NEWS Vietnam

Workshop “Financial Success Mindset: Habits That Build Long-Term Wealth”

In the context of national economic growth and global integration, achieving financial independence and personal growth has become crucial for every individual. In particular, cultivating effective financial management habits serves as a solid foundation for long-term success. Capturing this trend, the “Financial Success Mindset: Habits That Build Long-Term Wealth” Workshop was organized on July 15, 2026 by NCKU Overseas Hub in Vietnam. The event delivered profound insights and practical guidance, empowering participants to gradually build positive financial habits and securely strengthen their personal financial capacity.

The event was honored by the participation of Professors from College of Management and expert speakers representing the industry. Notable attendees include: Dr. Ngo Thi Minh Hien - Director of NCKU Overseas Hub in Vietnam (NCKU OH); Prof. Ann Shawing Yang - Institute of International Management, NCKU; Prof. Min-Hsien Chiang - Institute of International Business, NCKU; Mr. Doan Nguyen Thoai - Senior Officer - International Trade Service, Asia Commercial Bank; Mr. Nguyen Nam Son - Deputy Head of Research - Phu Hung Securities; Ms. Lien Nguyen - Head of Research - Phu Hung Securities.

The Workshop brought together a vibrant mix of scholars, researchers, educators, and students from various fields and regions. The post-event registration data showcased the diversity of participants, including 28% Graduate Students, 27% Undergraduate Students, 26% University Staff, 8% Industry, 5% Freelancer, 3% Goverment, 2% Researcher and 1% Hospital. This dynamic participation underscored the event's relevance and impact, while reflecting a growing public interest in long-term personal financial development.

The event commenced with Opening Remarks from Dr. Ngo Thi Minh Hien, Director of the NCKU Overseas Hub in Vietnam, who extended a warm welcome to all participants and outlined the objectives of the Workshop. The session was designed to equip attendees with practical strategies for developing consistent financial habits, fostering a success mindset grounded in discipline and patience, and building sustainable wealth for long-term financial freedom. Additionally, the workshop highlighted a diverse participant demographic comprising undergraduate and graduate students, university staff, freelancers, and industry professionals underscoring the broad relevance and growing importance of personal financial management across various sectors.

Following the opening session, Prof. Ann Shawing Yang from NCKU’s Institute of International Management presented “Financial Behavior: Taiwan Households and Theories”. Drawing on her published empirical research, she analyzed how Taiwanese households allocate financial and non-financial assets based on income levels, while addressing key decision-making hurdles such as analytical limits, the Familiarity Effect, and trading patterns like Holiday Effects. Concluding her session, Prof. Yang highlighted modern investment solutions, emphasizing the growing shift toward ETFs (exchange traded funds), leading stocks, and sustainability-driven frameworks like AI (artificial intelligence), ESG (environmental, social, governance), and CSR (corporate social responsibility).

The Workshop continued with an insightful presentation by Prof. Min-Hsien Chiang from NCKU’s Institute of International Business presented “Financial Success Mindset”. He challenged the misconception that high income equals wealth, emphasizing that true financial mastery lies in disciplined retention and the mathematical power of compounding over time. Prof. Chiang introduced key behavioral finance principles, advocating for automated financial systems to overcome emotional spending, and presented Nassim Taleb’s Barbell Risk Strategy to prioritize downside protection before seeking aggressive investment gains. His session provided actionable frameworks for attendees to transition from relying on willpower to engineering automated, long-term wealth systems.

Next, Mr. Doan Nguyen Thoai’s session titled “From FOMO to Financial Control: Smart Banking Habits for Young Adults” provides a practical roadmap to help young people shift from reactive spending to proactive financial control. Guided by the core philosophy "Control first, Safety next, Growth later," he highlights how small, emotional spending habits and "FOMO traps" driven by social pressure or impulse buying easily drain personal funds. To overcome this, the talk outlines an 5-step "Anti-FOMO" habit system using Mobile Banking: separating income into 3 wallets (Must-pay, Lifestyle, Future) with automated transfers to prioritize savings, spending 5 minutes weekly to review financial health, applying a 24-hour pause rule before non-essential purchases, using credit cards disciplinedly as a payment tool rather than extra income, and starting small with regulated investments to gain experience. Concluding with 4 immediate actionable steps, Mr. Thoai emphasizes that true financial control isn't about achieving instant perfection, but about building repeatable discipline to master one's financial choices.

Last but not least, Mr. Nguyen Nam Son from Phu Hung Security presents a practical roadmap guiding individuals from building a solid financial foundation to investing with confidence. Rather than relying on market timing or speculative stock picks, he structures the path to financial growth around four essential pillars: mastering personal cash flow through a "Money Map", establishing a protective layer with emergency funds and debt management, following a disciplined investment process centered on strategic asset allocation, and implementing a clear 7/30/90-day action plan. Through this structured approach, Mr. Nguyen Nam Son reinforces that true investment confidence stems not from predicting market movements, but from disciplined preparation and sound financial habits.

