Financial Statements Explained Simply

9.3

(191 ratings)

·

3 Weeks

·

Cohort-based Course

From Rookie to Pro in 6 Lessons.

Hosted by

Brian Feroldi and Brian Stoffel

Spreading financial wellness to 600,000+ people each week

Course overview

Accounting is the language of business

Yet, the vast majority of professionals can't read financial statements.


This 3-week course will teach you how to find, read, and interpret financial statements like a pro. These skills will make you a better investor and accelerate your career.

Who is this course for

01

Investors who want to learn how to analyze a business and manage their own portfolio.

02

Ambitious leaders and professionals who want to advance their careers by gaining fluency in financial statements.

03

Entrepreneurs who want to learn how to see their business through the eyes of an investor.

Key outcomes

Locate important information

You'll discover where to look for trusted data that leads to stellar financial decisions.

Analyze financial statements

You'll know what each item represents on an income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement — and how they work together.

Identify Yellow + Red Flags

Learn how to identify warning signs in financial statements that can reveal trouble on the horizon.

Think like an investor

Learn the key numbers & metrics that the best investors focus on when they analyze a business.

Separate noise from signal

You'll be able to quickly identify the key variables that truly matter in the long-run.

Calculate useful ratios

Learn how a few simple calculations will empower you to analyze financial statements in minutes.

Don't Take Our Word For It:

Our Alumni Are Raving Fans

9.3

(191 ratings)

What Course Alumni Think:

        "I REALLY enjoyed the course -- it was worth every penny!"
Mo Gazipura

Mo Gazipura

Investor | Cohort 1 Student
        "I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Two Thumbs WAY UP."
Brent Groh

Brent Groh

CEO | Cohort 2 Student
        "This course is OUTSTANDING. I came away with a MUCH greater understanding of financial statements."
Harlan Havig

Harlan Havig

Investor | Cohort 2 Student
        Brian & Brian are genuinely fun people who love teaching and REALLY care about student outcomes."
Helena Wu

Helena Wu

Investor | Cohort 2 Student
        "This is an amazing course that everyone should take. Brian and Brian make the learning process interesting, efficient, and fun! Highly recommended!"
Sunny Sharma

Sunny Sharma

Investor | Cohort 1 Student
        "If you want to learn how to break down the key financial documents of a company, this course is a must. You will walk away a better investor."
Igli Laci

Igli Laci

Investor | Cohort 2 Student
        If you are a serious investor you need to be able to read a company's financial statements. Brian Feroldi and Brian Stoffel made it painless and fun."
Oz Miro

Oz Miro

Cohort 1 Student
        I found the course to be AMAZING. Worth every dollar. They made a complex topic very easy to understand."
Alberto Aguilera

Alberto Aguilera

Cohort 1 Student

Course syllabus

01

Intro + Balance Sheet Foundations

We start with an overview of the three financial statements. We then look at the balance sheet in detail. We review every line item and then analyze the balance sheets of several public companies.


FREE BONUS: A downloadable cheat sheet + full transcript of the live session with Q&A

02

Income Statement Foundations

On day 2, we study the income statement. We walk through the statement line by line. We then examine the income statements of several public companies.


FREE BONUS: A downloadable cheat sheet + full transcript

03

Cash Flow Statement Foundations

Day 3 starts with an overview of the statement of cash flows. We study each line in detail and then analyze the cash flow statements of several well-known businesses.


FREE BONUS: A downloadable cheat sheet + full transcript

04

Balance Sheet - Advanced Analysis

On day 4, we return to the balance sheet for a more rigorous analysis. We calculate several helpful ratios, learn how to spot yellow + red flags, and analyze several complex balance sheets.


FREE BONUS: A downloadable cheat sheet + full transcript

05

Income Statement - Advanced Analysis

On day 5, we return to the income statement for a more detailed discussion. We learn how to calculate margins, spot warning signs, and analyze several tricky income statements.


FREE BONUS: A downloadable cheat sheet + full transcript

06

Cash Flow Statement - Advanced Analysis

On day 6, we cover the cash flow statement again, this time with a much more rigorous analysis. We calculate ratios, learn how to spot yellow flags, and analyze several complex cash flow statements.


