Build financial confidence through investing classes in Miami that teach analysis and risk management. You’ll develop strategies to achieve long-term financial growth.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of stock investing, valuation, and stock movements in this course. Learn about essential valuation techniques, financial statements, and the fundamentals of stock investing, as well as the factors that influence stock prices and how to analyze them.
Master Excel, review corporate finance, and build a valuation model on a public company. Gain basic and intermediate Excel skills and learn how to read financial statements, build valuations, and predict market trends.
Join our financial modeling class to learn essential finance and accounting concepts, build a discounted cash flow (DCF) model in Excel, acquire advanced Excel skills, explore corporate finance and valuation, and create a financial model on a real company. This hands-on course will teach you practical financial skills.
Investing is the practice of using a sum of money to procure an asset that is likely to increase in value over time. Many people use investing to build money for college funds, retirement, long-term care, and other anticipated life expenses. Businesses also often hold investments to increase their profits. Usually, when someone refers to investing, they are talking about investing in the stock market, where individuals or businesses can become partial owners in a company to share in its profits. However, what we call investments make up a category that includes a range of different types of ventures, including such strategies as buying real estate that you think will appreciate over time, allowing you to sell it at a profit when you choose to do so.
The practice of investing as we know it began in the institutions called “joint-stock companies, ” which started as early as the 13th century. These organizations were somewhat like publicly traded companies today, in that individuals could pay a certain amount to be a partial owner of a company and share in its profits. These institutions became increasingly popular in Europe during the late Renaissance, when ventures like the East India Company began to make vast profits by exploiting the resources of other countries. However, stock investing today is very different from investing in a joint-stock company in that investors today do not share the company’s full liability and thus are at less of a risk when they invest than their Renaissance predecessors were. This way of doing business started in the United States in the 19th century, as the stock market became increasingly regulated to protect investors. Today, you can invest with confidence, knowing that a company’s liabilities will not become your own.
On the most basic level, investing training will allow you to increase the value of assets owned by you or a company you’re working with. Over time, investing can turn a small amount of money into a larger chunk that you or the company can use in the future. For individuals, it’s essential to invest money if you want to save up toward large future expenses that you can foresee such as education, retirement, or healthcare. It may be tempting just to put your money in a savings account that feels safe and hope for the best, but in the long term, investing makes it more likely that when that day comes, you will be fully prepared on a financial level. However, investing can be extremely risky if you are not well informed. One option to avoid is relying on an excellent financial advisor, which can be difficult to execute and expensive to maintain. The other is to take on investment training yourself.
Once you learn about investing, you can take something like your yearly bonus, or another financial windfall, and put it aside in a way that will pay off in the long run. Or you can monitor which types of stocks are likely to increase or decrease soon, based on how the market and the larger world picture are looking, and make some money in the short term by predicting the rise or fall of particular stocks. That is, you could go beyond the basic move of placing your money in a stable stock or fund and just leaving it there, instead taking advantage of concepts like the “short sale, ” where you make money by predicting that a certain stock will fall. In that way, your stocks can gain value even when the market isn’t great—while others are staring gloomily at the stock tickers, you can be smiling as you open your brokerage website and see how much profit you made. But, of course, if you want to make those kinds of risky moves, you’ll need professional-level training to do so securely.
For each section, include the name of the skill you’ll learn and then write a paragraph explaining what that skill is and why it is applicable to investing. Most of the focus should be on technical skills you’ll learn (for subjects like animation, graphic design or data science, these should be things like After Effects, investing, SQL, etc.), but at least one skill mentioned should be a ‘soft skill’ (programming teaches you logic, investing teaches you composition).
Financial analysis involves assessing the financial health and performance of companies or investment opportunities. It includes interpreting financial statements, evaluating key financial ratios, and forecasting future financial performance based on historical data. This skill is crucial in investing because it helps investors make informed decisions about which stocks or assets to invest in. By understanding financial analysis, investors can identify undervalued stocks, assess risks, and estimate potential returns, helping them make more strategic investment choices.
