacts after the event.

Read 'The Intelligent Investor'

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Gain insights into value investing principles and financial statement analysis, enhancing your understanding of investment strategies.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Apply the principles to analyze real-world companies.
Discuss the book's concepts with peers.

Four other activities

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Calculate Effective Annual Interest Rates

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Master the calculation of effective annual interest rates to accurately compare different borrowing options.

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Work through the problems, showing your calculations.
Check your answers and review any mistakes.

Build a Stock Portfolio Tracker

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Apply your knowledge of financial markets and investment strategies by creating a tool to track and analyze a hypothetical stock portfolio.

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Choose a platform (e.g., spreadsheet, programming language).
Gather data on stocks and market trends.
Implement calculations for portfolio performance.
Visualize the data to gain insights.

Create a Presentation on Fintech Disruption

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Deepen your understanding of financial technology by researching and presenting on its impact on traditional financial services.

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Research various fintech companies and their innovations.
Prepare a presentation outlining the key disruptions.
Present your findings to a group and answer questions.

Read 'Lords of Finance'

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Gain historical context on the role of central banks and the impact of financial policy decisions.

View Money and Tough Love on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key events and decisions.
Reflect on the lessons learned from the book.
Discuss the book's implications with peers.

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamentals of Financial Services will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Loan Officer

A loan officer evaluates and approves loan applications, guiding individuals and businesses through the borrowing process. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services is an introductory exploration of how the financial services industry works. This course covers savings and borrowing, including evaluating different sources of borrowing, such as mortgages and credit cards. Understanding how to calculate annual effective interest rates, which is covered in this course, is crucial for a loan officer. In addition, the course addresses ethics and integrity in financial services, very important for loan officers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Loan Officer

Mortgage Broker

A mortgage broker connects borrowers with lenders, helping them find the best mortgage rates and terms. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services explores the basics of the financial services industry. The course's coverage of savings and borrowing, and evaluating sources of borrowing, is particularly relevant for someone working as a mortgage broker. Calculating effective annual interest rates is also covered in this course. The mortgage broker should also be aware of ethics and integrity in financial services, which this course addresses as well.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mortgage Broker

Credit Analyst

A credit analyst assesses the creditworthiness of individuals and businesses to determine the risk of lending. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services introduces how the financial services industry works. The course's coverage of credit rating agencies is directly applicable to a credit analyst's work. Understanding how to evaluate different sources of borrowing, which is touched on in the course, may help a credit analyst determine the risk. Additionally, the course covers ethics and integrity in financial services, which is important for maintaining objectivity in credit analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Credit Analyst

Bank Teller

A bank teller is the face of a bank, assisting customers with transactions, providing information, and ensuring smooth operations. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services introduces you to how the financial services industry works, including banking. This course covers banking, savings and borrowing, and ethics and integrity in financial services. Understanding the distinctions between retail and investment banking, as discussed in this course, helps a bank teller understand the broader context of their role. The course's coverage of effective annual interest rates may also be of use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bank Teller

Financial Advisor

A financial advisor provides guidance to clients on investments, retirement planning, and other aspects of financial management. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services explores the basics of the financial services industry. The course includes coverage of fund management, pensions, bonds, and shareholding, which are all essential components of financial advice. By understanding the benefits and risks of shareholding and advantages and disadvantages of bondholding as discussed in this course, a financial advisor can make more informed recommendations. The course also covers ethics and integrity, which are critical for this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Advisor

Insurance Underwriter

An insurance underwriter evaluates risk and determines appropriate insurance coverage and premiums. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services introduces the way the financial services industry works. The course specifically covers insurance, an essential element for an insurance underwriter to grasp. Understanding credit rating agencies, as this course discusses, may assist an underwriter in assessing risk. Furthermore, the course's syllabus includes ethics and integrity within financial services, which directly relates to the responsibilities of an underwriter.

See salaries and explore the career path for Insurance Underwriter

Financial Planner

A financial planner helps individuals and families create and implement financial plans to achieve their goals. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services introduces the financial services industry. The course covers a wide array of topics important to financial planning, including savings and borrowing, insurance, shareholding, bonds, and pensions. By understanding how the financial services sector links savers and borrowers, as this course details, a financial planner may better serve clients. Additionally, the course covers ethics and integrity in financial services.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Investment Banker

An investment banker helps companies raise capital through the issuance of stocks and bonds. The role also provides advice on mergers and acquisitions. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services explores the basics of the financial services industry. The course touches on IPOs, bonds, and derivatives, which are relevant to investment banking. Also, the course distinguishes between retail and investment banking. By exploring ethics and integrity in financial services, this course may also benefit an investment banker.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Treasury Analyst

A treasury analyst manages a company's cash flow, investments, and financial risk. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services explores how the financial services industry works. The course covers how the financial services sector links savers and borrowers on a corporate scale. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of bondholding and how to calculate effective annual interest rates, as covered in this course, may assist a treasury analyst. The course also addresses ethics and integrity in financial services.

See salaries and explore the career path for Treasury Analyst

Portfolio Manager

A portfolio manager makes investment decisions to manage a portfolio of assets for individuals or institutions. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services explores the basics of the financial services industry. The course includes coverage of fund management, shareholding, and bonds, all of which are relevant to portfolio management. By understanding sources of return for shareholders and the advantages and disadvantages of bondholding, as covered in this course, a portfolio manager can make more informed decisions. The course's context on ethics and integrity in financial services may be useful to a portfolio manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Auditor

An auditor examines financial records and internal controls to ensure accuracy and compliance. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services introduces the way the financial services industry works. The course covers ethics and integrity in financial services, which is essential for an auditor. It also clarifies the different types of business entities. The course may give auditors a strong basis for understanding financial statements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Securities Trader

A securities trader buys and sells stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments on behalf of clients or a financial institution. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services explores the basics of the financial services industry. The course includes discussion of bonds, derivatives, and stock markets, all essential knowledge for a securities trader. Understanding the benefits and risks of shareholding and the advantages and disadvantages of bondholding, as covered in the course, helps one make informed trading decisions. The course may provide useful context for someone starting as a securities trader.

See salaries and explore the career path for Securities Trader

Hedge Fund Analyst

A hedge fund analyst researches investment strategies and analyzes financial data to inform investment decisions for a hedge fund. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services is an introductory look at the way the financial services industry works. The course includes discussion of derivatives, fund management, and stock markets, which are relevant to a hedge fund analyst. An understanding of the benefits and risks of shareholding, and the advantages and disadvantages of bondholding, as covered in this course, may help the analyst. Please note that a role as a hedge fund analyst typically requires an advanced degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hedge Fund Analyst

FinTech Product Manager

A fintech product manager oversees the development and launch of new financial technology products. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services explores the basics of the financial services industry. The course specifically covers fintech and distributed ledger technology. By understanding the history of banking and the distinctions between retail and investment banking, discussed in this course, the fintech product manager may develop useful products and services. The course may be useful to someone in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for FinTech Product Manager

Quantitative Analyst

A quantitative analyst develops and implements mathematical models for pricing and risk management in financial markets. This course on Fundamentals of Financial Services explores the basics of the financial services industry. The course includes coverage of derivatives and stock markets, which may provide context for a quantitative analyst. Also, one should note coverage of effective annual interest rates. It is worth noting that a quantitative analyst role typically requires an advanced degree.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Fundamentals of Financial Services

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Financial services foundational overview

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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