Investment banking is a worthy and promising component for any individual or organization that provides the support of capital investment, financial advisory, and transaction-related offerings. Investment banking can be a lucrative field requiring efficient and necessary information regarding market strategies, client management, organizational work fields, and investment policies. This field can purposely serve both, corporations and investors leading them to a reward-gaining plan of action for which there are creatively designed Investment banking free courses available. This type of banking offers huge and compound corporate services to start-ups, mergers, and private organizations. It can play a typically demanding role in any workplace and therefore gets easier if a foundation is built during early work experience years.
Why Choose Investment Banking?
This field offers and tenders invaluable and tremendous opportunities to become a perfectionist and a finance expert at a young age and allows individuals to experience a wide area of related things at an early stage in their life. Also, this field provides exposure to high-profile environmental situations. It can sound like a rather appealing career option that requires skills and efficient training. This area of study can provide you with beneficial sources such as peer connections, influential networks, and business development.
A career in investment banking is something that will give you a multitude of opportunities for personal as well as professional growth and development. Having a strong expertise, analytical mind, and broadening perspective will enhance different career prospects leading to better interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
The rest benefits that it offers are successful teamwork, strong connections, and valuable investments along with staying up to date with rules, regulations, trends, financial obligations, and new innovations. For you to follow this structured progressive path there are distinct, detailed, and strong-headed Investment banking free courses out there that are nowadays designed for you to experience the world of business without any hesitation of finance submission.
Some Common Myths About Investment Banking
- Investment banking is all about trading – while there are some people who misconceive that an investment banking career is all about trading but it is false. It comprises various other dimensions as well.
- You must be a math graduate – this is a misconception because math has no consideration on this subject. Rather math is a competency of investment banking and instead of knowing too many calculative measures, people should rather be smart and intellectual enough.
- It is compulsory to learn finance language – although investment banking requires a particular set of communication styles, it is not necessary to learn proper finance language style. You can learn a lot about it in an Investment banking free course.
- The work pressure is too much – there are deadlines, submissions, and time-based tasks but the pressure is all in your head and when you love something you engage in, you do it with contentment.
- You cannot approach a senior person – if not directly, you can always reach out to your seniors for help, support, concern, and valuable learning in an indirect manner.
- Investment banking is a patriarchal field – this is a misconception based on the mind conditioning of individual people. The women of our country our ruling in every field and are just as competitive and great investment bankers as compared to men.
Types of Investment Bankers
- Financial planner – trained in finance and investment helping corporations and organizations with long-term plans and goals. They work on a primary basis over budget, tax, savings, insurance, etc.
- Credit manager – trained in credit management while managing and supervising credit limits for any franchise. A credit manager is accountable for periodically reviewing the credit worth of potential and liable customers and helping with optimizing the sales of the company.
- Accountant – trained in ensuring that the company’s expense does not go exorbitant. While engaging in business operations their main work is to collect, record, analyze, and present the company’s financial aspects and forums to the stakeholders.
- Financial advisor – trained in spending efficiently and saving and paying off debts judiciously.
Significant Skills Required to Become an Investment Banker
- Communication – due to dealing with customers directly on a front-line basis, investment bankers need to conduct proper communication style for their investment worthiness. There are tasks such as presenting or meeting with the client that requires adequate and proper spoken as well as written communication.
- Decision making – the review, the loss, the profit, and other investment processes requires accurate skills to be able to build a proper judgment.
- Numerical ability – to calculate financial reports and accounting these skills are necessarily needed.
- Organizing – with managing every minor detail and making every big decision for every customer or franchise, investment bankers must be organized and industrious in their surrounding work life.