FREE BONUS: A downloadable cheat sheet + full transcript

07

BONUS Session - Student Presentations

It's time to put your new skills to the test! Each student will analyze the financials of a company of their choosing. We will review the submissions together and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of several businesses.

Course Schedule

3.5 weeks, 2 to 3 hours each week

  • January 10th, 2023

    The three-week course kicks off!

    Tue, Jan 10 - Balance Sheet 1

    Thur, Jan 12 - Income Statement 1

    Tue, Jan 17 - Cash Flow Statement 1

    Thur, Jan 19 - Balance Sheet 2

    Tue, Jan 24 - Income Statement 2

    Thur, Jan 26 - Cash Flow Statement 2

    Tue, Jan 31 - Student Presentations

  • Tuesdays & Thursdays

    10:00am - 11:15am EST

    7:00 AM - 8:15 AM PST

    3:00 PM - 4:15 PM GMT

    8:30 PM - 9:45 PM IST


    Every class starts with 30 minutes of instruction followed by 45 minutes of case studies, Q&A, and homework review.


    Each class is followed by an optional 30-minutes of small group discussion.

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Meet your instructor

Brian Feroldi

Brian Feroldi

Brian Feroldi is a financial educator, author, speaker, and YouTuber. He has an MBA in finance and has been investing since 2004. Brian is the author of the best-selling book, Why Does the Stock Market Go Up?


Brian’s career mission statement is “to spread financial wellness.” He loves to help other people do better with their money, especially their investments. He has written more than 3,000 articles on stocks, investing, and personal finance for the Motley Fool.

Brian Stoffel

Brian Stoffel

Brian Stoffel is a teacher at heart. Brian has been investing for more than a decade and he has written more than 4,000 articles for The Motley Fool.


Brian worked as a middle school teacher in Washington DC for more than 5 years. He and his wife had a "mini-retirement" in Costa Rica and now spent a portion of their year there in a containership home. Brian plans his life and his investments around "antifragile" principles.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I can’t make a live session?
How long will I have access to the materials and recordings?
Can I expense this course?
I work full-time, what is the expected time commitment?
What’s the refund policy?
What if I don't live in the U.S. Will this course still help me?

Why Take This Course?

Here's What You'll Learn.

9.3

(191 ratings)

What Others Say About Brian & Brian:

        Brian Feroldi has a unique gift for explaining complex subjects in plain English. This course can help anyone to understand how to read and interpret financial statements like a pro even if they never studied accounting before.
Annie Duke

Annie Duke

Author, Speaker, Decision Strategist, and Former Professional Poker Player.
        Brian Feroldi is an outstanding financial educator. He not only helps folk understand the fundamental principles of investing, but also demonstrates how to apply these principles to real-life companies. I have no doubt this course will enrich all those who take it.
10-k Diver

10-k Diver

Investor, Financial Educator
        Brian’s the real deal. From finance to finance writer to finance instructor. You’re lucky to learn from him.
Codie Sanchez

Codie Sanchez

Founder Contrarian Thinking, Investor, Entrepreneur
        Brian Feroldi is a great teacher and he knows financial statements inside and out.
Blake Burge

Blake Burge

Content creator. 230,000+ Twitter followers
        "The Brians take a refreshingly straightforward approach to market instruction. Their deep knowledge & experience equips them with a unique ability to teach, while their patience enables that teaching to be done in a way that is learnable for all."
Brad Freeman

Brad Freeman

Investor
        The Brians have a talent for making the complex sound simple when it comes to understanding the world of finance and investing. Their breakdown of the financial statements is so easy to understand that I’ve referred their videos to our Learn Grow Invest community members.
Jermaine McDonald

Jermaine McDonald

Founder Learn Grow Invest

Level Up Your Accounting Skills

Enter your email for a FREE copy of our eBook 8 Accounting Terms Explained Simply

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Financial Statements Explained Simply

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9.3

(191 ratings)

More feedback on Brian & Brian

        Brian and Brian have done a phenomenal job. Simplifying complex tasks is hard, and they nailed it."
Wish Pandya