Risk management in investing focuses on identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks associated with investments. This includes understanding different types of risks such as market risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and operational risk. By learning risk management techniques, investors can protect their capital from potential losses and optimize their investment portfolios. This skill is essential because successful investing isn’t just about maximizing financial returns, but also about managing and minimizing risks to achieve long-term financial goals.
Portfolio diversification is the practice of spreading investments across different asset classes, industries, and geographic regions to reduce risk exposure. This skill helps investors build a balanced portfolio that can potentially generate more stable returns over time. By diversifying their investments, investors can mitigate the impact of market volatility on their overall portfolio performance. Understanding portfolio diversification is crucial in investing as it allows investors to achieve a desirable risk-return trade-off and avoid putting all their eggs in one basket.
Asset valuation involves determining the intrinsic value of investments such as stocks, bonds, real estate, or other financial instruments. This skill includes using various valuation methods such as discounted cash flow (DCF), comparable company analysis (CCA), and relative valuation techniques. Understanding asset valuation is important for investors to identify whether an asset is undervalued or overvalued relative to its market price. Learning asset valuation enables investors to make more informed decisions about buying, selling, or holding investments based on their fundamental value.
Behavioral finance explores how psychological factors and biases influence financial decision-making. This skill involves understanding cognitive biases such as overconfidence, loss aversion, and herd mentality, which can impact investment outcomes. By studying behavioral finance, investors can become aware of their own biases and those of other market participants. This awareness helps investors make more rational and disciplined investment decisions, thereby improving their overall investment performance. Behavioral finance is important in investing because it provides insights into market dynamics and investor behavior, which can affect asset prices and market trends.
Investing can be a difficult skill to learn because of the large quantity of complex knowledge you need to absorb before you can make informed decisions about which stocks or other assets to invest in. It is also hard at first to distinguish which sources are reliable when it comes to both general best practices for investing as well as recommendations for specific assets or types of assets to invest in at any given time. Some new investors also find it difficult to understand what makes a particular type of stock the better choice for them to invest in, whether at the particular time they’re looking to buy or just in general. It’s not hard to see why some people hire professionals to handle their investments for them—but with the right training, you can save the money you’d spend on that professional and invest it instead.
The stock market has a particular rhythm that can be hard to get accustomed to and tough to learn to anticipate. It is prone to unexpected fluctuations based on what is happening in the country or the world. Those fluctuations are difficult to anticipate not only because they happen so quickly, but also because they are often not entirely rational. A political scandal might result in many people selling a stock that is tangentially associated with a figure involved in the scandal, but that doesn’t mean that selling such a stock is actually a good idea. So you need to learn to anticipate changes that are not only rapid, but also rooted in the uncertain realm of human psychology.
As with many skills, the answer to this question depends on what level of knowledge you are looking to acquire. If you’re just seeking to become comfortable enough with investing to experiment with buying and selling a few stocks occasionally, then six months to a year will be enough to learn the basic concepts and acquire the most fundamental skills needed to invest on your own. However, if you are looking to achieve a professional level of expertise in investing, to start a new career or make your current career more lucrative, it will take significantly longer. Grasping all of the advanced concepts that high-level investing can involve tends to take between three and five years. Of course, you can speed up your learning process with a high-quality training course.
Students who find it easier to pay attention when they are in the same room with the instructor and their classmates will be well-suited to in-person instruction. As learners discovered during the pandemic, some students have difficulty focusing during a class if they are at home. They may be surrounded by possible distractions like family, pets, or entertainment options. If you find that being present in a classroom space helps you focus more effectively on the material, in-person classes might be the best fit for you.