All these skills are practically taught with demo sessions to the clients in Investment banking free courses. Although these are some major attributes, there are a whole lot of other skills that will make you better at the job day by day for which you can enroll in Investment banking free courses offline or online. Apart from these skills, there is a minimum criterion for an experience that you are required to fulfill before having a job as an investment banker. They are as follows –
- A bachelor’s degree
- An MBA degree
- Proficiency in Google workspaces such as MS Word and Excel
- Ability to be able to work under fast-paced conditions
- Research
- Major in economics
- Financial modeling and analysis
Career Aspects
Without any doubt investment banking is one of the most captivating fields of finance. It can involve several roles such as mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, financial planning, corporate restructuring, etc, and all this is taught in curatively definite Investment banking free courses. Different roles and positions for work provide you with features that every time seem new to the human eye.
- As an intern – they work as interns under any organization to gain exposure, experience, and application of various tools. Different positions of work include accountant, finance manager, subject matter expert, online teacher, stock and research trader, and assistant management supervisor.
- As a junior – they are well known for leading client meetings to fulfill their goals and requirements. Some of the tasks include understanding their loan requirements, gathering information necessary to loan-specific criteria, examining and correcting applicants’ financial information, elucidating and introducing different financial investment options to the efficient customers, presenting approval and rejection decisions to the concerned authorities of management, and, making sure that the investment terms and conditions comply with government regulations.
- As a senior – primarily, she/he is the main head of the management team and is responsible for fulfilling capital raises and looking after the team.
Average Salary
The salary amount can vary depending on the factors such as experience, location, company, job type, performance, etc. It can be presumed that the following is an average amount of money an investment banker can make since accuracy is not possible in such areas to be clearly defined and mentioned.
For a beginner/analyst level – this is typically the entry-level as analysts and these individuals have experience in bachelor’s degrees, internships, and other relevant work under organizations. The range for them can vary from $70,000 to $130,000 per annum. If a firm is at a higher market value place, the salary range can also be increased.
At an associate level – the analysts are promoted to associates depending on their work performance and they typically tend to have an MBA degree with more responsibility for the team. The range for them can vary from $100,000 to $210,000 per annum depending on the firm and simultaneous experience.
Vice presidents – they are experienced professionals who are responsible for looking after transactions, handling relationships with clients, and dealing with teams. Vice presidents have typically been in the firm for several years and have a powerful and strong track record. The range for them can vary from $170,000 to $280,000 per annum.
Director/executive director – they are at senior level roles and play a crucial role in developing business franchises. They meet with the client on a front-line basis and deal with them directly without any intermediate connection parties. The range for them can vary from $250,000 to $350,000 per annum.
Managing director/partner – the highest ranking and aligned people of the organization making business strategies, large deals, and overall operations. The range for them can vary from $370,000 to $million per annum. They are the largest contributors to any firm.
Although these estimates are a rough idea of what the data shows, there are other bonuses, promotions, and advantages that can significantly boost the proper overall composition of these different roles in investment bankers.
Perks of an Investment Banking Career
High potential of financial earning – the career offers competitive and compensated deals and packages with actual bonuses and incentives that are based on an individual’s performance. These can significantly vary. That means it can either decrease or increase as compared to other professions.
Prestige, power, and recognition – this particular field is often considered a powerful and prestigious field that majorly deals with high-profile links. Learning from the best Investment banking free courses can certainly increase your portfolio data, make way for new and continuous learning concepts, and open doors to future opportunities that are reward-gaining.
Intellectual stimulation – through learning, complex studies, and data analysis, the mind and intellect can involve better decision-making, problem-solving, critical evaluation, and strategic thinking skills.
Global exposure and large networking – investment bankers work in a global and comprehensive marketplace, therefore, it supports them with global recognition and professionals from different countries and areas of the world to work with. This exposure particularly and solely can broaden the chances of international career chances and business expansion.
Dynamic environmental surroundings – the market conditions, economic trends of business, and trade activities can certainly increase the value of any workplace. With such an interesting and structured system of environment, investment banking career experience can provide several new and dynamic surroundings for growth.
Few Companies Hire Investment Bankers
Goldman Sachs – their firm requires participants who can help clients in a crucial situation with financial strategies and plans. The work environment they are offering is dynamic and they need someone with great flexibility and time management skills. The work involves analytics and the average salary ranges from Rs 35-50 lakhs per annum.
