Investing Classes Atlanta, GA

In its simplest form, investing is when you buy an asset at a low price and sell it at a higher price. The money you make selling at a higher price is called a return on your investment, also known as a capital gain. Earning returns by selling assets for a profit—or realizing your capital gains—is one way to make money investing. Your investments can also increase in value between buying and selling, and this is known as appreciation.

You can invest in many ways (either directly or indirectly), like using money to start a business or purchasing real estate to generate rental income or resell it later at a higher price. Risk is inherently part of investing, with low risk generally meaning lower returns, while higher risk is usually where you’ll see higher returns (although there’s no guarantee). Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are an example of a low-risk investment, while bonds, fixed-income instruments, stocks, and equities are regarded as riskier. Commodities and derivatives are generally considered some of the riskiest investments.

There are two ways to start investing: Do-It-Yourself (DIY) or professional management. DIY investing is sometimes called self-directed investing, and requires a fair amount of education, skill, time commitment, and the ability to control one's emotions. Professional money management generally involves wealth managers looking after your investments. While professional money management is more expensive than managing money on your own, it offers greater convenience by delegating research, investment decision-making, and trading to an expert.

Whether you’re looking to learn to invest on your own or want to become a professional that beginners seek out, you can learn everything you need to know in an investing class.

What Can You Do with Investing Training?

Investment training courses are designed to prepare you for a career in asset management, financial planning, stock trading, and portfolio strategy, equipping you with the skills to make informed investment decisions and optimize economic growth. But, you can also use investment training to improve your own financial status, eliminate debt, or save for retirement. Becoming an investing expert can lead to passive income generation, helping you grow your wealth with minimal effort. Whether you invest through stocks and bonds, property, or various accounts like IRAs, Roth IRAs, and HYSAs, there are numerous ways you can improve your finances.

What Will I Learn in an Investing Class?

Investing can seem like a complicated skill and is often something that many struggle to master. According to the 2022 Investopedia Financial Literacy Survey, 57% of U.S. adults are invested, but just one in three say they have advanced investing knowledge. While there are many topics, tools, procedures, and strategies involved in investing, most entry-level investing classes will stick to establishing the basics. Outlined below are some of the most fundamental subjects you’ll need to master to become an expert investor but keep in mind that there’s much more to learn beyond this list. The deeper you go into investing, the more strategies and skills you will develop.

Financial Markets

Financial markets are any place or system that allows the trade of financial instruments, including bonds, equities, various international currencies, and derivatives. Most courses will provide a crash course in the fundamentals of financial markets and how they facilitate the interaction between those needing capital and those with capital to invest.

Strategic Analysis

Strategic analysis involves researching and evaluating a security or industry to predict its future performance and determine its suitability to a specific investor. It may also involve evaluating or creating a financial strategy. An investing training will typically cover the types of investment analysis including bottom-up, top-down, fundamental, and technical.

Risk Management

Investing is about allocating resources and capital to chosen risks. Risk management processes and tools result in a higher chance of a preferred outcome, like more value for your portfolio. Portfolio managers need to be familiar with risk management to improve the portfolio’s risk-return outcome, manage the company’s enterprise risk issues, evaluate the companies’ risks, and understand how those companies are addressing them.

Trading Platforms

Trading is different from investing and primarily focuses on short-term movements in markets. A trading platform is a software system used to trade securities. Trading platforms let investors open, close, and manage market positions through a virtual financial intermediary like an online broker. Brokers frequently offer these online trading platforms for free or at a discount in exchange for maintaining a funded account and/or making a specified number of trades per month. The best trading platforms offer a mix of robust features and low fees. An investing class will teach you what to look for in a trading platform and the pros and cons to keep in mind.

Patience

Investing can teach you valuable lessons in patience. Medium or long-term investors are not looking to earn quick portfolio returns; they’re willing to ride out the highs and lows to secure a better position in the future. It can be tempting to cash in when something is doing well or to give it up when you’ve lost out. Successful trading requires patience while you stick to your strategy, regardless of what happens.

How Hard is It to Learn to Invest?

