This teacher is the best. He is very knowledgeable. He gives real life examples to relate to class discussion. His tests are super easy MC questions. 2 tests and a project. Take him!!!

Has a lot of useful knowledge to offer. Tests are pretty much a joke. If you have taken a couple of finance classes, you shouldn't even have to study. Take the class.

One of the best professors at State.

This teacher is actually one of the easiest 323 teachers in the department. He tells you exactly what will be on his tests which are M/C. Study the optional study guide sold separately from the book. It helps with the conceptual questions. Do all the homework and you will due well. His real world expertise makes the class amazing.

Great professor that incorporates real world experience to his lectures. Must read chapters and do assigned problems unless you have previous knowledge of basic finance concepts/functions. He is willing to help out if you need help. Gives a review of what's going to be on each test a week before the tests. Complaints come from bad students.

he is very helpfut and he teaches from the book. he adds points to bring up the average of the class. the class itself is not and easy class but he tries his best to make it easy. he is the best professor you can have for finance 323 at SDSU. 2 midterms and 1 final all M/C. no papers. you will regret it you take this class with other professors.

Awesome teacher. This was the first night class I have taken without wanting to fall asleep every week. He basically outlines the chapters for you in lecture and relates it to real life. He does everything he can to help you understand the material, and classes rarely last until 9:40. Its a hard class, but he makes it as easy as 323 can be.

Reading these last comments made me laugh. All these students probably got bad grades because they did not put any effort in! This teacher cares a lot, is fun and loves what he is doing. One of the best classes I have ever taken. His tests are easy if you read the book and go through his exercises. I loved this class. TAKE HIM!

he is a good teacher. Try to save students who deserve to fail. exams are not easy but if you study textbook and fully understand, you will be fine.

The problem with other students ratings are that they probably tried taking tests without reading the book. If you read the book and go to class, you should at least pull off an B. If not then maybe you should consider changing majors.

This was the best undergraduate class I have ever taken, with the best instructor at SDSU. He knows his stuff very well, and does all that can for everyone to pass. He even offered to meet with students on a weekend to help out. I got an A in his class and just read the book and studied his notes. I highly recommend him.

2 midterms & final. A+ didn't help so dont bother. straight from the book - so go to class & take good notes - esp if you aren't a fin/acct major. He's always available to answers questions, so ASK! People complain about his teaching, but they're just lazy or dont come to class. I'm real glad i took fin323 with him! I hear the others are WORST!

Great person. Doesn't need to travel from Costa Mesa but does so to help people understand his passion of choice. Study hard as this class is not a "gimme" A. Learned a lot. Better than Pawar in terms of work load by a long shot

Hard subject, good teacher. Lectures can be a little boring (teaches from book), but they do match up to tests. Go to class, read, work problems in text and work book, and get into a study group! If you do all this then you will earn an A. I reccomend Neidlander over all other Finance professors!

Nielander is good people! His exams are tough but what do you expect when he allows a full page of notes front and back! Also, most people try to pass this class without reading the book and working through the problems. Not gonna happen! You need to treat this class like a math class. DO THE PROBLEMS AND READ THE CHAPTERS AND YOU'LL DO GREAT.

Neilander isn't a bad teacher. People just don't know how to study for this class. You need to treat it like a MATH class. In other words, you HAVE to read the chapters and do the end-of-chapter problems or you won't do well. Do them however, and you'll easily get a B or better. I know Finance isn't everybody's cup, but you HAVE to put in the work!

Nielander is a good guy, pretty sarcastic too which can be pretty funny! class is very straight forward, 3 tests, thats it. 1 page of notes, tells u whats on the test, but u need to understand the concepts and do the homework or ur screwed test time.

I rettok this class, and he was so easy compared to Pawar. Three tests, one page notes, and no hw. He goes over the hw in class so you should do it but his tests are very straightforwar, easy B, need to study more for an A.

SO MUCH BETTER THAN PAWAR. I had to retake this class with him. Still didnt do great but i passed.Lectures are from the book so highlight everything he does, know it and the homework problems and you should do fine.He goes off on tangents alot,which is a nice break from the material, b/c its real world stuff he talks about. Take him for sure!

Finance is not easy. However, if you are gonna take it, you should take it with Nielander. He is the only one who is realistic about his tests and makes it possible to pass. The stress level is much lower compared to other fin prof's as far as I have heard. He's a smart guy, but his lectures are dry and he simply reads from the book.