Wipro – this company is looking for an investment banker who can be a great analyst with communication skills. The average salary ranges from 2 L to 5.5 L.
J.P Morgan – this organization leads towards creating an impact by finding innovative solutions for their clients and for that they need investment bankers. The salary range they are offering is 18 L on average.
Citi – they require investment bankers who have an experience of at least 2 years. The range is 12.3 L for people who are experienced between 1-3 years.
Tata consultancy services – at Tata, they look for consulting, empowered, and tech-aware individuals. The average salary ranges from 2.2 to 6 L.
Course Structure and Components of Investment Banking Free Courses
Introduction to investment banking – this part of the curriculum talks about what is investment banking, what are the types of investment banking, why it is important, what is career progress, etc.
Financial system – a group of institutions, including banks, stock exchange places, insurance companies, organizations, etc that allows the funds exchange. They can be settled on firm, inter, intra, regional, national, or, global levels.
Types of financial markets – this comprises the stock market, bond market, commodities market, derivatives market, etc. These markets function and operate on their own basis and pace. They put savings and saved finances to better use for productive growth. They are also responsible for determining the security price, share price, and stock highs and lows going on in the market.
Insurance approaches – an explanative approach that will guide the estimated amount to be used for all insurance coverage needs. This includes all debts, obligations, mortgage, college expenses, medical, etc.
Equity shares – they are financial sources for any franchise that exists long term. Its various types of shares are discussed such as ordinary, preference equity, bonus, and rights.
Profit and loss – this includes cash method, accrual method, sales and revenue, operating costs, operating profit, consolidated profit before taxes, profit and loss of company, shares, loss diluted, balance sheet, etc.
Depository receipts – includes American, European, and global depository receipts
Stock exchanges – primary market and secondary market, asset management, commercial and retail banking, corporate loan, project finance
Market pricing – pricing strategies, what is market pricing, examples of market pricing, traders, investors, dealers, etc
Securitization – introduction, working, bank networking use, asset types, collateralized depth obligation, pass through, pay through depth instrument type, drawbacks, etc
Bond price – introduction, types, people engagement, etc
Trade – types of trading, types of traders, the importance of trade, trading network, market investors, selling and purchasing, fixed income, equity, brokers, salesperson, firm institutional trade, trade promotion, etc
Money market – introduction, working, types, importance, instrumental work, etc
Capital shares – types, company stocks, authorized shares, issues shares, un-issues shares, treasury shares, outstanding shares, capital increase IPO, etc
Derivatives – forward contract, futures contract, option contract and swap contract, initial public offering, capital transfer, ownership, due diligence
Future options – future planning, buy side, sell side, valuation
Hedging – funds, risk management strategies, hedging strategies, syndicate
Speculation – the bullish and bearish speculator, advantages, disadvantages, restructuring
Credit swaps – working, events, terms, settlements, use, etc
Payoffs – introduction with examples, leverage buyout
Communication skills – vocal, written, and language development
Underwriting – loan, insurance, and securities underwriting
Resume building – CV, portfolio, work experience, educational information, detailed structure, layout, objective, job description, skills, position demanded, references, etc
Domain mocks – personal domain, domain name, website, publishing, marketing, networking, social media, etc
Interview preparation for the job – question-answer round, multiple choice questions, verbal test, one on one round, personal details, private placement, consulting, top companies, etc
- The table of content can vary chapter-wise and according to the different courses offered.
The Investment Banking Industry is Typically Classified Into Three Common Categories Which Are –
Boutique Banks: They are the smallest ones, both in terms of relative firm size and deal size. They are also referred to as regional boutique banks. Since they have a small firm size, the number of employees working there is usually less and they do not cover all kinds of services that are normally offered by an investment bank. It is fair to say that these banks are often specialized in a particular area or market sector. They are based around one city only and thus serve small organizations and businesses.
Elite boutique banks: They are widely known as more like bulge bracket banks which are spread nationwide and at an international scale with multiple offices across the globe. Along with asset management, they offer all kinds of services that a normal investment bank offers.
