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The key to earning significant returns on investments is effective portfolio management. Simply put, you want to build a diverse portfolio that minimizes risk and performs at a high level.
There are tons of portfolio management courses if you’re a beginner. Already an investor and want to sharpen your skills or pursue a career as an investment manager? There are several intermediate and advanced portfolio management courses to help you get started.
Portfolio Management Courses for Beginners
New to investing and want to learn the basics of portfolio management? Start with these courses for beginners.
- Quick Courses
1. Developing Investment Acumen by LinkedIn Learning
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: Included in the monthly membership
You’ll need to have a thorough understanding of how investments work and what strategies are most useful to generate high returns. Jane Barratt, chief advocacy officer at MX Technologies, Inc. can help you with this information and much more.
Developing Investment Acumen also includes 2 project files and 4 chapter quizzes. Course materials can be accessed via desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. Once you complete the final lesson, you’ll receive a certificate of completion.
Enrollment is included with a $29 monthly LinkedIn Learning membership. But if you aren’t yet subscribed, grab a free seat to the course by signing up for a 1-month trial.
2. Portfolio and Risk Management by the University of Geneva
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: Free
A component of the Investment Management Specialization from the University of Geneva, this free course covers theories associated with optimal portfolio construction. You will also learn best practices for measuring and managing risk for the portfolios you create.
The course is comprised of 4 modules:
- General Introduction and Key Concepts
- Modern Portfolio Theory and Beyond
- Asset Allocation
- Risk Management
Each module contains video content, along with supplementary reading, to facilitate your comprehension of the material. And at the end of each lesson, you’ll be prompted to take a quiz to test your knowledge before moving on to the next concept.
Expect to complete the course in 1 month, working at a pace of 1 to 3 hours per week.
3. Portfolio and Risk Management by the Indian School of Business
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: Free
This is another free course worth considering if you want to master the basics of portfolio management. It’s the second class in the Financial Markets and Investment Strategy Specialization and it breaks down the mechanics of building financial portfolios and measuring their performance.
Led by Ramabhadran Thirumalai, assistant professor at the Indian School of Business, this 5-module course begins with a lesson on the basics of investments. Other core topics covered include risk and return, CAPM modeling and Beta and security analysis. You’ll also learn how to measure the performance of your investments using different frameworks.
The class is ideal for beginners and takes approximately 15 hours to complete.
Intermediate Portfolio Management Courses
You can find more advanced portfolio management concepts and strategies in these courses.
4. Portfolio Selection and Risk Management by Rice University
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: Free
Are you interested in learning more about portfolio construction to minimize risk and maximize profits? Consider this intermediate-level course from Rice University. It contains 5 modules and the material is delivered through videos, readings and quizzes.
Portfolio Selection and Risk Management begins with a primer on risk and return. The 2nd and 3rd modules take a deep dive into portfolio construction, diversification and mean-variance preferences. The final 2 modules discuss mean-variance preferences and optimal capital allocation and portfolio choice.
The class is facilitated by Arzu Ozoguz, finance faculty member in the Jones Graduate School of Business. Enrollment is free and you should expect to spend 31 hours working through the material.
5. Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management — Core Finance by Udemy
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: $179.99
This highly-rated course from Udemy teaches you how to use Google Sheets and Excel to analyze and manage investment portfolios. To date, the course has well over 2,800 enrollments and boasts a 4.5 rating.
The class is offered by Fervent, a leading provider of courses that helps students and professionals master accounting and finance. You can enroll for $179.99 and receive instant access to 36 lectures condensed in 6 hours of on-demand video. The course also includes 10 articles, 69 downloadable resources and 1 practice test.
Have a basic working knowledge of statistical analysis before you enroll and access to Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.
6. Fixed Income Securities: Bond Trading and Portfolio Management by Udemy
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: $119.99
Offered by the Institute of Investment Banking, this comprehensive course teaches you how to manage interest rate risk when handling bond portfolios. It’s ideal for finance students and professionals involved in fixed-income trading.
The $119.99 enrollment fee includes 28 lectures jam-packed into 3.5 hours of video on a host of core topics — fixed income portfolio management, 3rd-party fund managers, portfolio allocation, curve trading and understanding repos.
You’ll receive a Certificate of Completion when you cross the finish line. The course is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied for any reason.
Know a little about the foreign exchange market before you sign up.
Advanced Portfolio Management Courses
If you’re a seasoned investor or investment manager, you may find these courses useful.
7. Investment Portfolio Analysis with Excel by Udemy ($49.99)
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: $49.99
You can become an investment portfolio analysis expert by completing this course from Udemy for just $49.99. It’s designed for undergraduates, postgraduates, finance professionals, academic researchers and experienced investors.
Investment Portfolio Analysis with Excel is made up of 4 modules — asset classes, returns and risks, portfolio optimization and portfolio performance.
Enrollment includes lifetime access to 8.5 hours of on-demand video, 1 article and 7 downloadable resources. Before you enroll, you should have a working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and access to the software.
Instructor Diego Fernando is a financial data analysis expert. He’s created over 30 courses and eBooks over for Exfinisis, a provider of financial analysis and data science courses.
8. Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management (with Python) by Udemy
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: $199.99
Do you want to harness the power of Python to manage portfolios effectively? If so, this course is for you. Taught by Fervent, it’s ideal for Ivy League students, finance managers, investors, analysts and aspiring investment bankers.
You will have instant access to 6.5 hours of on-demand video, 9 articles, and 69 downloadable resources for $199.99. And you’re free to test drive the course with no strings attached — it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Have a basic understanding of statistical analysis, know how to code and be proficient in Python. Plus, understand what lists, dictionaries, tuples, strings, integers and floats are before registering for the course.
9. CFA Level 1 (2020) — Complete Portfolio Management by Udemy
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: $69.99
Do you need a rigorous exam prep course to help you pass the Complete Portfolio Management section of the CFA Level 1 on the first attempt? Consider this highly-rated bestseller from Udemy.
Just $69.99 gets you a seat and access to 3 hours of on-demand video, 7 articles and 24 resources that aim to help you master the concepts that appear on this portion of the exam. Have a basic knowledge of mathematics and quantitative methods before you enroll.
The class is offered by PrepNuggets, a top-rated CFA prep course provider. It’s facilitated by Keith Tan, a CFA with over 4 years of experience in the wealth management industry.
What Makes a Portfolio Management Course Great?
Keep the following criteria in mind when you’re searching for a portfolio management course:
1. Self-Paced
Many tactics and strategies can be employed when you manage a portfolio. And if you’re a beginner, it could take a while to grasp all the material without getting overwhelmed. Only consider a course that allows you to learn at your own pace.
2. Taught by an Experienced Instructor
An instructor doesn’t have to be an Ivy League graduate or investment banker at a top firm, but he or she should have some portfolio management experience. Check the instructor’s bio to learn more about his or her work in the industry.
3. Includes Supplements
You may not completely understand a vital portfolio management concept the first time around. It doesn’t hurt to work through the lesson again. But supplemental material like readings, simulations and other downloadable resources could mean you’ll be able to grasp the concepts much quicker.
Choose the Right Portfolio Management Course for You
Our portfolio management course selections come in many different forms and at varying price points. It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or are looking for more advanced material.
You’ll be taking the first step toward building a successful portfolio from the ground up. On the other hand, you can gain invaluable knowledge that can help boost your portfolio performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills can you learn in portfolio management courses?
The skills you will learn include investment selection, portfolio management and affiliations.
What factors should you look for in an excellent portfolio management course?
Make sure you evaluate the instructors, pace, materials and supplements.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community