The site finanim.com is my experimental education project. I am an instructor in finance, accounting, and tax. The platform explores audiovisual learning in finance and develops content for it. The name combines “finance” and “animated” and is inspired by Manim, the Python library (mathematical animation engine) used to produce the animations.

The site describes my textbook on financial derivatives, offers sample pages, and gives information about my teaching.

They are visual explanations of financial concepts. I write them as code, using Manim, a Python library for programmatic animation.

Some ideas, such as processes or values that change over time, can be shown directly as animations. I had the idea for finanim.com while writing the textbook.

No. The animations are a separate format on this site. The book is complete on its own and does not depend on them.

I will publish each animation on finanim.com when it is finished. There is no schedule.

No. The content on finanim.com is academic and informational. It is not tax, legal, or investment advice.

The book gives a systematic introduction to the pricing and valuation of forward contracts.

The book has three parts. Part I defines and classifies derivatives. It covers underlying assets, purposes, and settlement. Part II covers non-contingent derivatives. Its chapters deal with properties, financial parameters, the determination of the forward price, and interest compounding. Part III covers underlying assets and the forward contracts on them. It treats equity, fixed income and bonds, currencies and exchange rates, and commodities, each followed by the corresponding forwards. It also covers forward rate agreements. Futures, options, and swaps are described to distinguish them from forward contracts.

As a rule, each chapter follows the same structure:

1. Financial terminology is defined.
2. Pricing and valuation concepts are explained concisely.
3. Practical examples illustrate the concepts to encourage active learning.

The book covers equity forwards, fixed-income forwards, forward rate agreements, currency forwards, and commodity forwards. Each has its own chapter. For equity, fixed income and bonds, currencies and exchange rates, and commodities, a chapter on the underlying asset comes first.

I chose forward contracts as the starting point for pedagogical reasons. This separates forward pricing from the pricing and valuation of other derivatives. Futures, for example, are standardized forward contracts.

The book focuses on forward contracts. It describes futures, options, and swaps to distinguish them from forwards.

Diagrams and illustrations support the conceptual explanations and help interpret the calculations and data.

Explanations focus on the essential concepts and avoid deep theoretical discussions.

The book follows these principles:

Systematic structure As a rule, the text defines and explains a term before using it. I write the material as one coherent work. Each chapter on a type of forward contract reviews ideas from earlier chapters. This makes the chapters largely self-contained. Conventions for abbreviations, symbols, and notation apply throughout the book. A table of notation accompanies each formula.

Definitions with distinguishing criteria Each definition explains what makes the concept different from others.

Brevity and pedagogical necessity The text is descriptive and concise. Generally, it drops any sentence, or part of a sentence, that does not help the reader learn. This includes direct address, rhetorical questions, and transitions that carry no content. Generally, the text omits proofs, discussion of competing views, and anecdotes. Typography and design avoid decoration that does not convey content. The text minimizes the use of mathematics and formalism where possible.

Simplified examples The text illustrates concepts with specific examples suited to first-time readers. Each calculation shows every step, including basic ones. I choose amounts and rates to keep each calculation simple. The focus stays on the method.

Visualization Wherever possible, diagrams, timelines, and plots illustrate ideas.

The book is written for first-time readers, especially finance undergraduate students. The primary audience is undergraduates majoring in finance or financial services.

Yes. The book is designed for readers who have not studied financial derivatives and want a structured introduction. This group includes students and professionals in other areas, such as accounting, education, economics, engineering, general business administration, health sciences, law (including tax law), mathematics, and political science. For instance, lawyers or accountants who review derivatives contracts or work on regulatory compliance may benefit from understanding the financial structure of derivatives.

No. The book follows a step-by-step approach for readers without prior exposure to financial derivatives.

The book assumes basic algebra and some finance concepts, such as present value, future value, and compounding and discounting with interest rates. An introductory textbook or course in financial mathematics provides sufficient background. Where relevant, the chapters briefly refresh financial mathematics concepts.

Yes. The book is recommended as preparatory reading before a finance undergraduate class. During a course, comprehensive textbooks cover several concepts in greater depth.

The book covers the pricing and valuation of forward contracts. The syllabi of some professional finance exams include this topic. Exam preparation materials focus on the exam. This book focuses on understanding. It explains the topic step by step and leaves advanced details, exceptions, and special cases to later study. It can serve as systematic introductory reading for those exams. I suggest reading the book first and then turning to the official curriculum and exam preparation materials. The book is not affiliated with any exam provider or certification body.

Footnotes in the text indicate primary sources and recommended textbooks for further reading. Advanced details, alternative pricing approaches, exceptions, and special cases are for later study.

Readers who want to deepen their knowledge of corporate finance and financial derivatives can consult:

• Brealey et al., Principles of Corporate Finance
• Bodie, Merton, and Thakor, Principles of Finance
• Bodie, Kane, and Marcus, Investments
• Hull, Fundamentals of Futures and Options Markets
• Sundaram and Das, Derivatives: Principles and Practice

Readers pursuing a professional designation can consult:

• Schwartz, Adam, CFA® Program Curriculum Level II, on forward commitments
• The CFA Institute Investment Series, including:
  • Pirie, Derivatives
  • Adams and Smith, Fixed Income Analysis

Candidates should rely on the official curriculum of the exam provider.