To come to a level of an elite boutique bank, all banks start from scratch from regional boutique banks and get better at handling successful deals with prestigious and high-profile clients. Their status quo is well-known in the business community. A few well-known and influential elite boutique banks are Lazard LLC, Evercore Group LLC, and Moelis & Company.
Middle market banks: They cover the ground area between small and bulge banks and work on regional level deals and clients. They provide a full service range including capital market and debt management along with deals of restructuring and other measures. As far as geographic location is concerned, they have a better network at regional locations as compared to regional boutique banks. Some well-known middle market banks are Piper Sandler Companies, Cowen Group, and Houlihan Loke.
The most efficient work done by all kinds of investment banks is that they are committed, disciplined, and self-dedicated with one of the best business practices and opportunities for their employees which ultimately provides the market climate and modified outcomes to work together better. From planning to building to developing and executing, these large-scale initiatives are often used to help people develop their business models in the long run.
Top 10 Investment Banking Free Courses
1. Essential Career Skills for Investment Banking and Finance by New York Institute of Finance –
About the Institute – The New York Institute of Finance (NYIF) is an internationally renowned institution that specializes in providing top-notch training for individuals working in financial services and associated sectors. Established in 1922 by the New York Stock Exchange, NYIF has since expanded its reach and has successfully trained more than 250,000 professionals across 120 countries worldwide.
Investment Banking Free Courses Overview – The Investment Banking Certificate (IBC) is an official accreditation granted by the New York Institute of Finance (NYIF) in four fundamental disciplines of business and finance. This comprehensive program combines online distance learning and interactive courses, offering flexibility for participants to join from anywhere in the world.
The IBC program aims to equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a career in investment banking or enhance their proficiency in financial and business management. By focusing on financial markets, investment analysis, general management, finance, financial statement analysis, and quantitative techniques, the program ensures that participants become competent professionals in these specialized areas.
Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be awarded a prestigious certificate from the New York Institute of Finance. This certificate holds significant value within the financial industry and serves as a valuable addition to one’s resume or LinkedIn profile, effectively showcasing the acquired skills and expertise to prospective employers.
Duration – 12 weeks
2. Investment banking Pitch books by Perry Fisher –
Investment Banking Free Courses Overview – This particular course available on Udemy serves as an excellent refresher for individuals seeking effective strategies for selling their investment banking products and delivering compelling pitches. It is a concise course, with a completion time of approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, ensuring a quick and efficient learning experience. By undertaking this course, you will gain enhanced confidence in presenting your pitches.
About – Udemy stands out as a distinct Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform that allows instructors to upload and price their own course content based on factors such as skill level and duration. Joining Udemy is free of charge, and users have the option to exclusively select free courses, thereby avoiding any payment obligations.
This crash course does not have any prerequisites, making it accessible to anyone interested in developing their selling skills, which are crucial for achieving success in the fields of business and finance.
The instructor, Perry Fisher, brings extensive experience from his time working at an investment bank in South Africa, making him highly qualified to impart comprehensive knowledge on pitchbooks — a critical component for success in the investment banking industry. A pitchbook serves as a presentation tool to initiate the selling process, making it an integral step in the world of investment banking.
Duration – crash course of around an hour
3. Introduction to Valuation and Investing by Khan Academy –
Investment Banking Free Courses Overview – This course offered by Khan Academy has attracted a considerable enrollment of nearly 3,400 students. The course has received a commendable rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Alison.com.
Alison is an online educational platform that aims to facilitate the professional advancement of students by offering a diverse range of classes in areas such as IT, business, and healthcare. Membership on Alison is free, and many of the courses are also available for free enrollment. Some courses on Alison provide the option of obtaining paid certifications upon successful completion of the course materials.
About – Khan Academy is widely recognized as a highly popular educational organization that provides students with valuable resources and tools to excel in their chosen fields. It serves as an excellent platform for discovering free online courses.