Investing is a great hobby and can help individuals offset the cost of high-quality financial advice and management, but mastering the subject may not come easy. Learning investing can be challenging for a variety of reasons. The amount of technical information, finding reliable resources, and understanding the reactionary market are three of the major factors that contribute to the level of difficulty. Additionally, because investing itself takes patience and longevity, mastering it does as well. Watching the market and making strategic decisions take time to both learn and do, so having patience and perseverance can impact how easy or difficult it is to master investing.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning About Investing?

In the investing world, two questions matter most: Is this stock cheap when you compare the stock price to the assets of the underlying corporation? Do the stocks have adequate resources to ride out low periods and survive long enough to thrive again? Answering those two questions often isn’t as straightforward as you would think. Risk management, research, and market analysis are perhaps the most difficult topics to master when studying investing but, as previously mentioned, soft skills like patience and perseverance are equally crucial.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Investing?

Due to its multifaceted nature, mastering investing can take more time than you might think. Most experts say it takes anywhere between one and five years to understand the stock market, depending on several factors that have been listed above. Just like investing strategy, investing education is a long game. And, while it may take more than a year to become confident in all things investing, you can usually gain familiarity with the basics (like the stock market and entry-level trading practices) within a few months. Learning about investing can have a direct impact on your financial success, so becoming an expert is still worthwhile, whether it takes you a few months or several years.

Should I Learn Investing in Person or Online?

There are many factors to consider when answering this question. Firstly, you’ll need to decide what learning environment is best suited for you. Do you excel in a collaborative environment that allows you to interact with your peers and receive instant feedback from your instructor? Or, do you prefer a more solitary learning environment, perhaps one where you can learn at your own speed?

You’ll also need to decide how much time you can commit to your education and what level of flexibility your schedule requires. Are you looking to dive deeply into an intensive program? Do you work full-time and require your classes to be scheduled for evening and weekend hours?

In-person classes offer face-to-face interaction with your fellow students and your expert instructor. This collaborative environment is available for both full-time and part-time classes and provides structure and accountability, two things that can help you succeed. Online courses may lack this in-person interaction, but they make up for it with increased flexibility. Live virtual courses still offer instant feedback from your instructor and interactions with other students, while on-demand virtual training allows for the most flexibility since you can decide where and when you learn.

The good news is that, no matter which version you attend, you can obtain a quality social media marketing education with a top-notch curriculum and expert instructors.

Can I Learn Investing Free Online?

Technically, it is possible to learn investing for free online. YouTube videos, blogs, and free short workshops can all be a great way to learn the basics without purchasing any educational content. (Don’t forget to watch the most recent uploads so you’re learning the latest trends and techniques.)

But, when it comes to the more advanced skills, an in-depth training course is going to be your best bet. These courses will consist of a curriculum developed and taught by experts with the chance to receive feedback or troubleshoot any issues with your instructor or a support team. Formal training can also provide the structure and accountability that some students need to stay focused, creating an environment where you’re more likely to succeed. So, if you’re looking to master more than just the basics, a formal workshop or class is a better choice than free online resources.

What Should I Learn Alongside Investing?

There are several software programs and tools that will help you with investing. Excel is a great basic program to start with. Excel spreadsheets can keep track of investments and calculate things like performance and degree of volatility, the difference between an asset's current price minus its entry price, and the percentage return on an asset and assess profit and loss. One particularly helpful Excel feature is its ability to calculate standard deviation, a complex formula that assesses risk.

Having an understanding of at least one Portfolio Management System (PMS) is also helpful to learn alongside investing. Also known as wealth management software, a PMS tracks and manages investor portfolios. These systems are used by investment professionals to build, track, and manage their clients’ investment portfolios. Investment portfolio management software consists of communication tools to facilitate client-investor communication and is designed to be used by investors, financial advisors, and their clients. If you plan to turn investing into a career, you’ll definitely want to become familiar with a PMS.

There are other subjects worth pursuing as well. Brushing up on your math skills can’t hurt (accounting, calculus, and business math), and studying subjects like computer science or economics can be extremely beneficial as well. It’s best to list out the areas of investing that may be difficult for you and, from there, you can pinpoint various subjects that can help you strengthen those skills.