In-person investing classes also make it easier to connect with the instructor, which can help the learning process go more smoothly. Students may feel more comfortable asking for clarification, feedback, or guidance from an instructor they feel they know well personally. Also, someone who teaches in-person can become a long-term mentor for some of their students because of the bond formed during the time they spent in the classroom together. Another benefit of in-person classes is sharing a space with fellow learners who are going through the same learning process.
On the other hand, students who focus better at home, don’t particularly thrive on social interaction, live far from a major city, or have busy schedules may find live online courses to be the right fit for their needs. Certain people find the live presence in a classroom distracting. They may find that the sensory stimuli of the classroom or their fellow students’ side conversations draw them out of their ability to pay attention to the instruction. They focus better in a comfortable space that is familiar and over which they have more control. This type of student will likely thrive in a live online course.
Some may also find the social aspect of the classroom to be draining rather than motivating. In-person classes usually provide more social interaction than live online ones such as chatting during breaks. If someone does not thrive in social situations, they may find the expectation to engage socially with the instructor and classmates takes away from their enjoyment of the course. In-person courses also do not offer the option of controlling whether one’s classmates are able to see them. For students who are self-conscious during the learning process, the ability to turn off one’s camera may help them eliminate a distraction that could detract from their studies.
As with students who learn better in-person, students who are well-suited to live online study will make more progress in their coursework and use their time more efficiently. An in-person program and a live online program that cover the same investing topics at the same school may have a set schedule that takes the same amount of time. However, each individual student’s learning style, relationship to social interaction, location, and schedule will determine how much progress they are able to make in that period of time. So while the literal amount of time that their studies take will be the same, the benefits they gain during that period will depend on how well their choice of delivery format meshes with their own personality.
The in-person and live online courses above are examples of synchronous courses. They take place in real-time and require a student to be available—whether in-person or online—at a consistent time and day each week throughout the duration of the class. Although they may have homework that is completed outside of class time, the main focus of the course is the real-time instruction by an investing expert. By contrast, asynchronous courses consist of self-paced materials that a student can engage with at any time they find themselves available. With an asynchronous course, there is no distinction between homework and classwork.
There are a few major benefits to taking a synchronous course. The most important one is the real-time access to a knowledgeable investing expert that this type of course provides. For many students, there is simply no substitute for being able to interact with an instructor directly as they navigate their studies. If you get stuck on an investing concept or tool, synchronous instruction will allow you to ask for clarification right away.
Synchronous courses also offer a degree of social interaction that asynchronous courses do not. Even if you’re taking a live online course and prefer it that way, connecting with an instructor and classmates in real time will likely keep you from feeling alone as you work through the challenges you encounter when learning about investing. Studying investing is fun, but the program is such a powerful tool that discovering all it’s capable of can be overwhelming for the learner. Having companionship in your studies can ease that sense of overwhelm, especially if you know that your classmates are feeling the same way.
Another advantage of synchronous courses is that they have a set schedule. They are designed to take students through an intelligent learning progression. This system of assignments and deadlines supports that goal. It also helps keep many students motivated because of the external accountability that this structure provides.
You can gain some degree of basic familiarity with the terminology and key concepts involved in investing by exploring free online resources. For example, the free Stock Market Investing Fundamentals seminar from Noble Desktop will introduce you to stocks and bonds, as well as how they are priced. You’ll learn about the Risk-Reward Principle, the principles of valuation, how to deal with capital gains tax, and other simple investing terms and ideas. If you want to delve further into investing but stay with free resources, you can also check out the investing-related videos on Noble’s YouTube channel. However, as useful as these resources are, they will not provide you with a professional level of skill in investing. If you want to do that, or to quickly become confident enough with investing to make good trades with your own stocks, you’ll want to look into paid training courses.
On the business level, investment and trading are part of a company’s larger financial landscape. At most companies, financial operations extend far beyond the world of stocks and shares. If you want to understand what lies behind valuation and projections, you should study financial management. It’s a great complement to the study of investing because it answers the underlying “why” behind a projection that is supposed to inform your investment choices. Once you know what the company’s whole financial picture looks like, those choices will be much better informed—and you’ll also be in a position to ask for more pay, given the breadth of your skill set.
