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Starweaver Instructor Team and Paul Siegel

This course will introduce you to a wide variety of calculations and related concepts that are used by financial market participants in a  wide variety of applications - calculating prices, rates of return, and yields for example. These concepts and more will be discussed. 

This course consists of 15 modules, broken out into 3 sections: 

  • Interest Rate Conventions and Time Value of Money

  • Debt Security Pricing

  • Bond Yields and Rates of Return

Read more

This course will introduce you to a wide variety of calculations and related concepts that are used by financial market participants in a  wide variety of applications - calculating prices, rates of return, and yields for example. These concepts and more will be discussed. 

This course consists of 15 modules, broken out into 3 sections: 

  • Interest Rate Conventions and Time Value of Money

  • Debt Security Pricing

  • Bond Yields and Rates of Return

The course contains approximately 2 and a half hours of video content, and supplementary PDF files of the instructor's presentation are included to help participants follow along. 

More about this course and Starweaver

This course is led by a seasoned capital markets industry practitioner and executive with many years of hands-on, in-the-trenches financial markets sales, trading and analysis work. It has been designed, produced and delivered by Starweaver. Starweaver is one of the most highly regarded, well-established training providers in the world, providing training courses to many of the leading financial institutions and technology companies, including:

Ahli United Bank; Mashreqbank; American Express; ANZ Bank; ATT; Banco Votorantim; Bank of America; Bank of America Global Markets; Bank of America Private Bank; Barclay Bank; BMO Financial Group; BMO Financial Services; BNP Paribas; Boeing; Cigna; Citibank; Cognizant; Commerzbank; Credit Lyonnais/Calyon; Electrosonic; Farm Credit Administration; Fifth Third Bank; GENPACT; GEP Software; GLG Group; Hartford; HCL; HCL; Helaba; HSBC; HSBC Corporate Bank; HSBC India; HSBC Private Bank; Legal & General; National Australia Bank; Nomura Securities; PNC Financial Services Group; Quintiles; RAK Bank; Regions Bank; Royal Bank of Canada; Royal Bank of Scotland; Santander Corporate Bank; Tata Consultancy Services; Union Bank; ValueMomentum; Wells Fargo; Wells Fargo India Solutions; Westpac Corporate Bank; Wipro; and, many others.

Starweaver has and continues to deliver 1000s of live in-person and online education for organizational training programs for new hires and induction, as well as mid-career and senior-level immersion and leadership courses.

If you are looking for live streaming education or want to understand what courses might be best for you in technology or business, just google:

starweaver journey builder starweaver[dot]com

Happy learning.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Describe the relationship between price and yield on fixed income securities
  • Explain interest rate and pricing conventions for fixed income instruments (bonds)
  • Calculate different day count and compounding conventions used in fixed income securities
  • Discuss the dramatic difference between yield to maturity and realized rate of return
  • Determine the price of both coupon bearing and zero coupon bonds
  • Apply financial math in finance, banking, securities and insurance markets and jobs
  • Use real world examples to apply your knowledge to everyday financial and capital market issues

Syllabus

Interest Rate Conventions and Time Value of Money

Just a brief "hello" and explanation for you.

In this module, you will learn about fundamental financial math concepts such as interest rates and yields. We will cover how these concepts are used in the financial industry and how to calculate them. This module is designed to give you a strong foundation in financial math and help you understand how to analyze financial products and make informed financial decisions.

Read more

In this module, we cover the concepts of interest rates and rates of return. You will learn how to calculate and compare the profitability of investments, as well as understand the factors that can affect interest rates and rates of return.

This module covers the various conventions used to express and compare interest rates. You will learn about different types of interest rate notation, such as nominal and effective rates, and how to convert between them. This module will provide you with a deep understanding of how interest rates are expressed and used in financial analysis.

In this module, you will learn about the various conventions used to express and compare interest rates. This includes understanding different types of interest rate notation, such as nominal and effective rates, and how to convert between them. This module is designed to give you a deep understanding of how interest rates are expressed and used in financial analysis.

This module covers the concept of compound interest and how it can be used to grow wealth over time. You will learn about the various factors that affect compound interest, such as the interest rate, the frequency of compounding, and the time period. This module is designed to give you a deep understanding of how compound interest works and how to use it to your advantage.

In this module, you will learn about the time value of money and how it is used to evaluate financial decisions. You will also learn about bond pricing, including the various factors that affect bond prices and how to use bond yields to compare different bonds. This module is designed to give you a deep understanding of these concepts and how they are used in financial analysis.

In this module, you will learn about pricing zero coupon bonds and the factors that influence their value.

In this module you will learn how to price coupon bonds, taking into account the face value, the coupon rate, the market interest rate, and the number of years to maturity. You will also learn how to calculate the yield to maturity and duration of coupon bonds, and how to apply these concepts to bond portfolio management.

In this module you will learn the difference between bond pricing and bond valuation, and how to apply these concepts in practice. You will also learn how to use bond pricing and valuation to compare bonds with different characteristics and make informed investment decisions.