Industries That Use Investing

1 broad paragraph introducing the industries that you will be focusing on in the next sections. If this article is about a specific area or region, focus on industries relevant to that area and try to include links to reputable sources discussing that relevance (NYC and finance, LA and entertainment, SF and tech). If at all possible, include one industry associated with non-profits, public service, civil engagement, etc.

Banking and Finance

The Atlanta financial market is booming and is also increasingly diversifying. Atlanta’s FinTech sector is one of the top in the world and continues to attract leading investment firms that are keen to invest in startups. In 2022, about 70% of all global credit, debit, and gift card “swipes” were processed through a Georgia company, according to the Metro Atlanta Chamber, with more than 160 FinTech services companies located in the state. The city’s largest FinTech companies include Global Payments Inc, which employs 4,500 people locally and posts $8.25 billion in revenue; Fiserv Inc., which has 4,000 employees in Atlanta; Equifax, which has 3,000 employees in Atlanta; NCR Corp., which has 3,000 employees locally and U.S. Bank/Elavon, which employs 1,296 people in Atlanta, according to data from the Atlanta Business Journal.

Technology

The Atlanta region is home to Georgia Tech, one of the best schools in the country for computer science and engineering degrees which is, in part, why the city is known as a world-class hub for technology design, implementation, and innovation. As one of the fastest-growing high-tech urban centers in the nation, Atlanta experienced 15% job growth in technology jobs in 2021 thanks to an increase of 146 new tech businesses. The tech industry relies heavily on funding and investing, making it an ideal industry for you to personally invest in or find work as an investor.

Real Estate

According to Redfin, Atlanta home prices are up 11.7% compared to 2023, selling for a median price of $430,000. It isn’t hard to see why: Atlanta boasts numerous booming industries that are drawing folks from across the nation to call it home. Compared to other major metropolitan areas (think L.A., San Francisco, New York, or Chicago), Atlanta’s real estate market remains relatively affordable. This affordability, combined with the city’s economic strength and growing population, creates a conducive environment for real estate investment.

Healthcare

Atlanta's healthcare and medical technology category is experiencing rapid growth, and despite being a mature industry, it’s expanding with the help of recent medical innovations. It’s also home to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a growing number of non-governmental agencies and businesses responsible for responding to humanitarian crises. The healthcare industry often employs skilled investors in Financial Analyst roles, where they can collect data, conduct analyses of spending, and monitor ongoing market changes and fluctuations.

Investing Job Titles and Salaries

Investing can lead to a vibrant and successful career in a variety of industries. There are several roles you could pursue, depending on your level of experience. Listed below are a few of the most common positions you’ll see listed, as well as a brief description of what each does and how much you can expect to be compensated.

Investment Advisor

An Investment Advisor, also referred to as a stockbroker, has a government registration allowing them to choose, manage, and recommend investments for clients. Unlike other financial advisors who may not be regulated, investment advisors are regulated by their state or the SEC (depending on how much money they manage) and can also offer services like retirement planning. The average salary of an Investment Advisor in Atlanta is $77,000-$96,000, with senior-level advisors earning well over six figures.

Investment Analyst

Investment Analysts are hired by brokerage firms, investment advisors, and mutual fund companies to prepare investment research for multiple purposes. They are trained to evaluate financial and investment information, typically for the purpose of making buy, sell, and hold recommendations for securities. Buy-Side Analysts identify investment opportunities for their firm while Sell-Side Equity Analysts work for big investment banks and issue buy, sell, and hold recommendations and company-specific research. You can expect to make $82,000-$116,000 in this role in Atlanta.

Revenue Manager

Revenue Managers oversee the revenue data and analytics for various businesses and industries. They use databases to collect, store, organize, and process data that relates to a company's financial health and also use technology systems to forecast revenue that a company may earn by making strategic decisions about pricing and services. On average, Revenue Managers make $107,000-$155,000 in Atlanta.

Portfolio Management Director

Portfolio Management Directors lead the change in an organization or business. They typically manage an immediate team of portfolio officers but can be responsible for scores of other people within the business. A Portfolio Management Director is adept at the latest portfolio management practices and also knows how to adapt to suit the culture and environment of the business. Salaries for this role can vary depending on the amount and types of portfolios you manage but typically range between $120,000 and $250,000.

