Understanding Investment Management – My Experience with the Coursera Course from the University of Geneva

1. Why I Chose This Course

For me it was the desire to broaden and solidify my knowledge in finance. I am someone who likes to dig deep into topics – ideally with an academic standard. But our school and university days are behind us. We are working in jobs, often outside our original field, and it almost feels as if our education is “finished.”

In Switzerland there are CAS programs that are equivalent to a degree, but they are expensive, demanding, and often highly academic. From my own university experience, I know how detached from practice this can feel. Still, I am willing to push through complex material if necessary.

During my research I came across these certified online courses. To be honest, the certificate itself was secondary at first – what mattered to me was the knowledge. I want to understand how things really work. That is how I think, both as a software developer and as a person. I struggle to accept something as fact without being able to verify and internalize it myself.

Over the years I joined many investment groups – Discords, inner circles, exclusive communities. They often seemed elitist and promising, as if people there were truly digging into the fundamentals. Sadly, this was rarely the case. Many were delusional, self-convinced, and arrogant. I value humility, especially when it comes to one’s own knowledge.

That is why I am thrilled that opportunities like this exist today. You don’t have to stop learning once you start working; thanks to digital platforms, you can keep building your skills. And even though the focus for me was initially just on learning, in the end the certificate also plays a role. More on that later in this review.

2. Course Overview

💡 Note: Subtitles are available in many languages, but it is highly recommended to take on the challenge in English. The finance world ultimately runs on English terms, and working through the material directly sharpens your understanding.

3. Content & Structure

The specialization begins with clear slides and well-structured video lectures. At the center is Michel Girardin, who leads most of the modules. The other instructors show little variation in style or quality – the standard remains consistently high. Compared to many other online courses, the structure here is excellent: well thought out, easy to follow, and free of unnecessary complexity.

The learning materials include video lectures, slides, additional readings, and voluntary quizzes along the way. This gives you a quick sense of the depth involved. At the end of each module, there is a multiple-choice exam that systematically tests the content. One drawback: the exam questions are sometimes unnecessarily ambiguous. Even with a good grasp of the material, you may fail a test and need to retake it. With patience and persistence, however, it is very manageable.

4. My Experience

Difficulty & Time Commitment:

At first, much of the material seems logical and almost self-evident. But this is where the real challenge lies: you must be willing to dig deeper. Without taking notes or engaging actively, it is easy to lose track. The time investment is manageable but should not be underestimated – especially if you want to truly master the content.

Instructor Quality:

Michel Girardin is a charismatic and motivating instructor. He manages to make even dry topics engaging, and his relaxed style makes it easier to keep going.

Material Quality:

The videos are well produced, with clear slides and understandable examples. At times the material feels like it drifts along, but the depth reveals itself in the exams. That’s when it becomes clear that there is more substance than it might seem at first glance.

Community & Peer Exchange:

Like many online courses, there are forums and peer reviews. The exchange can be helpful but rarely goes deep. For serious discussion and real insights, you usually need to research further on your own. It’s a nice idea, but in practice I barely used it.

Special Note:

The exams are doable but require focus. Especially for non-native speakers, semantic nuances matter a lot – overlooking a single “not” can ruin an answer. With care, and possibly a translator tool at hand, everything is manageable.

It took me approximately 1 month at 10 hours a week to complete.

If you like, take a look at what the finished certificate looks like. Each individual course offers you one. At the end of the specialisation, you will receive an overall certificate.

5. Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

• Clearly structured content
• Practical examples
• Flexible learning pace
• Solid introduction to fundamental models and methods used in finance
• Final Excel project to apply knowledge hands-on

Weaknesses

• Certificate only available with a paid subscription
• Some prior knowledge of Excel formulas assumed, which may require extra effort
• Exams demand self-discipline and precision
• Content not consistently engaging – some sections feel a bit dry

My Assessment:
The course provides a solid foundation for understanding how professionals approach investments. It introduces models and calculations that form the backbone of modern finance. Even if you never calculate a Value at Risk (VaR) in real life, doing it once sharpens your focus on what really matters in investing: clarity and systematic thinking instead of gut feeling.

The flexible pace is an advantage – you can speed up videos – but in practice this helps little. Serious learners will often pause and take notes, and ultimately your discipline determines how much you gain.

The material is overall not dry, though not always highly exciting. The highlight is the capstone project: using Excel to build a portfolio model and apply what you’ve learned. The supporting videos repeat the core content, which is helpful. The downside is that familiarity with Excel formulas is expected, and building that skill may take additional time.

Personal Motivation:
Unexpectedly, the certificate itself was very motivating for me. It is not a university degree, but as a working professional without ten lives to accomplish everything, it proved extremely valuable. With a vocational background in business and a degree in International Management, I was looking for something to expand and round out my knowledge. This course delivered exactly that.

6. Who Is It For?

Beginners:
It is absolutely doable even without a finance background. What matters is genuine interest and some patience with the mathematical basics. These are worth it, as they build the foundation for a deeper understanding. The course does not test obscure specialist knowledge but relies on concepts that are state of the art and easy to look up.

Professionals (experienced investors):
For investors with years of experience across asset classes and market cycles, the course can be valuable as a way to formalize knowledge. The benefit is less about new learning and more about validating your level with a recognized certificate. It gives reassurance that your approach aligns with established standards, not just personal experience.

Working Professionals & Students:
For those employed, the course can be a great entry point if you’re considering a career shift or simply want to show commitment. It will not replace a university degree, but it can spark curiosity and the willingness to go further. And nowadays you can even pursue full online degrees – for example, the Open University UK offers complete academic programs digitally.

Finance Degree Holders:
For professionals who already have a degree in Finance or higher academic qualifications, this course is less suitable. The material largely repeats known fundamentals and provides little added value at that level.