If you are seeking to refresh your knowledge of investment fundamentals and gain insights into evaluating companies and sales, this course is an ideal choice. By completing this class, you will no longer feel apprehensive about stocks and shares. The course covers essential financial topics, including Income Statements, Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), Price-to-Earnings ratio, depreciation, and amortization, equipping you with a solid foundation in these critical concepts.
4. Finance Foundations by Kay and Jim Stice –
Investment Banking Free Courses Overview – Kay and Jim Stice, the instructors of this course, hold the viewpoint that finance is a ubiquitous presence and emphasize the importance of attaining a well-rounded comprehension of this subject. Throughout the duration of the course, you will explore essential financial subjects, including the cost of sales, the operating cycle, stock index funds, equity, fixed costs, and other related topics.
Moreover, you will gain valuable insights into the decision-making processes of major corporations such as Microsoft and Facebook allowing you to understand their initial public offerings (IPOs) in-depth. The course has already attracted over 100,000 students, solidifying its reputation as a trustworthy and reputable learning opportunity.
Duration – 3 hours
5. Investment Banks By Yale Courses –
About Investment Banking Free Courses – This concise one-hour course is offered by Yale Courses, a platform established by Yale University that provides open access to Yale lectures, eliminating the need for payment or enrollment in the actual courses. Despite being a single lecture within a larger course, it contains a wealth of valuable information that can be gleaned from this segment.
Professor Shiller, an esteemed faculty member at Yale, delivers this lecture, focusing on investment banking while drawing comparisons to consulting and commercial banking.
Throughout the lecture, Professor Shiller covers eight significant topics in investment banking, including Key Elements of Investment Banking, Regulation of Investment Banking, Shadow Banking, and the Repo Market. Additional course materials can be accessed on Yale’s open-source platform, allowing learners to follow the course at their own pace and convenience.
Must Check:
6. How to invest by Phil Town –
About Investment Banking Free Courses – Phil Town, an ex-hedge fund manager and a highly acclaimed author with three New York Times Bestsellers, offers invaluable insider tips to help individuals succeed in the field of investment banking. This course has garnered support and recognition from prominent news outlets such as ABC, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, and PBS, making it an opportunity not to be missed.
With a focus on assisting individuals with limited resources, Phil Town’s website, Rule One Investing, currently provides a complimentary, step-by-step financial course, aimed at enabling participants to achieve financial independence and advance in their investment banking careers.
Overview – Tailored specifically for investors seeking high returns, individuals saving for their children’s college education, those aiming to take control of their personal finances, and even individuals with modest amounts of capital to invest, this course caters to a diverse range of participants.
The course comprises five lessons that cover essential topics, including investing with certainty, fundamental investment principles, the art of acquiring businesses rather than stocks, retirement planning tools, and cultivating an investor’s mindset. If you aspire to establish a solid foundation in investing and acquire the skills necessary to make independent investment decisions, this course presents an ideal opportunity for your growth and development.
7. Investment banking divisions by Afzal Hussein –
About Investment Banking Free Courses – Skillshare, similar to Udemy, stands out as a distinctive learning platform where instructors have the freedom to upload their own course content. With a vast library comprising thousands of courses covering both professional and creative subjects, gaining access to Skillshare grants you unlimited access to the entire range of classes.
Typically, Skillshare operates on a subscription-based model, requiring users to pay a monthly fee to enjoy full access to all courses. Fortunately, new users can take advantage of a generous 14-day free trial, granting them free access to all content on the site. Given that this course can be completed in just one hour, you will have ample time to complete it within the free trial period.
Overview – In this concise one-hour course, you will explore the various divisions that constitute a modern investment bank. The course delves into important topics such as the core functions of investment banks, distinctions between boutique and bulge bracket investment banks, front office divisions, and more.
By the end of the course, you will develop a strong understanding of the different branches within investment banking, enabling you to confidently discuss and comprehend the roles and responsibilities associated with each division.
