Investment is the purchase of assets intended to create wealth in the future. While many people have investments in savings accounts, retirement accounts, or the stock market, most rely on the expertise of financial advisors or financial institutions such as banks to develop an investment strategy that meets their financial planning goals.

Understanding investments is thus important whether you want to work in financial services or simply make informed decisions when hiring others to help you manage your financial future.

Skillful investment management requires familiarity with different global financial markets, including the stock market, the bond market, commodities, and other financial instruments like options and other derivatives. It also involves techniques of risk analysis and risk management used in diversified portfolio construction, which increasingly leverage the power of computer algorithms.

Many investment professionals work as financial analysts or investment analysts, employed by investment banks, hedge funds, or other financial service providers. They analyze a wide range of financial data as well as macroeconomic and political trends, assess the strengths and weaknesses of individual companies or entire asset classes, and any other information relevant to making investment recommendations.

Other investment jobs include portfolio managers and fund managers, who are responsible for selecting a mix of investments designed to meet different risk and reward profiles for their firms. Personal investment advisors may perform the same function for high net worth individuals.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial analysts working in investments and securities make a median annual salary of $101,410. Fund managers are often compensated by fees structured according to the assets they manage and the annual return of the fund, making this a potentially very highly-paid role.

There are a wide range of courses in business and finance available on Coursera, including courses specialized in investment topics. These include courses as well as Specializations from top-ranked schools around the world, such as Yale University, Rice University, the University of Geneva, and the Indian School of Business.

The ability to learn online means you can get an education from these leading institutions from wherever you are in the world, and study course materials and complete assignments on a flexible schedule that fits with your existing work schedule or family life. And, because you’ll be taking the same courses as on-campus students at a significantly lower cost, you can rest assured that you’ll get a great return for this investment in your education.