Self-paced
Beginner-friendly
No advanced math required
About the course
The course is organized into three modules that build on one another. Each module includes: Short video lessons explaining key concepts Worked examples using Excel and financial tools Practice problems and quizzes to reinforce understanding You can move through the material at your own pace.
Why This Course Matters
Why Understanding the Time Value of Money Matters for Investors Every financial decision involves a trade-off between money today and money in the future. This concept—known as the time value of money—is the foundation of investment analysis and financial decision-making. Whether you are evaluating an investment, analyzing a loan, or planning long-term savings, the key question is always the same: What are future cash flows worth today? In this course, you’ll learn the core principles investors use to answer that question. By understanding compounding, discounting, and cash flow valuation, you’ll gain the tools needed to calculate present value, future value, and investment returns with clarity and confidence.
What You’ll Learn
After completing this course, you will understand how to: • Calculate how money grows over time through compounding • Determine the present value of future cash flows Evaluate annuities and perpetual cash flow streams • Solve for unknown variables such as interest rates, payments, and time periods • Use Excel or financial calculators to perform time value of money calculations • Apply these tools to real investment and financing decisions
Core Concepts Covered in This Course
This course introduces the fundamental principles behind the time value of money, the framework used by investors and financial professionals to evaluate investments and financial decisions. You will learn how money grows over time through compounding, and how future cash flows can be valued today using discounting and present value calculations. The course also explains how fixed payment streams such as annuities and perpetuities are evaluated in financial analysis. Throughout the lessons, we will also solve for unknown variables in financial equations — including interest rates, payments, and time periods — using tools commonly used by investors and analysts. These concepts form the foundation for understanding how investments, loans, and financial assets are evaluated in the real world.
Curriculum
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1
Introduction
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How to Use This Course
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What You'll Learn
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Welcome to the Course
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2
Module 1: How Money Grows Over Time
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Introduction to Module 1
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Overview of Module 1
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What You'll Learn in Module 1
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Module 1 Excel Walkthrough
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Lesson 1: Compounding a Lump Sum
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Lesson 2: Building Wealth with Recurring Investments
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Lesson 3: Investing at the Beginning of Each Period
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Conclusion to Module 1
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Quiz Module 1
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Key Takeaways Module 1
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3
Module 2: Valuing Future Cash Flows Today
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Introduction to Module 2
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Overview of Module 2
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What You'll Learn in Module 2
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Module 2 Excel Walkthrough
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Lesson 1: Valuing a Future Lump Sum
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Lesson 2: Valuing Recurring Cash Flows
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Lesson 3: Valuing Payments at the Beginning of Each Period
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Lesson 4: Valuing Perpetual Cash Flows
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Conclusion to Module 2
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Quiz Module 2
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Key Takeaways Module 2
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4
Module 3: Solving for Investment Variables
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Introduction to Module 3
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Overview of Module 3
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What You'll Learn in Module 3
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Module 3 Excel Walkthrough
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Lesson 1: Calculating Investments and Loan Payments
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Lesson 2: Solving for Time and Interest Rates
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Conclusion to Module 3
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Quiz Module 3
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Key Takeaways Module 3
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5
Supplementary Material
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Money, Time, & Investment Value Companion
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Excel Foundations Primer
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Module 1 Transcript
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Module 2 Transcript
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Module 3 Transcript
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Glossary of Terms
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6
End of Course
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End of Course Wrap-Up
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Continue Your Learning
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Who This Course Is For:
Beginner investors who want to understand the math behind investment valuation. Business owners and entrepreneurs who need to evaluate financing decisions, loans, and long-term investments. Students or professionals looking to strengthen their foundation in finance and financial analysis. No advanced math or finance background is required.
How These Concepts Apply to Real Financial Decisions
The principles taught in this course appear in nearly every financial decision. Investors use time value of money calculations to determine whether an investment is worth its price today. Businesses use these same tools when evaluating capital projects, financing options, and long-term investments. Lenders rely on these calculations when determining loan payments and interest rates. Financial analysts use them to estimate the value of future cash flows generated by businesses and financial assets. By understanding compounding, discounting, and cash flow valuation, you gain the analytical framework used throughout investing and finance.
About the Instructor
Led by Fundamental Investing Institute Matt DePaola is the co-founder of the Fundamental Investing Institute, where he teaches fundamentals-based investing and financial analysis. Through structured courses and educational content, he teaches the core financial tools investors use to make long-term investing decisions, including financial statement analysis, business fundamentals, and valuation principles. His mission is to make high-quality financial education clear, practical, and accessible for beginner investors who want to confidently analyze businesses and investments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need advanced math to take this course? No. The course focuses on understanding the logic behind financial calculations rather than complex mathematics. The goal is to understand how financial variables interact in investment decisions. Do I need Excel to complete the course? Excel is demonstrated in several lessons as a helpful tool for performing calculations, but it is not required. The same concepts can also be applied using a financial calculator or manual calculations. Is this course suitable for beginner investors? Yes. The course is designed to introduce the fundamental tools used to evaluate investments and financial decisions. It assumes no prior experience with financial analysis. What topics are covered in the course? The course covers compounding, discounting, present value, future value, annuities, perpetuities, and solving for variables such as interest rates, payments, and time periods.
Continue Your Learning
This course is part of a broader curriculum designed to help investors build a strong foundation in financial analysis. At Fundamental Investing Institute, we provide additional educational resources including courses, in-depth articles on our blog, and educational videos on our YouTube channel. These resources expand on the concepts introduced in this course and explore how financial analysis is applied to real businesses and investments. You can explore these resources at Fundamental Investing Institute.
Build the Foundation for Better Investment Decisions
Understanding how money changes over time is one of the most important skills in finance. Start learning today and develop the tools used to evaluate investments, loans, and financial opportunities.
$50.00