Top Wealth Management Courses - Q2 2023

In 2022, LinkedIn rated Accounting, Finance, and Financial Analsis as three of the top 20 skills in demand by employers. One rewarding and lucrative carreer path that requires these skills is Wealth Management. Wealth Managers work with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) to manages their financial assets.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of financial managers is projected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.  

Our Expert Picks

There are literally hundreds of Wealth Management courses available across dozens of online learning platforms. How to find the best course for you? Campus.com partners with industry experts to review the best courses based on rigorous criteria, including content coverage, lecture quality, quiz quality, assignment quality, and certification brand.

Person manipulating financial graphics on a laptopCheck Price
on Coursera's website
Campus.com Rating
5
/5

Time to Complete:

3.5 weeks @ 4 hours per week

# Enrolled:

145,940

Content Coverage:

Lecturer Quality:

Quiz Quality:

Exercise Quality:

Our Expert Review

Content Coverage (5/5)

This course is structured into 4 week-long modules, each containing many short videos (less than 10 minutes), a practice quiz, and a module quiz.  Content is presented at the MBA level and is designed for non-financial professionals.  The course contains the minimal topics expected and the concepts are presented in a logical sequence. The course is concluded with a very thorough capstone project that requires the learner to apply most of the concepts covered in a real-world project.

Lecture Quality (5/5)

Each lecture starts off with an introduction of what is to be discussed, followed by a well-organized presentation of the topic presented by the instructor with accompanying visuals, examples, and animations.  The instructor is very confident, knowledgeable, and engaging.  Each lecture is brief (less than 10 minutes), which can allow the learner to study in small chunks.  Throughout the lectures, learners are presented with brief quizzes that they must answer in order to continue the lecture.

Quiz Quality (5/5)

Practice quizzes and final quizzes are offered at the end of each module. Each quiz contains multiple-choice quizzes with plausible answer options.  The questions in the quizzes adequately cover the material of each module.  Quizzes are automatically scored and provide the student with feedback on incorrect answers. The learner is allotted 30 minutes to complete each quiz, with a minimum of 70% to be considered a passing grade.

The class concludes with a 25-question final exam, for which the learner is given one hour to complete.  A minimum grade of 70% is required to earn credit for the final exam.  There are three attempts allowed of the final exam every eight hours.

Assignment/Exercise Quality (5/5)

The course concludes with a Capstone in which the learner is expected to create a forecast for the discounted cash flow analysis.  The instructor provides a formal real-world case, all financial statements, and an Excel template for learners to use in this project.

The project is then augmented with a quiz containing fill-in-the-blank questions that the learner can only derive from completing the analysis correctly. Fourteen capstone questions are then presented to the learner, with one hour to complete, and a minimum of 70% to be considered a passing grade.  This is an excellent hands-on exercise.

Certificate Brand Quality (5/5)

This course is offered by Rice University, offering certification after the course completion.  Located in Houston, Texas, Rice University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).  Instructor James Weston has served as a Professor at Rice University’s Department of Finance since the early 2000’s; and has taught over 153,000 learners.

An image of a newspaper with multiple face superimposed over the topCheck Price
on Coursera's website
Campus.com Rating
4.9
/5

Time to Complete:

5 weeks @ 4 hours per week

# Enrolled:

124,348

Content Coverage:

Lecturer Quality:

Quiz Quality:

Exercise Quality:

Our Expert Review

Content Coverage (5/5)

Financial Planning for Young Adults is designed to assist young learners over a 4-week period in developing basic financial skills, and financial goal setting. Each week consists of lectures, video vignettes, readings, discussion prompts, written exercises, and quizzes.  The content is very thorough and presented in a logical sequence.

Lecture Quality (5/5)

Videos in this course are comprised of lectures, interviews, scenario-based discussions, interview videos, and mock videos.  Downloadable resources accompany some lectures, such as sample budgets.

The lecture videos are well-designed and the instructor is confident and clear.  Some conceptual graphics or animations are used to describe complex topics, but the graphics are relatively simple in nature.

