About the Course
This eight-week University of Chicago course explores money management and financial trading from the behavioral finance perspective. It is designed to teach you the biases that influence decision-making processes and how to apply this knowledge to make rational choices with lasting impacts across a range of investment scenarios.
You will learn to:
- Describe concepts such as utility, probability weighting, the certainty effect, and survivorship bias, as well as risk, gains, and losses.
- Explain the causation/correlation error, the mental error in probability weighting, the consequences of the anchoring bias, over-trading due to overconfidence, the equity premium puzzle, and active vs. passive mutual funds.
- Evaluate subjective vs. absolute probabilities, overconfidence as the “mother of all biases,” and the framing and reversal of preferences.
Participants who successfully complete the course will receive credentials certifying completion from the University of Chicago, including a digital badge, and become part of the UChicago network.
Career Outlook
Diverse market anomalies, especially those related to the stock market, can be explained through psychological biases and influences. At a time of increased uncertainty and market volatility, behavioral finance is growing in practice. Advisors seek to incorporate this analysis into their wealth management processes to improve the client experience, deepen relationships, and deliver better results.
4
The position of social/behavioral scientist in the ranking of emerging finance roles.
Source: Tech Wire Asia
81
%The percentage of financial advisors that are using behavioral finance techniques.
Source: Charles Schwab Asset Management
- Behavioral Economics Researcher
- Behavioral Scientist
- Consultant
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Associate
- Investment Manager
- Personal Financial Advisor
Meet Your Instructor
These instructors teach this course regularly. Please speak to your enrollment advisor if you wish to know who the current teacher is.
George Dan, MBA
Founder and CEO, User Nudge Inc.
George Dan founded User Nudge Inc. as part of a lifelong journey to understand human decisions. Using behavioral science, the company decodes human behavior and focuses on how those using online interfaces make decisions. Previously, Dan was the head of operations analytics at a software-as-a-service company, where he devised frictionless processes, implemented systems, and developed new ways to launch digital products.
He earned an MBA from Chicago Booth and is a board member for Family Service of Lake County, a nonprofit serving suburban Chicago families via counseling, education, and mental health support.
Do you have questions?
The University of Chicago Approach to Online Learning
Our online learning programs are crafted with your specific needs in mind. Programs combine e-learning with live, interactive sessions to strengthen your skill set while maximizing your time. We couple academic theory and business knowledge with practical, real-world application. Through online learning sessions, you will have an opportunity to grow your professional network and interact with University of Chicago instructors and your classmates.
Student Feedback
"This course opens your mind to new ways of seeing things—not just investments but daily routines and activities. I will be applying this knowledge to personal investments and in my work, namely in asset purchases and smarter decision-making."
"As an entrepreneur dedicated to taking companies public and seeking capital, the knowledge I have acquired will undoubtedly be important in dealing with retail and institutional investments."