Level – beginner
8. Investment Banking Course by Wall Street Mojo –
About Investment Banking Free Courses – WallStreetMojo is a highly esteemed resource that provides valuable knowledge on investment banking. To gain access to their investment banking course, all you need is an email address, granting you free entry to their video series and investment banking guide. Dheeraj Vaidya, the founder of WallStreetMojo, is dedicated to supporting students and professionals in acquiring proficiency in investment banking. Vaidya has also established EDUCBA, an online video training firm specifically tailored for finance professionals.
Overview – Completing the free investment banking course offered by WallStreetMojo will require approximately 7.5 hours of your time, with each video lecture ranging from 1.5 to 3 hours in duration. The course consists of four video tutorials, covering essential topics such as investment banking basics, accounting principles, calculation techniques, and Excel tutorials.
While being an Excel expert is not a prerequisite for succeeding in this course, some familiarity with Microsoft Office would be advantageous. Once you have completed the video lectures, you will move on to the comprehensive guides provided, which are designed to prepare you for job interviews in the investment banking field.
These guides delve into important subjects such as Excel skills, accounting, financial modeling, valuations, and more, equipping you with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in your career. Upon finishing the course, WallStreetMojo offers students a range of additional learning resources to further support their career progression.
9. Introduction to Actuarial Science by Australian National University –
In this course, you will delve into the realm of actuarial science to explore a wide range of subjects including investments, banking, insurance, and finance in a comprehensive manner. Actuarial science will be applied to these industries to evaluate risks and develop statistical strategies.
While prior experience in Excel is not mandatory for success in this course, it is worth noting that the course covers various Excel skills, and having some familiarity with the software would be beneficial. Additionally, the course provides “extension questions” that go beyond the usual course content, challenging your critical thinking abilities and encouraging a deeper understanding of the material.
10. Investment management course by University of Geneva –
Investment Banking Free Courses Overview – This specialization consists of a series of five courses that cover various topics such as comprehending financial markets, securing long-term investments, and proficiently managing risks. Through this specialization, you will develop an understanding of investment objectives within a global framework and grasp the utilization of diverse financial strategies to achieve these objectives. Furthermore, you will engage in a practical project as part of the learning process and earn a free certificate of completion that can be shared with others. The courses within this specialization are designed to accommodate beginners, requiring no prerequisites for enrollment.
Duration – 5 hours
In India, banking began in the 19th century for the first time and the banking sector set its record by evolving some of the leading banks of investment that are –
SBI Capital Markets Ltd.
ICICI Securities Ltd.
Central Bank of India
Axis Bank Ltd.
HDFC Bank Ltd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the course structure providing a renowned certificate?
- Yes, at the end of this course, you will be provided with an e-certificate that allows you to practice globally.
How much do the Investment banking free courses cost? Is it completely free?
- Yes, the Investment banking free courses will be provided to you for learning absolutely free of cost. You have to just register yourself for it.
How many times can I enroll in this course in the future?
- You can enroll in Investment banking free courses only once a lifetime from the registered name and email id that you provide.
Will I get all the recordings of the sessions?
- Yes, in the Investment banking free courses, you will get the weekly recordings for all live sessions.
How will this course help me in the future and why should I enroll in your course?
- By learning all the techniques, tricks, and business knowledge you can imply the same in your job areas and to answer your second part, Investment Banking free courses offers expertise on investment banking that you may not find anywhere else. It is designed in a very structured and organized manner with proper notes. The completion certificate will also be available to mention you as ‘certified’.
Conclusion: Investment Banking Free Courses
The main asset that any investment banker can provide is assistance to the firm or franchise where she/he is working in order to increase the demand-supply chain and expand the business of the particular organization by acting as a medium of succor. The analysis, evaluation, interpretation, and configuration are all small parts of this world that you can also now master by joining Investment banking free courses that will open a golden gate for your career. Despite the unparallel financial perks that are offered, the risk, burdened information, documentation, tight and long working hours, and excess competition, is present to tell the truth but it is all worth the exquisite life that you get to experience with joy and success.