Investing Classes Near Me

While there currently aren’t any in-person classes available in the Atlanta area, there are several online options that could be a great fit. Below are some of the top contenders for virtual classes, along with a brief description so you can get a feel for what each one offers. And remember, new classes are being created every day, so in-person classes near you could become available soon.

Stock Trading Suite

Atlanta Technical College, in partnership with Ed2Go, offers this course that covers the basics of stocks, bonds, finance, and investing. Composed of two classes, The Analysis and Valuation of Stocks and Introduction to Stock Options, you’ll gain a foundational knowledge of the stock market, 401,000 plans, and retirement. You’ll learn to read financial statements and calculate financial ratios, perform industrial comparisons, value stocks, and conduct economic and industrial research. You’ll then master evaluating, buying, selling, and profiting with investment tools. By the end of this course, you’ll know how to protect your portfolio and profit in a down market, an up market, or even a flat market.

Real Estate Investing

Also offered by Atlanta Technical College and Ed2Go, this course will teach how to make money in real estate, in good times and bad, even if you have little money to start with. You’ll start by exploring the advantages of real estate, evaluating your current financial position, and defining your investing purpose and goals. You’ll then learn about the major shifts in the real estate industry since the end of the Great Recession, how to use them to your advantage, and how to find and analyze critical market data. This course will also teach you how to create a professional network, find deals, and navigate the transaction process from start to finish. Other topics covered include wholesaling; rental, lease options, and owner financing; foreclosures, rehabs, and condos; and even negotiation, funding, and marketing your properties. By the end of the course, you will be ready to work toward your first (or next) deal.

Investment Management Masterclass

This course from The Knowledge Academy is designed for professionals seeking to enhance their expertise in the field of investment management. Offered live online and on-demand, you’ll gain comprehensive insights into investment strategies, market analysis, and portfolio management, equipping you with the skills to make informed investment decisions. You’ll start with an introduction to investing and then learn how to avoid torpedoes by perfecting earnings forecasts and estimating revisions. You’ll also learn to measure your investment returns and become knowledgeable on trading costs, mutual funds, asset allocation, and long-term capital management. You’ll receive an Investment Management Certificate upon completion that can be shown to potential employers or added to your LinkedIn.

Investment Risk Management

Coursera offers this quick course that focuses on how to quantify risk-to-reward using the Treynor Ratio and calculate the value at risk for an investment portfolio. A collection of pre-recorded videos will guide you through topics like introduction to risk; monthly returns and standard deviation; calculating beta, Treynor Ratio, value at risk; and graphing. To take this project-based course, it is required that you are familiar with basic financial risk management concepts, so an intermediate level of investing knowledge is recommended.

Investment and Portfolio Management Specialization

Offered by Coursera and Rice University, this course will teach you to improve your investment strategies with real-world skills, insights, and analytical tools so you can build a winning investment portfolio. There are four courses in this training and each will cover a specific set of topics. Global Financial Markets and Instruments will provide you with the essential concepts for long-term success in managing money. You’ll then take Portfolio Selection and Risk Management where you’ll learn the basic principles underlying optimal portfolio construction, diversification, and risk management, gain the tools to characterize an investor’s risk and return trade-off, analyze how a portfolio choice problem can be structured and learn how to solve for and implement the optimal portfolio solution, and establish the main pricing models for equilibrium asset prices.

Biases and Portfolio Selection will teach you to capitalize on your understanding of behavioral biases and irrational behavior in financial markets and the final course, Investment Strategies and Portfolio Analysis, will cover the latest investment strategies and performance evaluation. You’ll end the class with a capstone project that will put your investment and portfolio management knowledge to the test.

Sustainable Investing

Harvard Business School offers this certificate program that will help investors get a basic understanding of what sustainable finance is, its challenges, the path forward, and its key players. You’ll explore the evolving sustainable investing landscape, learn how to incorporate ESG factors into investment decisions, apply frameworks to measure and monitor sustainable investment opportunities and analyze cutting-edge implementation strategies. You’ll also explore the climate risk inherent in investment opportunities, discover how to integrate risks into financial models, and think critically about how and where to add value while avoiding “impact washing.” It’s best if you have completed an introductory finance course and possess a basic understanding of investment management, capital markets, and asset classes before attending this course.