Quiz Quality (5/5)

Quizzes are available at the end of each major section within each module.  This gives the learner plenty of opportunity to reinforce what they’ve learned as they move through the course.  Quizzes are made up of multiple-choice and multiple-select questions. Answer options can sometimes be obvious, but the volume of quizzes per module makes up for this.

Learners are presented with all questions at once.  Upon submission, feedback is given as to whether the learner answered correctly or incorrectly.  Quizzes require a 60% or higher to be considered a passing grade.  Learners can retake quizzes three times within each 8-hour period.

Assignment/Exercise Quality (4.5/5)

There are two types of assignments in this course: discussion prompts and peer-reviewed assignments.

Discussion prompts, though optional, are very well written and require learners to really think about and articulate what they’ve learned.

Peer-reviewed assignments are written submissions that also require the learner to think about and apply what they’ve learned in a lesson or module.  Clear review criteria (rubrics) are provided and the learner is expected to not only submit their own response but also review the responses of others.   For conscientious learners, this can be an excellent learning tool.  However, neither the submissions nor the reviews are supervised by the instructor.

Certificate Brand Quality (5/5)

This course is offered by the University of Illinois through Coursera.  The University of Illinois is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and was established in 1885.  All three instructors are associated with the University of Illinois as Associate Professor, Consumer Economics Educator, and Director of Academic Programs.

Coursera is one of the leading online platform providers.

 

University of Illinois LogoCheck Price
on Coursera's website
Campus.com Rating
4.5
/5

Time to Complete:

7 weeks @ 4 hours per week

# Enrolled:

42,365

Content Coverage:

Lecturer Quality:

Quiz Quality:

Exercise Quality:

Our Expert Review

Content Coverage (5/5)

This course is structured into four densely-packed modules.  Each module contains videos lectures, readings, Excel worksheets (for practice), a module review, quizzes, and peer-graded assignments. Though the content is thorough and well-sequenced, the approach is relatively complex and may not be suited for beginners.

Lecture Quality (3.5/5)

The lecturer for this course – Scott Weisbenner – is extremely accomplished.  He holds a PhD from MIT and worked at the Federal Reserve Board under Alan Greenspan.  Despite these credentials, his presentation style can be a bit boring and overly complex.  The lectures are often very long and consist of Mr. Weisbenner speaking to the camera accompanied by simple bullets on the screen.  Very few graphics or animations are used to help the learner visualize concepts.

Quiz Quality (5/5)

Multiple choice quizzes conclude each module.  Quiz questions are very well-written, with excellent answer options and content coverage.

The learner is presented with all questions at once and must answer all questions before submitting the quiz.  Quizzes are automatically graded and the learner is provided immediate feedback.  Learners must receive a grade of 80% or higher in order to earn credit for the quiz.  Quizzes can be retaken up to 2 times every four hours.

Assignment/Exercise Quality (4/5)

Each module contains a video describing an assignment, an assignment description with a review rubric, and a video reviewing the assignment.  The assignments often ask the learner to perform an analysis using Excel templates and provide correct answers based on that analysis.

Students are expected to complete the assignment and review assignments completed by their peers.  While this can be an excellent learning tool for conscientious students, neither the assignments nor the reviews are supervised by the instructor.  Also, because the correct answers are not provided to reviewers, they may not be prepared to actually review submissions correctly.

Certificate Brand Quality (5/5)

Investments I: Fundamentals of Performance Evaluation offers a shareable certificate upon the successful completion of the course.   The certificate is provided by the University of Illinois through Coursera.

Instructor Scott Weisbenner is a Professor of Finance at the University of Illinois, College of Business.  The University of Illinois is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and was established in 1885.  Coursera is also one of the leading online learning providers.

Conceptual graphic of people planting coinsCheck Price
on LinkedIn Learning's website
Campus.com Rating
4.2
/5

Time to Complete:

1/2 week @ 4 hours per week

# Enrolled:

136,318

Content Coverage:

Lecturer Quality:

Quiz Quality:

Exercise Quality:

Our Expert Review

Content Coverage (5/5)

The Managing your Personal Investments course is structured into 4 modules containing 4-6 short lectures and a quiz.  The course is designed to teach the learner about various investment vehicles to build a portfolio.