Recipe for easy A in his class: 1) READ the chapter before class!!2) DO THE HW problems and understand them. 3) Focus on understanding the underlying concepts and how they relate to each other instead of just mechanically learning to do the problems. If you understand the concepts, the math becomes peace of cake. You should be doin this for all cla

You should question your brain if you have to take a+ review just to pass this class. The class is easy, the tangents are useful and applicable to real life. For those who complain any stuff bout him, take pawar and you'll be grateful to be in nielander's class. He's definitely my hero in finance world.

I did A-Plus Review for the first test, D. 2nd test I got a B on my own. DO NOT TAKE A-PLUS! Steve is cool, he will help when you ask. He does not ramble, he talks about real world situations and talks to you like an adult. The highlights are a guide of what to study. You have to study, so don't blame him for your poor grades because your lazy.

Steve is a great guy. I hate finance but I am grateful to be in his class. There is alot of material that is on the test. Its half conceptual and half calculations as long as you read the book, do the homework and UNDERSTAND IT! you will at least get a C. Sometimes he is generous and gives a small curve which helps abit. He also gives great advice

Read the book, do the problems he tells you to do, and write down whatever he says "might" be on the exam. It's not rocket science. I read the book, did the problems a couple of times, and killed his first 2 tests. If I can do that, any SDSU Junior or Senior should have no problem at least passing his Class

Talks about politics for the first 30-60min Then has you highlight your entire book. Doesn't teach much so be prepared to learn on your own. Doesn't use BB, class average was a D- on 1st test, C- on second after he made it all M/C. Total of 3 exams, allows 1pg of notes. Does not give E.C. Lives in OC + teaches 1 class =no office hrs except b4 class

DOES GIVE EXTRA CREDIT. Basically 10 automatic extra credit points (5 on Test 1 and 5 on Test 2). Since there are 300 total points for the class, 10 points is 3.3% for free. Quit whining...jeez

Highlight what he highlights in the book, condense it, put it on your cheat sheet along with vocab, do the problems, go to class before the test to see what's on it, study before the tests (duh), if you need to go to A+. And you can get a A- like me. :) He's way better than all the other ones so relatively he's great. Very personable in office hrs.

a really nice guy if u go to his office hours and talk to him. go to A+ review early on if ur having trouble!!!

looking back at my first finance class that i took, he is still the best professor that ever taught me. if you can't even get a decent B in this class you should consider changing your major, coz it shows that you are incapable of handling the easiest finance class ever. steve is a great, inspiring, and very cool professor!

GET THE HP 12C calculator, that thing help me pass his class. Everyone said other calculator better but i have TI83 and HP12C. HP12C hand down...

yes he does go of on tangents but they are great! lol they are very interesting unless u dont like finance or money. but if that stuff interests u then its awesome u learn so much. if u are a marketing major and dont like to think just sell, then u probably wont like him

This teacher is cool, he has a personality and coming from a full time position working at a bank has lots of insights and information normally unavailable to students. This class is not easy, accounting experience will help, know your financial statements etc. I got an A in the class and would recommend him to other students.

Tough class but he's a good teacher. don't know why he has so many bad reviews. He tells you what he'll be testing on. attend class, read the text before, and do the homework. You will do fine if you do all these things. He's very willing to help you, but YOU need to initiate the help. He's a very nice guy and knows what hes talking about

This class isn't easy, but Steve makes it interesting and relevant. I passed this class w/ only a C but it was entirely my fault. Steve goes everything he tests on. Take good notes, exams consist only of what he teaches in class. Skip A+ review, not for serious students. Straight forward professor and great for students who want to gain knowledge.

his class isn't easy, but Steve makes it interesting and relevant. I passed this class w/ only a C but it was entirely my fault. Steve goes everything he tests on. Take good notes, exams consist only of what he teaches in class. Skip A+ review, not for serious students. Straight forward professor and great for students who want to gain knowledge.

Professor Nielander knows the topic well and is very good at explaining it. I would have enjoyed the class better if he could stay on topic though. He LOVES to read newspaper articles to the class that support his right wing republican agenda but has very little to do with finance. He does his best to communicate what he expects you to learn.

Class consists of 3 tests and that is all, so no room for error. He's a good professor, professional in his field. Tells you exactly what he expects from you on the test. Participation is not mandatory, but if you wanna get a decent grade, make sure not to miss any lectures. A+ review helps a great deal, so don't miss out on the opportunity.

The first test was hard and I thought I was going to fail. I talked to Steve on a umber of occasions. He is always willing to go out of his way to help students. It's also very cool that he is actually working in the finance field, so he is very knowledgeable. You get what you put into the class and he is great.