Wish Pandya

Analyst | Cohort 2 Student
        Clear, concise, and beautifully structured, this should be a required course for every investor."
Dr. Kiran Philip

Dr. Kiran Philip

Physician | Cohort 1 Student
        Brian Feroldi and Brian Stoffel are knowledgeable investors and amazing teachers who truly understand financial statements.
Jessica Ablamsky

Jessica Ablamsky

Investor
        Feroldi and Stoffel know what they’re doing. I wish they’d invest my money.
John Maxfield

John Maxfield

Investor, Financial Analyst
        I struggled with interpreting financial statements, so this was a solid quick, and deep course. I loved it!"
Carl Malartre

Carl Malartre

Cohort 1 Student
        "I've met a ton of public markets investors. Every single one of them would benefit from your clear thinking. Well done."
Jim O.

Jim O.

Cohort 1 Student
        I'd recommend the course for anyone looking to establish a basic understanding of financial statements and investment approaches. Both Brians do a great job of covering a lot of content in a short time while being sure to make time for q&A.
Alexander

Alexander

Cohort 1 Student
        Easy to understand, educative and entertaining, and relevant. I found this more useful than some of the online MBA courses I have taken. Highly recommended for those starting to invest their own money and are looking for a quick introduction to financial statements.
Ritwik Rastogi

Ritwik Rastogi

Cohort 1 Student

Still not sure?

Enter your email below to be notified when our next cohort is launching. BONUS! You'll receive a copy of our free accounting ebook!

Learning is better with cohorts

Learning is better with cohorts

Active, not passive

This course focuses on live workshops and hands-on projects

Learn with a cohort of peers

You’ll be learning in public through breakout rooms and an engaged community

Practice the skills

Ensure that lessons have sunk in by practicing the necessary skills and checking for understanding

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Be the first to know about upcoming cohorts

Financial Statements Explained Simply

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9.3

(191 ratings)

More Praise for Brian & Brian

        Brian is super knowledgeable about stocks and breaks down concepts clearly and simply for anyone to understand.
Sharon Tseung

Sharon Tseung

Investor, Personal Finance Expert
        I have followed the Brian’s for years and continue to learn new things from them. They use the perfect blend of academic principles and real-life examples that I can immediately apply to my investment process.
Austin Lieberman

Austin Lieberman

Investor, 35,000+ Twitter followers
        I have spent thousands of dollars on courses. Some are good, and some are not. Based on my experience, things that matter most in choosing the right course or instructor are a) Knowledge b) Integrity c) Mission /purpose-driven d) Passion for what they do. Both Brian Feroldi and Brian Stoffel fulfill these criteria with maximum points.
Rajeev Aggarwal

Rajeev Aggarwal

Former CNBC Journalist
        I don't know of any duo with a more perfect combination of in-depth knowledge of financial statements paired with the ability to explain it in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Brian and Brian are the Yoda and Obi-Wan of financial statements (minus all of that Anakin unpleasantness)."
Paul Essen

Paul Essen

Investor
        Brian Feroldi and Brian Stoffel are the most amazing educators in the financial industry. They can break down the jargon and explain it like you are 5. Not many can do that, and I'm thrilled that they're coming up with a course that will help a lot of folks understand how to break down financial statements in a very easily understandable way.
Dhaval Kotecha

Dhaval Kotecha

Investor, Co-Host of Fintwit Summit
        Reading and understanding financial statements are key to becoming a good investor. I cannot think of two better teachers of these important principles than Brian Feroldi and Brian Stoffel, who both have a knack for taking seemingly complex topics and breaking them down into simple, easy-to-understand lessons.
Matt Cochrane

Matt Cochrane

Lead Advisor, 7 Investing
        A teacher should never cough what is given in textbook he should cook some fiction and convey the concept..... that's exactly what you guys do so perfectly.
Advait Arora

Advait Arora

Professional Investor
        I've learned so much from Brian Feroldi and Brian Stoffel over the years. They are WONDERFUL teachers. I know that their students will get A LOT of value from this course.
Mike Mcmahon

Mike Mcmahon

Investor

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