The presented learning objectives align with the expected minimal course topics for a beginner-level course on investing and topics are presented in a logical order.  Learners can expect to spend 1.5 hours on the course, but there is a year to take the final exam after all coursework is complete.

Lecture Quality (5/5)

Each lecture video is short, averaging three to four minutes.  The material in the lectures is clear and easy to understand for a learner that has no background in the subject.   The instructor is very confident and knowledgeable, and the lectures are well-organized and scripted.  Professional graphics and animations are used throughout the lectures to help the learner visualize complex topics.

Quiz Quality (5/5)

Quizzes containing multiple-choice questions are administered at the end of each section.  Questions are well-designed, cover most of the content in the module, and have plausible answer choices.

Learners are presented with one question at a time.  When learners answer questions incorrectly, they are provided helpful feedback and a link back to the lecture covered by the question.  Learners must answer all questions in a quiz to receive credit, but there is no minimum score requirement.

Assignment/Exercise Quality (1/5)

There are no actual assignments or exercises in the course, however, there is one downloadable file available, which contains seven core definitions used throughout the lectures.

Certificate Brand Quality (5/5)

A LinkedIn Learning Certificate is available after the final exam is taken at the end of the course.  This course is associated with the National Association of State Board of Accountancy (NASBA), which means the learner can earn CPE credits.

CPE credits or continuing professional education credits are necessary for maintaining professional licenses.  The learner will need to earn 70% or higher on the exam to qualify for the CPE credits and certificate.

A man in an office setting reviewing business documentsCheck Price
on LinkedIn Learning's Website
Campus.com Rating
4.2
/5

Time to Complete:

1 week @ 4 hours per week

# Enrolled:

208,540

Content Coverage:

Lecturer Quality:

Quiz Quality:

Exercise Quality:

Expert Feedback

Content Coverage (5/5)

Finance Foundations: The Essence of Finance hosted by LinkedIn is designed for beginner learners in the field of finance.  The course is structured into 9 modules comprised of short, focused video lectures, and a quiz.  The learner can expect to commit 3 hours of total time to the course.  The course offers topics expected as minimum topics for this subject matter.

Lecture Quality (5/5)

Each lecture video is short, averaging two to three minutes.  lecturers are easy to understand and present the material in a clear and concise manner. Simple and well-designed graphics are used throughout each lecture to help the learner visualize more complex concepts.  The lectures are accompanied by one downloadable PDF file containing six definitions used throughout the course.

Quiz Quality (5/5)

There are quizzes administered at the end of each module.  Each quiz varies in the number of questions – up to 14 questions.  Learners are presented with one question at a time.  Upon submission of the question, immediate feedback is provided as well as link back to the video lecture covering the related material.

There is also a cumulative final exam totaling 35 questions. Each question provides immediate feedback to the answer given by the learner. There appears to be no set time limit on the quiz.

The learner must score 70% or higher on the final exam to be considered passing.

Assignment/Exercise Quality (1/5)

There are no assignments or exercises offered in this course.

Certificate Brand Quality (5/5)

The course is led in tandem by two lecturers, Earl and Jim Stice.  Earl Stice is currently a PricewaterhouseCoopers Professor of Accounting at Brigham Young University, as well as a professor abroad. Jim Stice is a Professor of Accounting in the School of Accountancy at Brigham Young University and has been with the university since 1988.

A LinkedIn Learning Certificate is available after the final exam is taken at the end of the course.  The plus is that this course is associated with the National Association of State Board of Accountancy (NASBA), which means the learner can earn CPE 6.8 credits.

CPE credits or continuing professional education credits are necessary in maintaining professional licenses.  The learner will need to earn a 70% or higher on the exam to qualify for the CPE credits and the LinkedIn Learning Certificate.