Accounting is another valuable skill that one might learn alongside investing. On the surface, it may not seem as exciting as the risky, adrenaline-fueled world of the stock market. But the ability to track a company’s profits, losses, and expenses undergirds the whole process of projecting a company’s value and making choices that will be good for shareholders. Even if you’re not looking to become an Accountant, understanding accounting will make you a one-stop shop for reliable financial information about the company you’re working with. That can save them money, making you a more valuable employee on a concrete level you can point to when asking for a raise or negotiating salary.
The key industries in Miami include manufacturing, transportation, information technology, finance, professional services, education, healthcare, hospitality, and government. The diverse economy of the area makes investing skills relevant in many different ways. Studying investment will help you get access to jobs in these industries that you might not otherwise be qualified for. The advantage of investing is that it is relevant across a wide range of possible industries, no matter where you live. It’s also a transferable skill across different locations, regardless of city or industry.
The finance industry in Miami is robust, encompassing banking, asset management, insurance, and investment firms. Investing skills are directly applicable here as professionals analyze market trends, manage portfolios, and advise clients on investment strategies. Understanding financial analysis, risk management, and asset valuation is crucial for roles such as financial analysts, portfolio managers, and investment advisors. Miami’s role as a financial hub in Latin America and its proximity to international markets further emphasizes the need for strong investment acumen in this industry. Whether it’s managing local investments or advising on global portfolios, investing skills are foundational for success in Miami’s finance sector.
Miami boasts a significant healthcare sector with renowned hospitals, research institutions, and healthcare providers. Investing skills play a pivotal role in this industry, particularly in managing healthcare funds, evaluating medical technology investments, and funding research initiatives. Professionals in healthcare finance and administration benefit from understanding portfolio diversification, asset valuation, and risk management to ensure long-term financial health and growth within healthcare organizations. As Miami continues to grow as a healthcare destination, investing knowledge enhances opportunities in financial planning, strategic investments, and healthcare economics.
Miami’s vibrant hospitality industry, comprising hotels, resorts, restaurants, and entertainment venues, relies on sound financial strategies and investment decisions to thrive. Investing skills are utilized in hotel development projects, real estate investments, and operational budgeting within hospitality management. Professionals in this industry leverage financial analysis to assess profitability, manage cash flow, and make informed decisions on capital expenditures. Understanding asset valuation is crucial when acquiring or divesting hospitality properties, ensuring investments align with market trends and customer demands. Investing knowledge thus enhances career prospects in hospitality finance, asset management, and real estate investment trusts (REITs), particularly within Miami’s dynamic tourism economy.
Miami’s growing information technology (IT) sector encompasses tech startups, software development firms, and digital marketing agencies. Investing skills are integral to IT companies seeking venture capital, angel investments, or private equity funding. Professionals in IT finance and entrepreneurship benefit from understanding financial modeling, valuation techniques, and investor relations to attract funding and support business growth. Miami’s strategic location as a gateway to Latin America enhances opportunities for tech companies to expand internationally, which makes investing knowledge essential for navigating global markets and investment opportunities. Investing skills are therefore pivotal in supporting Miami’s tech ecosystem, fostering innovation, and capitalizing on emerging trends in the digital economy.
An Investment Banker plays a pivotal role in the financial markets by advising corporations and governments on raising capital through issuing stocks or bonds. They analyze market conditions, company financials, and industry trends to structure deals that maximize value for their clients. Investment Bankers also provide strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate restructuring. Key skills include financial modeling, valuation techniques, and negotiating skills to facilitate successful transactions. Investment Bankers in Miami typically earn between $65,000 and $112,000 annually, depending on experience and performance.