The Complete Investing Course

Udemy’s in-depth training is designed to give you complete understanding and confidence when investing in the Stock Market. You’ll learn to apply key stock investing strategies like investing in dividend-paying stocks, growth stocks, value stocks, and stocks that have future growth at a reasonable price (GARP). You’ll also master placing market orders and stop loss orders, and picking stock mutual funds and trade funds for your investment portfolio. Other topics covered include qualitative research and quantitative ratios; the differences between an online discount broker, full-service broker, financial planner, and robo-financial planner; and using established metrics such as Standard Deviation and Beta to determine the risk of a stock, mutual fund, or exchange-traded fund (ETF). This online course is offered on-demand so you can complete your coursework where and when you wish.

Alternative Investments

This course from Harvard Business School will teach you how to maximize your investment portfolio with alternative investments, including private equity and real estate. You’ll learn to speak the language of alternative investments, evaluate alternative investments including private equity, private debt, hedge funds, and real estate, and identify the defining elements of these investments. You’ll also gain the confidence to assess potential investment opportunities and maximize the value of investment portfolios. You’ll receive a certificate upon completion that can be added to your resume for future jobs.

Stock Market Investing Fundamentals

Held live online, this course from NYIM Training will teach you the fundamentals of stocks and bonds by discussing what moves stock prices and how stocks are valued by investors. You’ll learn the essentials of valuation (like P/E ratios and DCF analysis), financial statements, and fundamentals of stock investing. You’ll also analyze recent earnings releases and valuation multiples of companies like Google and Apple to provide a framework for fundamental investment research. NYIM Training classes boast small sizes, expert instructors, setup assistance, and a free retake should you wish to revisit the content.

Investment Banking

This course from iXperience teaches you the essential skills of finance, from accounting and advanced Excel to stock portfolios and ratio analysis. You’ll start the course by creating compelling pitch decks using PowerPoint, supported by sound financial models and valuation analyses built in Excel. You’ll then learn about income statements and balance sheets, cash flow statements, AFS evaluations, and corporate transactions. You’ll also cover topics like risk and return, portfolio construction, collective investments, alternative investments, macroeconomic principles, FSPs, industries and business cycles, and capital markets.

You’ll then master concepts like the Time Value of Money, equity valuation, fixed-income markets, and derivatives. Finally, you’ll complete this course with lessons on comparing and contrasting company performance over time and building an analyst report. You’ll apply what you learn in a capstone class project and your internship, ensuring you’re confidently prepared to launch your investing career.

Stock Market Investing

Held live online, this course from Noble Desktop will teach you the essentials of valuation, financial statements, and stock investing. This course covers topics like P/E ratios and DCF analysis, as well as recent earnings releases and valuation multiples of companies such as Google and Apple. You’ll develop a sound understanding of how financial markets work using the same strategies and tactics as investors such as Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham. This course comes with setup assistance, small class sizes for more individualized learning, and a free retake, should you wish to revisit the content later. Once you’ve completed the course, you’ll receive a certificate that can be added to your resume, LinkedIn, or online portfolio.

ESG Risks and Opportunities

This course from the University of Pennsylvania explores the foundations upon which modern-day ESG was built, how market forces react to ESG, and ways to create and maintain value using ESG investment strategies. You will be introduced to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Factors and the many different pathways by which they impact financial value. You’ll also study the relationships between social pressure, corporate responses, and financial performance. The third module will cover the importance of ESG data and how you can best integrate it into your financial analyses, while module four will teach you the specific cost and revenue variances associated with ESG issues and how better stakeholder relations can mitigate some of these risks. By the end of this course, you will know the best practices for creating a solid risk management plan and how to create a culture that is sensitive to ESG.

Investing Corporate Training

If you’re looking to offer in-person or online training to your office or team, Noble Desktop can help. They offer a variety of corporate training programs, including in social media marketing. You can order vouchers in bulk at a discount, choose which courses are available to employees, and even let your employees choose their own schedule. Plus, you can choose to have your training hosted at a location of your choosing, live online, or at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan office.

With a top-notch customizable curriculum and instructors who are experts in their industries, Noble Desktop’s corporate training is designed to cater to your business or organization’s needs. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, you can reach out to Noble Desktop at corporate@nobledesktop.com.