Topics To Look For in a Wealth Management Course

The following are the topics that our experts feel should be covered in a Wealth Management Course.
  • Wealth Management and Investment Terminology
  • Introduction to Personal Balance Sheets
  • Basics of Microsoft Excel
  • What is Human Capital
  • From Wealth Accumulation to Financial Planning
  • Introduction to Financial Planning
  • Financial Planning Tools
  • Fundamentals of Valuation
  • Time Value of Money
  • Introduction to Household Budgets
  • Emergency Funds
  • Retirement Plans
  • College Savings Plans
  • Private Banking
  • Investments
  • Asset Classes
  • Introduction to Asset Allocation
  • New Asset Classe(s): Cryptocurrency
  • Net Present Value (NPV)
  • Life Insurance
  • Introduction to Estate Planning
  • Coronavirus and Personal Finance

The Major Online Learning Platforms

Each online learning platform is unique.  Some specialize in certain types of content, some partner with major universities or corporations to develop content, and some have special learning features.  While not exhaustive, the list below includes the major online platforms whose courses we feature.

Pros / Cons

Pros: Certificates often are offered from major universities or corporations.

Cons: The quality of course content and features available varies dramatically between courses.

Cost

$$$

Pros / Cons

Pros: Courses are very similar to those offered in colleges.

Cons: The quality of content and features offered varies dramatically between learning programs.

Cost

$$$$

Pros / Cons

Pros: A focus on microlearning with consistently high-quality content.  Consistent use of quizzes throughout all courses.

Cons: Pricing is skewed toward annual subscriptions, which is far more content (and cost) than most learners need within a year.

Cost

$$$

Pros / Cons

Pros: Labs offer a means of gaining practical experience in technical skills.

Cons: There are no incremental quizzes or ways to test learners on specific topics.

Cost

$$$$

Pros / Cons

Pros: Udemy tends to be one of the more affordable options for individuals looking to learn specific technical skills.


Cons:
Highly inconsistent quality between courses.

Cost

$

Pros / Cons

Pros: Consistent, high-quality micro-content that focuses on practical exercises.

Cons: The catalog is somewhat limited compared to other vendors on this list.

Cost

$$$

Pros / Cons

Pros: Many free online classes are offered. Live online classroom experiences are offered for some of their courses.

Cons: Variable quality of courses, with some courses having relatively low quality.

Cost

$$$$$

Pros / Cons

Pros: Skillshare has a large library of courses related to creative skills.

Cons: Most courses are just a series of lectures with no interactivity, quizzing, or opportunities to practice concepts.

Cost

$$$

For more information, check out our detailed post on the best online course platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions about Finance and Accounting

What is finance?

Finance is defined as the management of money, currency, and assets. People employed in finance perform activities such as budgeting, borrowing, saving, investing, lending, and forecasting. The field is generally organized into the following areas:

  • Corporate finance – actions managers take to increase the value of the company for its shareholders
  • Personal finance – how one manages their personal spending, saving and risk
  • Public or Government finance – related to sovereign states, sub-national entities, and related public entities manage their debt, assets, and investments

Why is finance important?

Managing money, currency and assets is a critical element for any organization.  These activities ensure that an organization is sustainable – that it can continue operations at a healthy level while paying its debt.  

Is finance a good career path?

In 2022, LinkedIn listed Finance as one of the Top 20 In-Demand Skills, which means that Finance was featured as a skill 78% of postings do the platform. Accounting and Finance was also listed in the company’s 2021 list. The US Bureau of Labor Statitics projects that business and finance employment will grow by 8% from 2020 to 2030.

Finance careers also come with relatively high stress. There are highly regulated monthly and yearly deadlines that must be met. Decisions made by financial managers can have large impacts on an organization and its employees.

If you are a person who is detail-oriented, good with numbers and organization, and manages stress well, Finance can be an excellent career path.

What do finance jobs pay?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for Financial Managers was $131,710 in 2021. Financial Analysts averaged $95,570, and Accountants and Auditors had average annual salaries of $77,250.