Everyone needs to understand the basic principles of investing. The Investment Competence course (formerly known as "Investment Basics") provides a wide ranging education of financial markets and the investment process. It provides the basics you need to become a competent investor.
Benefits/Features
A Quick, Fun and Easy to Use Investment Course.
Investment Competence is a thorough but easy to follow overview in investing and financial planning. By stepping through a detailed e-learning program, you will gain insight into stocks, bonds, mutual funds and the market forces behind them. The software enables you to go at you own pace so whether you are new to investing or need a quick refresher on a few financial topics, it is a fun solution.
Just 8 Simple Steps toward becoming a Knowledgeable Investor.
The training program will step you through seven comprehensive chapters and a final exam. The quiz is automatically graded and covers the entire course. A certificate of completion is generated for those that obtain a score of 80% or better. Here is a summary of what is covered:
- Lesson 1 - What is an Investment? Learn the definition of investing and key terms including Return on Investment (ROI), Rate of Return (ROR), future value of an investment, and the "Rule of 72" for estimating return.
- Lesson 2 - The Stock Market: Find answers to such questions as "What is the Stock Market", "How do supply and demand influence stock prices," "What is an Initial Public Offering (IPO)," and more.
- Lesson 3 - The Bond Market: Learn all there is to know about the bond market including what types of bonds exist and how to buy and sell them. The chapter introduces the concepts of yields, bond ratings, coupons and how to calculate the yields to maturity. You will take a quiz on what factors influence the price of bonds.
- Lesson 4 - Mutual Funds: Learn the concepts, answers to questions and take a quiz on Mutual Funds. Topics include fund types, Net Asset value, the Rate of Return, what is the difference between open and closed funds, and the relationship between net asset value, number of new shares and redemptions
Lesson 5 - Other Investments: Learn about various alternative investment options such as Bank Accounts, Real Estate, Precious Metals, Commodities and Futures, Options - Put and Call and their price components, and Collectibles.- Lesson 6 - Barriers to Investing and Handling: The chapter covers the following key topics and their impacts on investing: business cycles, Bull and Bear markets, Risk and Diversification, Volatility, Liquidity, Inflation, Taxes and how to avoid Fraud.
- Lesson 7 - Getting Started: Learn what you need to begin the investment process and to answer the question how should I start? Topics covered include: sources of capital, setting objectives, planning for investing and withdrawing periodic amounts, retirement and investment strategies.
- Lesson 8 – Test your Overall Understanding: Test your investing know-how by completing the final exam. The results will help gauge your aptitude and before you know it you will be on the road to financial freedom.
Take charge of Your 401k.
It is never too late to take control! Investment Competence gives you all the tools you need to understand the type of investment decisions that you will face when deciding what investments are right for you.
Reviews/Testimonials
IOMA's Report on Managing 401(k) Plans, April 1997: "The strength of the program, IOMA believes, is the depth of the material available. This is more than just financial planning. This is an educational course about how financial markets work, what actually constitutes capital gain, and why it's important to understand inflation. No assumptions are made about the user's level of understanding so even the most unsophisticated 401(k) plan participant will not be left adrift. ... Another important point: It's fun."
MacHome Journal: "Many programs help you manage and track your investments, but few help you make any sense of the market itself. Investment Basics is one such program. ... It teaches exactly what it promises: the basics of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, futures, and all those financial concepts that everyone's heard of but no one can explain."
Wall Street & Technology: "Investment Basics ... presents numerous procedures so users can practice the major concepts until they understand them. Users can also test themselves and then restudy any areas necessary."
R. Theodore (Ted) Benna, President, 401(k) Association: "Investment Basics should be an ideal tool to help plan sponsors deal with this increasing difficult area because:
- It is strictly educational rather than advisory.
- It focuses on basic investment knowledge which many plan participants lack.
- It is very difficult for participants who do not have this basic investment knowledge to relate to most of the investment information they currently receive from their plan sponsor and/or providers.
- It is interactive multimedia computer based training that should substantially increase retention level. It is even fun and easy to use.
- The fact that it is self-paced and self-administered will help plan sponsors deal with the need to educate large numbers of employees in diverse locations.
- Volume discounts as well as site licenses can make Investment Basics a very cost effective education tool compared to other alternatives.
- It is provided by an independent third party that has no financial stake in how participants invest their retirement funds."
Neal Hardin, Sprint: "Course was good and helpful .. helped me understand investing. Would recommend it to others .. Sprint University already recommends it."
This product is available by DOWNLOAD ONLY. You will receive download instructions within 1 business day by e-mail.