Lynda - Finance Fundamentals

At its core, finance is about deciding what to buy, getting the money you need to buy it, and efficiently managing your resources after making the purchase. In this course, Brigham Young University business professors Jim and Kay Stice provide a comprehensive overview of finance, and touch on everything from reading a balance sheet to understanding derivatives and securities. They tackle questions such as "What is the difference between short-term financial management and long-term financing?" and "What is the difference between a traditional bank, an investment bank, and an investment fund?" Along the way, you'll get a look at financial reports from companies such as Walmart and Toys "R" Us, and even analyze the data that go into personal financial decisions, such as deciding whether to buy a car and ensuring long-term financial success.

Topics include:
Understanding financial statements
Managing finances in the short term
Analyzing risk and return
Obtaining short-term and long-term financing
Understanding the stock and bond markets
Comparing the Facebook and Microsoft IPOs
Working with financial institutions
Using capital budgeting
Creating simple personal saving and investment plans