Demystifying the Language of Money
Bauer College Department of Finance Launches Series Aimed at Improving Financial Knowledge
Published on June 22, 2023
The Department of Finance at the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston recently launched “Select Topics in Finance” courses aiming to help people learn the language of money.
The courses, starting this July on the UH campus, are open to anyone, from entrepreneurs looking to launch a small business or those looking to get a better understanding of finance. At the end of each session, participants will receive a certificate of completion.
“One of the most important topics in business is understanding how companies and individuals make decisions about cash flow,” Senior Professor of Practice John Lopez said. “People who wish to learn about the language of money, the techniques to measure investment results, and the decisions to invest or not invest will gain much from attending these courses.”
Led by Bauer finance faculty, the courses focus on various topics, including:
- Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return and Valuation Techniques – Participants will be introduced to the concepts of time value of money, the importance of capital structure for new present value, and discounted cash flow, unlevered cash flow and weighted average cost of capital calculations.
- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) – This course offers a broad overview of M&A transactions, introduction to private equity and leveraged buyouts and legal and institutional frameworks.
- Personal Financial Planning – Introducing participants to topics that will lead to financial security, including cash flow management, net worth planning, retirement planning, personal risk management topics, topics in estate planning and creating and analyzing personal financial statements.
- Capital Markets - This course offers participants an overview of the most important capital markets and financial securities: stocks, bonds, options and futures. Participants will learn about the various debt instruments used by companies and governments.
“The most important thing about these sessions is anyone, not just those in the finance industry, are welcome and encouraged to join us,” Lopez said. “Anyone interested in gaining an understanding of the language of finance, cash flow, decision-making, and how to measure the efficacy of investment opportunities will gain a firm understanding through these courses.”
Learn more about the course offerings and register here.