Awesome guy and always available for additional assistance. Go see him or email if you do not understand. 3 exams, no other way to accumulate points. Going to class is crucial as he tells you exactly what will be on the exams; still, the exams are tough and you must study.

Don't go to A+ Review; you will fail the exams. There was a new book this semester and a brand new set of tests that A+ does not have (even though they claim that they do). He will show you exactly the kind of short-answer exam problem you need to know. If read the book and understand concepts the class is fairly easy. Will help if you ask

Good teacher, interesting lectures, hard material. Online homework and quiz every week, three exams. Each exam has 3 problems to work out, and he'll tell you what type of problem theyre going to be, and then 20 MC. Not an easy class, youve got to work for your grade. But he is really really helpful, go to office hours and he'll help you understand

Hands down the best 323 professor (hearing stories from other students), for some reason students think they do not have to do anything for a good grade at SDSU in general so wake up everybody you decided to go to college, work hard and you will do well. As for Neilander he is a seasoned professional that can give great industry advice and helps u

Best professor I've had at SDSU. Lectures are super entertaining and cover current events related to finance as well as material from the book. He is extremely helpful and enthusiastic about finance. Not a super easy class but if you go to class and put in effort its not hard. Tests are based on problems he does in class. Highly recommended!

3 tests, connect homework and learnsmart every week. You can make a cheat sheet for every test front and back. Get familiar with concepts of finance terms and applications, also make sure you pay attention to the big problems he tells you will be on the tests. The first test is the hardest, the second test is the easiest and the third is sorta easy

Steve's very successful in finance, owns his own firm, only teaching on the side for fun. Course is tough but he'll tell you exactly what's on the exam. He's a little intense & an affluent 1% conservative; if you're sensitive, you may be offended. Don't let his abrasive mannerisms fool you, on the inside he's a softy who deeply cares for students

Great ready to listen to his side of politics for 30 minutes before class. I did my homework while he ranted. Homework is not helpful for the exams but steves a good guy. I thought he was pretty funny and he NEVER wears socks, which my friends and I thought was a pretty amusing observation. He's a solid choice for Finance students.

my favorite teacher at sdsu and also the best finance teacher at sdsu. doesnt mean the class is easy, but he cares about his students. he wants the class to actually learn finance, so prepare to work. steve is a great guy and i definitely recommend his class.

Steve Nielander is one of my favorite professors at SDSU! He is caring, funny, & extremely intelligent! He is so passionate when he teaches & wants his students to understand concepts in real life situations! He is very blunt and has an opinion! If you are looking for an easy grade don't take him, if you want to learn something go with Steve!

I enjoyed his class. He's a reasonable guy, some might say generous bc he gives 2 sided cheat sheets & in-class work is pretty much whats on the exam. Very thorough w the material & thoughtful of students. Welcomes challenge & lets students speak up if they have any issue w his teaching style. I don't see why there would be any reason to complain.

Weekly LS and weekly Connect Assignments (so you have to purchase the online code). 2 midterms, 1 final, all non cumulative, 4 chapters each. Allows a two sided note sheet per test. MANDATORY ATTENDANCE - he goes over EXACTLY how to do the 2-4 fill in the blank test problems; one per class period. If you do not go it will reflect in your grade.

Steve is a great guy to have as a professor if you actually want to work in the field of finance someday. He tells you everything that will be on the test AND allows you a cheat sheet. The material can be tough for those new to finance, but having a Partner from an actual firm teach you material is as good as it gets. Also a really good person.

Steve is one of the best teachers I have ever had. I learned SO much about finance and how the world works. THE MATERIAL IS DIFFICULT in itself. Read the chapter (& take notes) before you even set foot in class and you will be GOLDEN, I promise. He goes on tangents, but you'll be able to follow along if you're already familiar with the material

He gets political from time to time was the only downside of this class. He cares about his students and wants you to pass. He gives you the option of having a cheat sheet on each exam and literally tells you exactly what will be on each exam during class. Hes eager to help if you ask and it was nice learning from him

Professor Nielander really cares about his students & will help if you ask for it. I took his course when all of the COVID stuff hit, so halfway through the semester, we had to change everything. That was tough, but he did his best to help us out by holding weekly Zoom meetings during normal class times to explain the material to us. Good teacher!