In this module, you will learn about pricing and valuating discount securities, including zero-coupon bonds and strip bonds.

This module will cover the concepts of discount rates and bond equivalent yield, and how to compare and calculate these measures of return.

In this module, you will learn about bond yields, including how to calculate and interpret yield to maturity and other yield measures.

This module covers the concept of yield to maturity, including how to calculate and interpret YTM for bonds.

In this module, you will learn the differences between yield to maturity and rate of return, and how to calculate and compare these measures of return on investment

This module covers the use of yield to maturity as a measure of the current value of a bond, including how to calculate and interpret YTM in this context.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Led by Starweaver, a training provider for financial institutions, this course offers practical knowledge applicable to roles in sales, trading, and analysis
Explores interest rate conventions, time value of money, debt security pricing, and bond yields, which are essential for financial market participants
Provides supplementary PDF files of the instructor's presentation, which can help students follow along and review key concepts
Covers real-world examples to apply knowledge to everyday financial and capital market issues, enhancing practical understanding
Includes quizzes for each module, allowing learners to assess their understanding of the material and reinforce key concepts
Requires learners to understand interest rates and yields, which may necessitate prior coursework in finance or economics

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Reviews summary

Fundamental financial math basics

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in fundamental financial math concepts, particularly interest rates, time value of money, and bond pricing. Students generally find the explanations clear and concise, making complex topics accessible. The inclusion of quizzes after each module is frequently highlighted as a helpful tool for reinforcing learning and checking understanding. While largely positive, some learners note the course covers basic calculations and may be best suited for beginners or those needing a refresher, rather than advanced practitioners seeking deep dives into complex instruments or strategies.
Primarily covers fundamental concepts.
"It's a good course for beginners or those needing a refresher on basic calculations."
"Covers fundamental concepts well, but don't expect advanced topics."
"Great for fundamental concepts, but maybe not enough depth for experienced pros."
Course progresses at a comfortable speed.
"The course moves at a good pace, not too fast."
"Easy to follow along with the lectures."
"The pace was just right for understanding the material."
Provides a strong base for finance.
"This course provides a solid foundation for anyone starting in finance."
"Great intro to financial math basics."
"Gives you a good understanding of fundamental concepts like TVM."
"A great course to learn the basics of Financial Math."
Quizzes reinforce learning effectively.
"The quizzes after each module were very helpful in reinforcing the concepts."
"I liked the quizzes after each lesson to check my understanding."
"Quizzes help solidify understanding."
Instructor breaks down complex topics clearly.
"The explanation is very clear and concise."
"Instructor was very clear on how to calculate rates"
"The concepts explained were easy to understand"
"The lecturer is very clear and easy to follow."

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 Fundamental Financial Math: Uses, Applications & Quizzes with these activities:
Review Basic Algebra Concepts
Strengthen your understanding of fundamental algebraic principles, which are essential for grasping financial calculations.
Browse courses on Algebra
Show steps
  • Review key concepts like variables, equations, and inequalities.
  • Practice solving basic algebraic problems.
  • Focus on areas where you feel less confident.
Read 'The Intelligent Investor'
Gain insights into investment strategies and financial analysis, complementing the course's focus on calculations.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on chapters related to financial statement analysis.
  • Take notes on key concepts and investment strategies.
  • Reflect on how these concepts relate to the course material.
Practice Bond Pricing Calculations
Reinforce your understanding of bond pricing by working through numerous practice problems.
Show steps
  • Find online resources or textbooks with bond pricing exercises.
  • Work through a variety of problems, varying coupon rates, maturities, and yields.
  • Check your answers and review the solutions to understand any mistakes.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Financial Math Cheat Sheet
Consolidate key formulas and concepts from the course into a concise reference guide.
Show steps
  • Review the course materials and identify key formulas and concepts.
  • Organize the information into a logical and easy-to-understand format.
  • Include examples to illustrate the application of each formula.
Build a Bond Valuation Spreadsheet
Apply your knowledge to create a practical tool for valuing bonds based on different inputs.
Show steps
  • Design the spreadsheet layout, including input cells for bond characteristics.
  • Implement the formulas for calculating bond prices, yields, and durations.
  • Test the spreadsheet with different scenarios and compare the results to known values.
Read 'Fixed Income Securities'
Deepen your understanding of fixed income securities and their valuation, expanding on the course's core topics.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on sections related to bond valuation and yield analysis.
  • Take detailed notes on key concepts and models.
  • Relate the book's content to the course material and identify areas of overlap and divergence.
Tutor a Peer in Financial Math
Solidify your understanding by explaining financial math concepts to someone else.
Show steps
  • Offer to help a classmate who is struggling with the material.
  • Prepare explanations and examples to illustrate key concepts.
  • Answer their questions and provide feedback on their work.

