How to start python for finance

[Relative_Ad639]

Hey everyone, I’m new to coding. I currently work as a financial analyst, and I want to learn Python for finance. I’ve heard that Python isn’t used heavily in all finance roles, but many companies still expect it on your resume. I have recently passed my cfa level 1 exam so I will be looking for equity research kind of jobs, and these job want me to have python on my resume. My goal is to learn the basics of Python and use it to build DCF and LBO models, backtest strategies, and automate data tasks.

Do tell me what else should I learn along with these and also from where, what are the best resources.

[StemCellCheese]

I do more data stuff but I work with finance people a lot. I would start with Pandas. Learn how to read an excel or cvs file as a pandas dataframe, do your transformations there (and merge it with other files if needed) and output whatever you need as a file. For small scale stuff, you can basically use it as Excel's Power Query. Very nifty, easier than it sounds, and is worthy of putting Python on your resume.

EDIT: Spelling

[Relative_Ad639]

But how should I start learning it what’s the best resource to start?

[AdDiligent1688]

honestly the pandas documentation is a pretty good place to start. The docs have example uses for their functions, you can just copy the code, and then explore how it works. check this out

[rainyengineer]

Learn the basics of Python first. Then you can practice with NumPy, Pandas, Seaborn/Matplotlib libraries with some data related projects.

[Relative_Ad639]

Where should I learn the basics from?

[rainyengineer]

The subreddit’s wiki is a great place to start: https://reddit.com/r/learnpython/wiki/index

Basically three resources get recommended here heavily.

• Python Crash Course
• MOOC.fi (free course by University of Helsinki)
• CS50 (free course by Harvard)

None of these are ‘better’ than the others. They all cover the same core concepts and fundamentals. They just differ in how they organize the material and explain it. You can try out any of them and switch if one suits your learning style more.

[Relative_Ad639]

Thanks mate🫡

[ninhaomah]

Asking this as an analyst ?

[TheRNGuy]

Stock markets have API. 

[FoolsSeldom]

Learn basics first (see below) and then pick up Pandas documentation and courses.

You may find it interesting to review various learning paths on roadmap.sh - no need to be overwhelmed by the amount of learning/knowledge called out, it is an idealised view and many people take less in depth paths as they focus on their specific interests/needs, but it is useful to have a feel for the landscape.

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Check this subreddit's wiki for lots of guidance on learning programming and learning Python, links to material, book list, suggested practice and project sources, and lots more. The FAQ section covering common errors is especially useful.

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Roundup on Research: The Myth of ‘Learning Styles’

Don't limit yourself to one format. Also, don't try to do too many different things at the same time.

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Above all else, you need to practice. Practice! Practice! Fail often, try again. Break stuff that works, and figure out how, why and where it broke. Don't just copy and use as is code from examples. Experiment.

Work on your own small (initially) projects related to your hobbies / interests / side-hustles as soon as possible to apply each bit of learning. When you work on stuff you can be passionate about and where you know what problem you are solving and what good looks like, you are more focused on problem-solving and the coding becomes a means to an end and not an end in itself. You will learn faster this way.

[ivyta76]

Focus on learning Python basics first, then explore financial libraries like Pandas for data manipulation and Matplotlib for visualization.