Market Analysts study financial markets to provide insights and recommendations to investors and financial institutions. They analyze economic data, company financials, and market trends to forecast future movements in stock prices, commodities, currencies, or other assets. Market Analysts use quantitative analysis, statistical models, and qualitative research to make informed predictions and guide investment decisions. In Miami, Market Analysts leverage their investing skills to interpret local and global market trends, supporting investment strategies across various industries. Market Analysts make approximately $62,000 annually in Miami, depending on experience and performance.
Financial Analysts focus on analyzing financial data and performance metrics to support decision-making within organizations. They assess financial statements, budgets, and investment opportunities to evaluate profitability and financial health. Financial Analysts use financial modeling, ratio analysis, and forecasting techniques to provide insights into cost reduction strategies, revenue optimization, and investment planning. Their proficiency in investing skills enables them to contribute to financial strategy development and operational efficiency in Miami’s diverse industries. Financial Analysts in Miami typically earn between $65,000 and $85,000 annually.
Auditors examine financial records, statements, and internal controls to ensure accuracy, compliance, and transparency within organizations. They assess financial operations, identify risks, and recommend improvements to financial processes. Auditors utilize their investing skills to evaluate the financial health of companies, detect fraud, and assess the reliability of financial reporting. In Miami, auditors play a crucial role in maintaining financial integrity across sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, and professional services, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards and enhancing investor confidence. Auditors in Miami typically earn between $74,000 and $94,000 annually, depending on experience.
Portfolio Managers oversee investment portfolios on behalf of individuals, institutions, or mutual funds. They develop investment strategies, allocate assets, and monitor portfolio performance to achieve financial objectives. Portfolio Managers utilize investing skills such as asset allocation, risk management, and performance evaluation to optimize returns and manage market volatility. In Miami, Portfolio Managers navigate diverse investment opportunities in sectors like finance, real estate, and hospitality, leveraging their expertise to deliver competitive investment outcomes for clients. Portfolio Managers in Miami typically earn approximately $70,000 to $100,000 annually.
Economic Consultants provide expertise on economic trends, policy analysis, and market research to businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. They conduct economic impact assessments, forecast economic indicators, and analyze regulatory changes to inform strategic decision-making. Economic Consultants apply investing skills such as financial modeling, economic forecasting, and risk assessment to assess the implications of economic factors on business operations and investments. In Miami, Economic Consultants contribute to informed decision-making in industries including education, healthcare, and government. Economic Consultants in Miami typically earn approximately $80,000 to $95,000 annually.
Brokers facilitate the buying and selling of financial securities, commodities, or real estate on behalf of clients. They execute trades, provide market research, and offer investment advice to individual investors or institutional clients. Brokers use their investing skills to analyze market trends, evaluate investment opportunities, and execute trades that align with client objectives. In Miami, brokers operate within financial markets, real estate sectors, and commodities trading, leveraging their expertise to maximize returns and manage investment portfolios effectively. Brokers in Miami typically earn approximately $80,000 to $100,000 annually.
Private equity associates work for investment firms that manage private equity funds, which invest in private companies or conduct buyouts of public companies. They perform due diligence, financial analysis, and valuation to evaluate potential investments. Private Equity Associates utilize investing skills such as financial modeling, deal structuring, and portfolio management to support investment decisions and enhance portfolio value. In Miami, Private Equity Associates play a vital role in sourcing investment opportunities, executing transactions, and driving growth within portfolio companies across various industries. Private Equity Associates in Miami typically earn approximately $70,000 to $100,000 annually.
Noble Desktop offers a class called Stock Market Investing. Dive into the complexities of stock market investing with this comprehensive course designed to equip you with essential skills and insights. Explore fundamental concepts such as stock valuation techniques, including P/E ratios, EV/EBITDA multiples, and discounted cash flow (DCF) modeling. Understand the dynamics of stock movements through analysis of earnings releases, economic indicators, and Federal Reserve policies. Throughout the course, you’ll gain proficiency in evaluating financial statements, assessing dividend yields, and understanding stock indices and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Discover the impact of market liquidity and learn strategies to navigate bond investments, including credit ratings and risk assessments. Expand your knowledge to include real estate investment fundamentals, exploring REITs, capitalization rates, and mortgage dynamics. Explore the world of stock options, hedging strategies, and the Black-Scholes Model.