For fixed income, the Frank J. Fabozzi Series offers further reading, for example:

• Fabozzi and Mann, The Handbook of Fixed Income Securities
• Fabozzi, Fixed Income Mathematics

My current recommendation is not to rely solely on AI tools and the internet. The sources needed depend on the stage of study. For first-time learners, I recommend:

• Reference works for widely accepted definitions
• Introductory textbooks, such as this book, for systematic understanding

Later stages add further sources:

• Advanced textbooks and practice problems for further detail (master’s level and higher)
• Handbooks for practical problems and market conventions (for job skills)
• Research papers and online sources for current problems and discussions (for on-the-job research or specialized problems)
• Theses and dissertations for specialized analysis (for specialized problems)

AI tools and internet videos can complement these sources. I do not currently recommend them as replacements.

The book contains worked examples. Each example states a task and shows the solution step by step. The book has no separate exercises. Readers, including instructors, who see a need for a separate book of practice problems in a similar style can tell me by e-mail at mail@finanim.com. Such messages help me gauge demand.

Yes, partly. The book explains essential concepts of forward contracts, so instructors can use it as introductory reading before a course. It does not currently cover an entire college or university course on derivatives. During a course, comprehensive textbooks cover several concepts in greater depth. The book complements other textbooks for first-time readers, especially undergraduate students. It does not replace them.

I am considering further books on other derivatives. I am also open to collaborating with other authors on similar work for first-time learners. Readers who would like further books can tell me by e-mail at mail@finanim.com. Such messages help me gauge demand. Authors interested in collaborating can write to the same address.

The book is written in English. There are currently no translations.

Animations are meant to accompany the book. They are not available yet, and no release date is set.

The book is available as a hardcover (ISBN 978-1-0696434-1-4) and a paperback (ISBN 978-1-0696434-0-7).

The book has 253 pages, including front matter. It is the first edition, published in October 2025.

No e-book edition is available at this time.

The book is sold as a complete volume. Individual chapters are not available at this time. Samples are available on finanim.com.

Yes. Samples are available for download on finanim.com.

The book is available as a hardcover and a paperback. Lulu prints the hardcover, and it is available on Lulu and on Amazon marketplaces. Amazon prints and distributes the paperback. Other online booksellers also list the book. Availability and prices vary by retailer and country. Feedback on availability, distribution, and print quality is welcome at mail@finanim.com. It helps me improve availability.

As of October 2026, Amazon lists the hardcover at 79 USD and the paperback at 49 USD. Prices vary by retailer and country.

Lulu (lulu.com) is an online self-publishing and print-on-demand platform. It prints a book after an order is placed.

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon’s self-publishing platform. Its print-on-demand service prints a book after an order is placed. Despite the name, the paperback is a printed book, not an e-book. Amazon prints and distributes it through KDP.

I recommend the hardcover for long-term use, such as in a library, for regular use, and as a reference book. In my assessment, the hardcover printed by Lulu has higher print quality than the paperback printed by Amazon. The paperback costs less. In my experience, the paperback from Amazon arrives faster than the hardcover from Lulu. Both editions contain the same text.

Readers can suggest the book to their library. The library decides whether to purchase it. For libraries, I recommend the hardcover (ISBN 978-1-0696434-1-4). The paperback has ISBN 978-1-0696434-0-7.

I wrote, edited, and designed the book. This includes the layout, typography, figures, plots, and tables. I created all of them, so their style is consistent throughout the book. I typeset the book in L^aT_eX and created the graphics with TikZ and pgfplots.

I edited the text. Before publication, two readers proofread the manuscript. They read it line by line, checked the numbers, and checked the layout. They reported errors, and I corrected all of them. The preface acknowledges both readers. Readers can also judge the content in the samples on finanim.com and in the reader reviews on the book’s Amazon page. Readers who find errors or have other feedback can send them to mail@finanim.com.

Yes. Douglas College supported the project through a teaching release that provided time to complete the manuscript. The preface acknowledges this support.

I published the book independently. Self-publishing allows flexible revisions and extensions, including related online material, on my own schedule. The book is available on Amazon and Lulu. Inquiries from publishers are welcome at mail@finanim.com.

Print on demand produces each copy after an order is placed, so distribution needs no stock and bears no cost for unsold copies. Updates are flexible: a revised file applies to copies printed after the change. Printing only ordered copies also limits material waste.

I offer free paperback copies to instructors who consider the book for a course. I cannot send copies to everyone, so the offer is limited and may end at any time. I order the copy through Amazon’s print-on-demand service, and Amazon ships it under its own shipping conditions. Instructors can request a copy by e-mail at mail@finanim.com and include evidence of a teaching role, such as a link to a faculty page. Critical feedback is welcome.

I support review requests where possible. Copies are limited, and the offer may end at any time. I order the copy through Amazon’s print-on-demand service, and Amazon ships it under its own shipping conditions. Reviewers can request a copy by e-mail at mail@finanim.com and state where the review will appear. A copy does not require a review or a particular opinion. Reviewers are asked to say how they obtained the copy. Critical feedback is welcome.

Readers can send feedback and error reports to mail@finanim.com.