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamental Financial Math: Uses, Applications & Quizzes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Financial Analyst
A financial analyst assesses the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments to provide guidance to businesses and individuals. This role involves analyzing financial data, creating financial models, and preparing reports. This course may help build a foundation in the core financial math concepts needed for creating these analyses, such as calculating rates of return. The course syllabus emphasizes real-world examples to apply knowledge to everyday financial and capital market issues. One should take this course to better understand elements like interest rate conventions, time value of money, and debt security pricing.
Fixed Income Trader
Fixed income traders buy and sell bonds and other fixed income securities for investment banks, hedge funds, or other financial institutions. A strong grasp of pricing and yield calculations is crucial for success in this role. This course may be useful by introducing key concepts like interest rate conventions, debt security pricing, and bond yields. The focus on real-world examples and applications is highly relevant. Those seeking to excel as a fixed income trader should take this course for a deeper dive into yield to maturity and realized rate of return.
Portfolio Manager
Portfolio managers are responsible for constructing and managing investment portfolios to meet specific client objectives. This requires a deep understanding of financial math, risk management, and investment strategies. This course may help to understand interest rate concepts, time value of money, and debt security pricing. With its coverage of bond yields and rates of return, this course is helpful for anyone aiming to build a career as a portfolio manager.
Actuary
Actuaries assess and manage financial risks, often in the insurance and pensions industries. They use mathematical and statistical models to forecast future events and their financial impact. This course may help build a foundation in understanding interest rates and time value of money concepts. The fact that the course also delves into bond yields and rates of return makes it valuable for anyone considering a career as an actuary. This is an excellent preparation for the complexities of actuarial science.
Investment Banker
Investment bankers help companies raise capital by issuing and selling stocks and bonds. They also advise companies on mergers and acquisitions. A solid understanding of financial math is crucial for valuing companies and structuring deals. This course may be useful by introducing learners to core concepts like interest rate calculations, debt security pricing, and bond yields. Aspiring investment bankers should consider this course a vital resource.
Credit Analyst
Credit analysts assess the creditworthiness of borrowers to determine the risk of lending money. They analyze financial statements, industry trends, and economic conditions. This course assists those who want to work as credit analysts by covering interest rate conventions and time value of money. The coverage of debt security pricing adds to the usefulness of this course. Enrolling gives a head start in comprehending the financial intricacies of credit risk assessment.
Quantitative Analyst
Quantitative analysts, often called quants, develop and implement mathematical models for pricing derivatives, managing risk, and optimizing trading strategies. This typically requires an advanced degree. This course may build a foundation in financial math concepts such as interest rates and yields. The course's focus on real-world examples and applications helps in gaining experience applying the knowledge to everyday financial and capital market issues. For anyone aiming to be a quantitative analyst, this course offers significant value.
Financial Risk Manager
Financial risk managers identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks faced by organizations. They use quantitative techniques and financial models to measure and manage risks such as market risk, credit risk, and operational risk. This course may be useful by covering interest rate conventions and bond yields. The course is helpful in getting one familiar with the core financial math concepts that are essential for success in financial risk management.
Treasury Analyst
Treasury analysts manage a company's cash flow, investments, and financial risk. They are responsible for forecasting cash needs, investing surplus funds, and managing debt. This course may help build a good foundation in understanding interest rates and time value of money. With its coverage of debt security pricing, bond yields, and rates of return, this course is helpful for anyone aiming for a career as a treasury analyst.
Hedge Fund Analyst
Hedge fund analysts research investment opportunities and assist in managing hedge fund portfolios. This requires a strong understanding of financial markets, investment strategies, and risk management. This course may assist in understanding interest rate calculations, debt security pricing, and bond yields. People aspiring to become hedge fund analysts should consider taking this course.
Commercial Banker
Commercial bankers work with businesses to provide loans, lines of credit, and other financial services. They analyze financial statements, assess credit risk, and structure financing solutions. This course may be useful building a foundation in understanding interest rates and the time value of money. Because this course also covers debt security pricing, it is helpful preparation to becoming a commercial banker.
Mortgage Underwriter
Mortgage underwriters evaluate loan applications and determine the risk of lending money for a mortgage. They analyze credit reports, income statements, and property appraisals. This course may build a strong foundation in understanding interest rates and the time value of money. This course is valuable for anyone considering a career as a mortgage underwriter, allowing them to better understand the pricing of debt instruments.
Real Estate Appraiser
Real estate appraisers estimate the value of properties for various purposes, such as mortgage lending, insurance, and property tax assessment. They analyze market data, inspect properties, and apply valuation techniques. This course may be useful for understanding some basic financial concepts. Appraisers looking to enhance their skills in financial math may find this course helpful.
Insurance Underwriter
Insurance underwriters evaluate the risk of insuring individuals or businesses and determine appropriate premiums. They analyze applications, review loss history, and assess risk factors. This course may be useful to insurance underwriters by building a foundational understanding of financial markets. Insurance professionals can get a better understanding of debt security pricing and bond yields.
Auditor
Auditors examine financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations. They work for public accounting firms, corporations, or government agencies. This course may provide a high-level overview of financial math. Auditors can take this course to improve their understanding of interest rates.

Reading list

We've selected one 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 Fundamental Financial Math: Uses, Applications & Quizzes.

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