Noble Desktop also offers a class called Financial Modeling Bootcamp. Immerse yourself in this class, where you’ll master essential finance and accounting principles while honing advanced Excel skills. Over three dynamic days, you’ll construct comprehensive financial models from scratch, starting with building a discounted cash flow (DCF) model in Excel. The hands-on approach of this class ensures you gain practical experience in financial modeling, incorporating techniques like sensitivity analysis and data tables to assess scenarios and optimize decision-making. First, you’ll focus on elevating your Excel proficiency with advanced formula writing, model auditing, and database functions tailored for finance. You’ll apply these skills immediately in projects such as revenue forecasting and cash flow modeling, preparing you for real-world financial challenges.
You’ll then dive into corporate finance essentials, including net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and capital raising through debt and equity. You’ll dissect financial statements, analyze accounting principles, and integrate these insights into cohesive financial models. Finally, you’ll learn advanced financial modeling and valuation techniques, including company analysis, terminal value estimation, and corporate valuation metrics. Through practical exercises and real-world case studies, you’ll refine your ability to project cash flows, assess financial ratios, and conduct thorough model testing to support strategic decision-making.
Noble Desktop offers a class called Financial Analyst Training Program. Embark on a transformative journey with this program, designed to equip you with essential skills in Excel, corporate finance, and financial modeling. Through a structured curriculum, you’ll start by mastering Excel fundamentals, learning to streamline workflows, create visual charts, and manage data efficiently. Moving to intermediate Excel skills, you’ll dive into advanced functions like database operations, pivot tables for data analysis, and creating complex charts. The centerpiece of this program is the comprehensive Financial Modeling Bootcamp, where you’ll immerse yourself in finance and accounting principles, Excel modeling techniques, and building a discounted cash flow (DCF) model. This hands-on approach prepares you to analyze financial statements, conduct valuations, and predict market trends effectively.
Finally, Noble Desktop offers a class for high school students called Excel, Finance, & Investing High School Summer Program Live Online. This class is for high school students ranging from 13 to 18. Join this class to dive into the world of Microsoft Excel, finance, and stock market investing. This interactive course covers essential skills through group classes and live online sessions. In the Excel portion, you’ll master business fundamentals from data entry and formulas to advanced functions like VLOOKUP and Pivot Tables. Learn to create informative charts and tables, manage workbooks effectively, and automate tasks using shortcuts and advanced formatting techniques. The finance segment introduces stock market fundamentals, including stock indices, ETFs, and advanced topics like market capitalization and P/E ratios. Gain insights into bond investing, stock options, and foundational accounting principles such as financial statements and profit ratios. Led by experienced instructors, each session includes practical projects and real-world applications, preparing you to analyze financial data, model scenarios, and evaluate investments using Excel. Whether you’re interested in business, finance, or simply want to boost your Excel skills, this course equips you with valuable knowledge for future success.
Noble Desktop also offers corporate training in investing. Employers can arrange to have Noble trainers come to their location and train their employees in-person, on site. Alternatively, companies can provide access to online training for their workers. It is also possible to buy discounted bulk vouchers if you want a large number of employees to take the course, but it is not logistically feasible for them all to take the course at once.
Noble’s corporate training program is an excellent way of bringing your employees up to speed on investing. No matter what industry your company is in, if their work involves managing or interacting with financial assets, they will benefit from studying investing. And they will bring that benefit right back to work, helping your company grow and strengthening its reputation. If you’re interested in corporate training for employees of your organization, email corporate@nobledesktop.com to find out more.