Fundamentals of Investing

This course is part of The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

Instructor: Brian Walsh

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Assessments

15 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the The Fundamentals of Personal Finance Specialization

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There are 4 modules in this course

This is primarily aimed at novice investors who want to better understand the concept of investing and how it can fit into their overall financial plan. Taught by a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, this course will cover different investment vehicles, risk tolerance, diversification, and the difference between active and passive investing, as well as investment fees and taxes.

This module will help you understand different types of investments including stocks, bonds, derivative products, and pooled investments. It will help set the foundation to have a better understanding of investing.

What's included

14 videos7 readings5 assignments

14 videosTotal 54 minutes

Introduction: Investing Basics3 minutes
Stock Basics3 minutes
Understanding Stocks5 minutes
Analyzing Stocks4 minutes
Investing in Stocks3 minutes
Bond Basics3 minutes
Understanding Bonds4 minutes
Analyzing Bonds4 minutes
Investing in Bonds5 minutes
What is a Mutual Fund?3 minutes
All-In-One Mutual Funds4 minutes
What is an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)?3 minutes
What is a Derivative?5 minutes
Equity Compensation - Stock Options5 minutes

7 readingsTotal 45 minutes

Welcome to Fundamentals of Investing5 minutes
Stock Key Ratios7 minutes
Understanding The Yield to Maturity Formula3 minutes
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) vs Mutual Funds: Learning the Difference8 minutes
A Guide to Options Trading8 minutes
5 Important Options Trading Strategies7 minutes
How Do Employee Stock Options Work?7 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 58 minutes

Stock Quiz7 minutes
Bond Quiz7 minutes
Pooled Investments6 minutes
Derivatives 8 minutes
Understanding the Different Types of Investments30 minutes

This module will help you understand the concept of risk and return, as well as ways to measure both. It will also help you have the tools to evaluate your own risk tolerance.

What's included

7 videos4 readings4 assignments

7 videosTotal 27 minutes

Understanding Investment Risk3 minutes
Systematic Investment Risk4 minutes
Unsystematic Investment Risk3 minutes
Measuring Investment Risk4 minutes
Measuring Investment Returns4 minutes
Investment Risk & Return4 minutes
Investment Risk Tolerance & How to Find Yours5 minutes

4 readingsTotal 24 minutes

6 Investment Risk Management Strategies7 minutes
What is Considered a Good Return on Investment?5 minutes
Suitability: Definition, How It's Measured, and How It's Used for Investing7 minutes
Explaining the Different Types of Asset Classes5 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 48 minutes

Investment Risk Types7 minutes
Assessing Investment Risk 6 minutes
Risk & Return5 minutes
Balancing Risk and Return30 minutes

This module will help you understand how your time horizons impact your investing strategy. It will also help you understand the difference between passive and active investing.

What's included

3 videos3 readings3 assignments

3 videosTotal 14 minutes

Investment Diversification Basics5 minutes
Active Investing5 minutes
Passive Investing3 minutes

3 readingsTotal 20 minutes

What is Portfolio Management?8 minutes
How Often Should You Rebalance Your Portfolio? 7 minutes
Active vs. Passive Investing5 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 42 minutes

Investment Time Horizon6 minutes
Passive and Active Categorization6 minutes
Developing an Investment Strategy30 minutes

This module will help you understand the role of fees and taxes in investing.

What's included

3 videos5 readings3 assignments

3 videosTotal 14 minutes

How Investments Are Taxed4 minutes
Investment Fees5 minutes
Choosing Investment Accounts to Maximize Tax Benefits6 minutes

5 readingsTotal 28 minutes

Everything You Need to Know About Taxes on Investment Income5 minutes
Investment Tax Rules Every Investor Should Know5 minutes
What Are the Different Types of Investment Fees?6 minutes
Taxes, Fees, Commissions, and Your Investments5 minutes
A Guide to Tax-Efficient Investing7 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 48 minutes

Investment Income10 minutes
Quick Fee Calculations/Savings8 minutes
Understanding Taxes and Fees30 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(32 ratings)

Brian Walsh

SoFi

5 Courses70,030 learners

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4.0

Reviewed on Oct 23, 2023

Coming from a 22 year old who recently graduated and is new to the job market, I'd highly recommend this course to anyone who may be interested in investing!

4.0

Reviewed on May 7, 2025

The information is very useful for those who want to start investing. I missed some hands on exercises.

4.0

Reviewed on May 21, 2025

There was great information, but the videos were very glitchy.

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