This course introduces the fundamentals of money, banking, and financial markets and the process of analyzing financial decisions and policy outcomes. Students identify the roles of financial intermediaries and payment systems; apply time-value-of-money and interest-rate concepts to price bonds and stocks; examine risk and basic derivatives; and use real economic data (FRED) to interpret market conditions and exchange rates. Emphasis is placed on understanding central banking and monetary policy, financial stability, and ethical, evidence-based reasoning in financial analysis.