28 questions posed to the Speakers. Each question was met with thoughtful and insightful responses from the Speakers. Here are Q&As from Speakers and participants: “After reading many financial literacy books, I noticed that one of the most commonly recommended ways to build wealth is through investing in real estate. However, I find it challenging for individuals who do not have sufficient funds to invest in property. How can someone with limited capital (say Student) take advantage of real estate investing or pursue alternative wealth-building strategies?” "ETFs, index funds, ESG stocks, and AI-related investments are becoming increasingly popular among young investors. In your opinion, how can young adults distinguish between a genuinely suitable long-term investment and a product that is attractive mainly because of current trends or media attention? What criteria should they evaluate before including these assets in their personal financial plans?" “How can an average retail investor practically utilize these insights on "Holiday Effects" and "Calendar Trading" to optimize their portfolio without falling into the trap of speculative short-term trading or overtrading?” "Prof. Yang, your presentation suggests that investors often prefer well-known companies, familiar industries, or even the companies they work for. While familiarity may make investment decisions feel safer, it can also lead to excessive concentration and limited diversification. What practical steps can young investors take to recognize and overcome this familiarity bias without investing in products or markets they do not fully understand?" “According to household theories, how does a family's financial background affect an individual's risk tolerance? Does coming from a conservative saving household make a young professional too afraid to take healthy investment risks later in life?” “when studying household finance, do you see a major gap in financial behavior between the older generation (parents) and the younger generation (Gen Z) in Taiwan? How can young adults maintain traditional saving disciplines while adapting to modern lifestyle demands?” “In today’s fast-paced world of 'instant gratification,' what is a practical daily mental exercise that young people can practice to strengthen their financial patience?” “What financial habits should young people develop as early as possible?” “for university students who are just starting to learn about money management, what is the single most important habit they should adopt today to program their minds for financial freedom in the next 10 years?" “In your opinion, what is the biggest mental barrier that prevents intelligent people from achieve their financial plans, and how does a 'success mindset' help them overcome this analysis paralysis?” “How can students and fresh graduates distinguish between a healthy 'financial growth mindset' and dangerous over-optimism that might lead to high-risk, impulsive financial decisions?" “Many young adults experience a 'scarcity mindset' when facing tight budgets, which makes them afraid of any financial changes. How can they shift from a mindset of survival and fear to a mindset of strategic wealth accumulation?" “A lot of financial FOMO comes from social activities, like splitting expensive dinners or traveling with friends. From your experience, how can young people politely set financial boundaries with their peers while still utilizing smart banking habits to track and split group expenses fairly?" “Many young professionals get their first credit cards early, which can easily lead to debt if they lack financial control. What smart banking habits or strict rules do you recommend they follow to ensure credit cards remain a helpful financial tool rather than a debt trap?” “For university students or fresh graduates with very limited income, the idea of 'financial control' can feel overwhelming. What are some simple, daily 'micro-banking habits' they can practice right now within their banking apps to start building a long-term wealth mindset?” “Mr. Thoai, your presentation recommends separating income into three wallets: Must-pay, Lifestyle, and Future. However, many young adults have unstable monthly income from part-time work, freelancing, or commissions. In this situation, how should they decide the appropriate percentage for each wallet, and which category should be adjusted first when their income unexpectedly decreases?” “You mentioned that young adults should “start small and learn first” when investing through regulated channels. Before moving money from savings into an investment product, what basic financial conditions should a beginner meet? For example, should they first build an emergency fund, clear high-interest debt, or reach a certain level of monthly savings?” "Since our topic is 'Confident Investing,' how can new investors distinguish between healthy, knowledge-based confidence and dangerous overconfidence when entering the stock market?" “You mentioned that money is not only about becoming rich, but also about creating options. From your experience, which financial option should young adults prioritize first: the ability to handle emergencies, change jobs, support their families, or invest for long-term goals?” "Mr. Son, your presentation emphasizes that personal finance gives us stability while investing gives us growth. In practice, how can a young adult know whether they are currently prioritizing stability too much and delaying investment unnecessarily, or taking investment risks before their financial foundation is truly ready?" “A three-month emergency fund is presented as a useful starting target. However, should this target be different for someone with unstable income, family responsibilities, or limited insurance coverage? What factors should they consider when deciding whether three months is enough?” “Many beginners believe diversification simply means buying many different stocks. How can they evaluate whether their portfolio is genuinely diversified, rather than holding several investments that are still exposed to the same sector, market, or economic risk?” “Before buying an investment, you recommend asking who is selling it, what can go wrong, whether it is properly disclosed, whether we understand it, and where the information can be verified. For a beginner with limited financial knowledge, which of these five questions is usually the most difficult to answer correctly, and how can they improve?”

The event culminated in an interactive Panel Discussion and Closing Remarks, where participants and Speakers engaged in open dialogue on the presented topics. This closing session served as a reflective moment, inspiring participants to actively deepen their understanding and apply the knowledge gained throughout the Workshop to advance their financial mindset.

The Workshop concluded after three hours, accommodating a high volume of participant inquiries during the interactive Q&A session. As a key output of the initiative, the event generated tangible results across all engagement metrics, securing 102 registered participants and reaching 629 views across Facebook Livestream and Webex Cisco. More importantly, these numbers reflect meaningful cross-sector collaboration, bringing together representatives from 42 universities and 23 companies thereby bridging the gap between academic theory and practical industry application. Furthermore, with participants joining from 14 countries (including Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan and Turkish), the event not only demonstrated broad international appeal, but also reinforced Workshop’s role in facilitating regional knowledge sharing and empowering young adults with essential financial literacy for long-term growth.

Overall, the workshop successfully provided practical knowledge and actionable financial habits, helping participants build a strong foundation for long-term personal financial security while reaffirming NCKU’s commitment to fostering personal and professional excellence across the region. Finally, NCKU OH extended sincere gratitude to the Speakers, participants, and all groups and pages that contributed to the event's promotion. Their collective support was instrumental in the Workshop's success.

Please follow NCKU OH on social media for future events updates:

❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohinvietnam

🧡 Twitter: https://twitter.com/nckuohinvietnam

💛 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nckuohinvietnam/

💚 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nckuohinvietnam

💙 Website: http://overseashubs.ncku.edu.tw/news.php?C=VN

Look forward to seeing you at the next event!