Life experience and passionate about the topic. He does this as his way of giving back and really cares about the topic. His talks at the beginning of class should be listened to regardless of how you lean, they are informative and applicable to the real world. Weekly connect learnsmarts(useless but easy points) homework for study and examstough

If you need to take this class, I would definitely recommend Steve! The material can be overwhelming at times, but he does a good job of explaining concepts. Do not skip class, he goes over everything that will be on the exams and doesn't post anything to Canvas. Pay attention and don't fall behind! Stay on top of homework and you'll easily pass :)

Steve is such a great finance lecturer! He really knows his stuff -- he's a CFA charterholder -- and knows how to convey it in lecture. There are 2 midterms, Connect HW and Smartbooks, and a final exam. The HW and smartbooks are easy points, but you really have to know your stuff to perform well on the exams! Pay attention in class and you'll pass

Professor Nielander is my favorite professor so far. He genuinely cares about all of his students and wants all of them to pass. The course was a difficult topic, but he went out of his way to help me understand the course materials for the final. He also is super knowledgeable, and gives real world advice. Definitely utilize his office hours.

Nielander teaches difficult material off the bat , but is an amazing professor with a ton of insight into the world of Finance. I wish I had studied much more and took the first test serious . Those who fail choose not to study.

Prof. Nielander is a good guy and knows the material well. Finance is hard, make sure to study for tests and put lots of examples on your cheat sheet. He basically tells u what the free response questions are on the test if u listen. Also show up to class, so many people leave early/don't show up then complain about how unfair/hard the class is...

Amazing Professor, he owns a business outside of class so he understands what actually occurs in the real world. He helps kils who try in his class with his connections. Class is tough but he is very thorough in what he teaches.

Go to lectures!! Put the problems you go over in lectures onto your cheat sheet (will be on test!). Cheat sheet can be printed, both sides, font size doesn't matter. Each test is about 20 multiple choice (small problems to solve or concept) and 4-6 long answer (big problems you solve out). Homework has 2 attempts. Tough class but great Professor.

Nielander is a partner at a wealth management firm and teaches out of passion on the side. He connects textbook concepts to real-world events, which makes lectures interesting. Read the chapter before class, take detailed lecture notes, go to office hours, and put in-class examples on your exam cheat sheet. Best option for 323 hands-down!

Nielander is a very knowledgeable professor with real world experience. This class is very hard though so be sure to stay on top of the material. Also, he is pretty based and his takes on current financial events are very entertaining. Other 323 professors are even harder from what I have heard.

Professor Nielander is one of my favorite professors. He is incredibly knowledgeable, motivating, and truly cares about his students. He did everything he could to make our learning experience smooth, going out of his way to accommodate everyone's preferences in his lecture delivery. Take him! He cares about your success in the class, and in life!

This is a tough class, but overall Professor Nielander is a great teacher. He is very successful in his field and tries to keep the information as relevant as possible. If you are serious about finance and want a passionate teacher he is the one for you!!

Steve is my favorite professor, despite how tough the class can be. The guy is huge on common sense not only about the material but in real life and I loved when he would talk about real things happening in the world relating to finance and economics. I have so much respect for him and I'm so lucky I got to take him his last semester teaching.

Professor Nielander is tough but engaging. The class is challenging, but he makes the material relevant. For study prep, I found unstuck study and the provided notes helpful alongside the textbook. Attend class and stay focused - you'll learn a lot.

Prof Nielander is so far the best professor I've had. All the bad reviews about him are either from people who don't go to class or just don't try in the class at all. He is a very smart guy and you can tell he is passionate about what he teaches. If you care about finance, you will truly appreciate him as your professor! CHOOSE HIM!!

Steve is very smart and super passionate about what he teaches. I think he is a good person, but the class is extremely hard. I would not have passed without going to A plus. He discusses politics/econ for 10-20 minutes at the start of each class. Two tests, one non-cumulative final. Beware that this class is difficult no matter what teacher.

This isn't an easy class, but this professor really teaches what matters. Everything on the test is covered in class, though sometimes phrased differently, so understanding the concepts is key. He doesn't just read off textbook slides he brings his own notes, problems, and focuses on what's important for exams and finance careers. the Best

BA323 isn't an easy class, but this professor really teaches what matters. Everything on the test is covered in class, though sometimes phrased differently—so understanding the concepts is key. He doesn't just read off textbook slides—he brings his own notes, real-world problems, and focuses on what's important for exams and finance careers.

Subjectively, he could make his lectures more interactive, he does a great job at going over so many concepts, but instead of doing things line by line, he already has the entire problem completed instead of going one by one. This course is hard, but Nielander is one of the better 323 professors by far. You have to study but you can pass!