Core Course Topics
Introduction to Investing
Financial Markets and Indexes
Risk and Return
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Deposit Accounts
Equity (Stock) Investments
Bonds (Debt) Investments
Comparing Stocks and Bonds
Buying and Selling Stocks and Bonds
Evaluating Stocks and Bonds
Investing Strategies
Mutual Funds
Portfolio Construction and Retirement
Real Estate
Precious Metals, Commodities, Futures, Collectibles, and Crypto Currencies
The Federal Reserve and the Yield Curve
Options
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Define Basic Investing Concepts.
List the Categories of Investments.
Explain Financial Intermediaries.
Explain the difference between Primary and Secondary Markets.
Define Equity (Stock) Markets.
Explain Stock Market Indexes.
Define Debt (Bond) Markets.
Discuss other Investing Markets.
Discuss Government regulation of Financial Markets.
Define Risk.
Discuss the different types of Financial Risk.
Explain Diversification.
Define and discuss Return.
Explain Compounding.
Discuss Cash and Cash Equivalents.
Discuss Time Deposits, Money Market Accounts, and Money Market Funds.
Define basic stock concepts.
Explain how a return is earned through stock ownership.
Compare and contrast Preferred and Common Stock.
Explain secured versus unsecured debt.
Explain the rating of corporate debt.
Explain the Term of Debt.
Discuss the different types of corporate bonds.
Explain how corporate bonds work and earning a return on bonds.
Discuss Government Bonds and Municipal Bonds.
Compare and contrast the risks and returns of stocks versus bonds.
Explain the impact of interest rates on stocks versus bonds.
Explain the impact of inflation or deflation on stocks versus bonds.
Discuss Convertible Securities.
Explain the different types of Brokerage Firms.
Compare Cash versus Margin Accounts.
Discuss the different types of orders when buying or selling securities.
Explain Short Selling.
Explain Stock Splits.
Discuss Fundamental Analysis.
Discuss Technical Analysis.
Explain the basics of Modern Portfolio Theory.
Explain the Efficient Market Hypothesis and Passive Investing.
Explain Active Investing.
Explain Focus Investing.
Discuss the Psychology of Investing.
Explain Dollar Cost Averaging.
Discuss the different types of Mutual Funds.
Explain how to buy and sell Mutual Funds.
Discuss the costs of investing in Mutual Funds.
Explain Asset Allocation.
Explain the use of Mutual Funds in Portfolio Construction.
Discuss the principles of Investing for Retirement.
Discuss the different types of retirement accounts.
Discuss Social Security.
Discuss the different types of real estate investing.
Discuss the Pros and Cons of investing in real estate.
Explain Depreciation.
Discuss Investing in Precious Metals.
Discuss Investing in Commodity Markets.
Discuss Futures Markets.
Discuss Investing in Collectibles.
Discuss Investing in Crypto Currencies.
Explain the role of Federal Reserve.
Explain Federal Reserve control of Interest Rates.
Discuss the Yield Curve.
Define Options.
Explain Call Options.
Explain Put Options.
Discuss basic Option Strategies.