To help students broaden their understanding of financial planning and asset management, the BNBU Music Department recently hosted a seminar titled "Beyond the Notes: How Musicians Build Financial Security." The session was led by Professor Thomas Alexander Stein, Head of the Music Department, and featured guest speaker Mr. Zhenwei Dai , Chief Financial Officer of BNBU, who shared his professional insights. Held in a salon-style format, the event fostered an open and relaxed atmosphere, encouraging students to engage in in-depth conversations around the theme of financial stability and asset growth for musicians.

Drawing on his own experience, Mr. Dai shared practical observations from his investments in real estate, discussing strategies related to leasing and sales, asset cycles, and market opportunities. He emphasized the importance of building stable and sustainable income streams, particularly for musicians whose core work is centered on artistic creation. Mr. Dai highlighted the risks of relying solely on a single income source and encouraged students to develop basic financial awareness. He also advised making full use of on-campus resources to strengthen financial literacy—such as attending workshops organized by the finance office, consulting faculty across disciplines, and keeping up with mainstream financial media and literature.

Mr. Dai Zhenwei, Chief Financial Officer of BNBU, shares insights from his real estate investment experience.

Mr. Dai responds to audiences questions on investment practices during the interactive session.

Professor Tom Stein contributed a personal perspective by sharing his experiences in investing in musical instruments, cars, and watches. He introduced the concept of "Saving – Critical Mass," underscoring that effective investing begins with sustained saving efforts that gradually build a critical capital base.

Professor Tom Stein leads the seminar and introduces the concept of saving and investment fundamentals.

Prof. Stein illustrates the idea of “Saving – Critical Mass” during the seminar, encouraging students to reflect on the importance of capital accumulation.

The seminar further explored a range of asset classes and investment strategies. Topics included identifying the right timing and regions for real estate investment, understanding leverage and risk management, evaluating growth versus value stocks, and differentiating between active and passive investment approaches. The session also touched on how to identify long-term promising sectors such as technology, healthcare, and green energy, as well as how to assess geopolitical and policy environments in emerging markets and BRICS countries. Students were also guided to consider how investment priorities may shift at different career stages, and how to balance growth-oriented and income-oriented strategies according to their personal goals.

Dr. Milen JISSOV, Associate Professor and Associate Director of CTL, and Dr. Geuntae PARK, Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of SCC, engage in the discussion alongside students during the Q&A session.

Lively interaction at the event as attendees engaged with speakers on personal finance topics.

Through this seminar, students gained a more practical and structured understanding of financial planning and investment strategies. The Music Department will continue to organize cross-disciplinary events like this, encouraging students to expand their perspectives beyond the arts and lay a more solid foundation for their future careers.