Understanding Investments

Course Overview

Take control of your financial destiny with this comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to the basics of investing. Taught by Professor Connel Fullenkamp, this course features 24 informative lectures that will help you invest with skill and confidence to achieve your financial goals.

In this engaging course, you will learn about various financial markets, different types of investments, their advantages and disadvantages, and how to evaluate them based on your financial situation. Whether you are new to investing or looking to expand your knowledge, this course provides the foundational skills necessary to navigate the investment landscape successfully.

Video Lectures

1. How to Stop Worrying and Start Investing – 31 min
   Introduction to fundamental ideas in investing and how to overcome psychological barriers.
2. How Investors Make Money – 30 min
   Understand the Efficient Market Hypothesis and its implications for investment strategy.
3. Starting with Stocks – 28 min
   Explore the basics of stocks, including types of orders and stock definitions.
4. The Basics of Bonds – 28 min
   Learn about bond fundamentals, including a “buy-and-hold” strategy.
5. Introduction to Mutual Funds – 31 min
   Discover the workings of mutual funds and their role as pooled investments.
6. What Are Exchange-Traded Funds? – 30 min
   Explore the characteristics and advantages of ETFs compared to mutual funds.
7. Financial Statement Analysis – 29 min
   Learn to read and interpret financial statements for stock evaluation.
8. P/E Ratios and the Method of Comparables – 31 min
   Understand valuation models using P/E ratios and their applications.
9. Fundamentals-Based Analysis of Stocks – 30 min
   Delve into the Dividend Discount Model and its principles for stock valuation.
10. Startup Companies and IPOs – 30 min
    Learn about the process of initial public offerings and their implications.
11. Why Should You Care about Dividends? – 29 min
    Recognize the importance of dividends as indicators of a company’s value.
12. Using Leverage – 29 min
    Analyze the benefits and risks of leverage in investment strategies.
13. Choosing Bonds – 29 min
    Equip yourself with tools to navigate bond selections confidently.
14. Bond School – 30 min
    Explore bond terminology, pricing, and practices in the bond marketplace.
15. Picking Mutual Funds – 29 min
    Identify key categories to differentiate various mutual funds.
16. Investing in Foreign Assets – 31 min
    Understand the global investment landscape and its implications.
17. Options Are for Everyone – 28 min
    Discover stock and index options and their strategic applications.
18. Real Estate and Commodities – 29 min
    Analyze the role of real estate and commodities in your investment portfolio.
19. Cycles and Market Timing – 29 min
    Learn about key cycles in financial markets and their effects on investments.
20. Deciding When to Sell – 29 min
    Understand the emotional and practical factors in selling investments.
21. Risk, Return, and Diversification – 30 min
    Explore the relationship between risk and potential returns in investing.
22. Time Value of Money – 31 min
    Grasp essential calculations for evaluating investment returns over time.
23. Financial Planning – 28 min
    Use investment tools to create a financial plan for your retirement.
24. Taking Charge of Your Investments – 30 min
    Learn how to turn your financial planning into actionable investment decisions.