Seminar: “Decoding Behavioral Biases in Finance: From Everyday Decisions to Professional Investment Mindsets”

On July 4, 2026, the webinar titled “Decoding Behavioral Biases in Finance: From Everyday Decisions to Professional Investment Mindsets,” organized by the School of Financial and Banking Technology of the University of Finance – Marketing in collaboration with Smart Train Academy and the CFA Institute, concluded successfully.

As personal finance and investment landscapes become increasingly complex, financial decisions are not based solely on data and logic. Emotions, habits, and behavioral biases can subtly influence how individuals perceive information, assess risks, and select financial solutions. Recognizing the importance of this topic, the webinar aimed to provide students and other interested participants with practical insights into behavioral finance while equipping them with the mindset needed to pursue careers in the professional finance sector.

Representing the School of Financial and Banking Technology of the University of Finance – Marketing were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh, Deputy Director, and Dr. Nguyen Vu Duy, Lecturer. Representing the CFA Institute was Ms. Florence Wong, Director of Partner and Client Solutions, Asia-Pacific. Smart Train Academy was represented by Ms. Tran Thi Xuan Mui, Deputy General Director, and Mr. Vo Minh Duong (CFA, CMA, MBA, MFin), Director of Enterprise Transformation & Technology and Lecturer at Smart Train Academy. The seminar was also attended by Mr. Tran Khanh Quynh, Secretary of the Institute’s Youth Union, along with a large number of students interested in finance.

The seminar pursued the following key objectives:

• To provide foundational knowledge of behavioral finance, helping participants understand how psychological factors influence financial decision-making in everyday life and investment activities.
• To analyze and identify common behavioral biases, such as confirmation bias, overconfidence, loss aversion, and herd mentality, and examine their impact on investment performance.
• To introduce a roadmap for developing a professional investment mindset through the CFA Program, thereby supporting students in planning their studies and career development.
• To create a forum for direct interaction between students and leading experts in the finance sector.

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh emphasized that the webinar was designed to help students gain foundational knowledge of behavioral finance and understand how psychological factors and behavioral biases affect financial decision-making. She highlighted the importance of developing a professional, disciplined, and objective investment mindset and expressed her appreciation to the CFA Institute and Smart Train Academy for their collaboration in organizing the program.

Figure 1: Opening of the webinar with the participation of speakers and guests.

Following the opening session, delegates and students took a commemorative photo to mark the occasion.

During the event, guests and students participated in two main sessions presented by experts from Smart Train Academy and the CFA Institute.

Session 1: “Decoding Behavioral Biases in Finance: From Daily Decisions to a Professional Investment Mindset”

The session was presented by Mr. Vo Minh Duong (CFA, CMA, MBA, MFin), Director of Enterprise Transformation & Technology and Lecturer at Smart Train Academy. The speaker provided insightful analysis of the impact of behavioral biases in the modern financial landscape, highlighting how psychological factors such as overconfidence, herd mentality, and loss aversion can lead to flawed decisions in investment and personal financial management. He also introduced practical strategies for identifying and mitigating these biases, with the aim of fostering a more disciplined and systematic investment mindset.

Figure 2: Mr. Vo Minh Duong presenting on “Decoding Behavioral Biases in Finance.”

Session 2: “CFA – A Roadmap to Building a Professional Investment Mindset”

The session was presented by Ms. Florence Wong, Director of Client and Partner Solutions (Asia-Pacific) at the CFA Institute. Her presentation provided an overview of the value of the CFA designation in building a strong foundation of knowledge, skills, and professional ethical standards for investors and financial professionals. Ms. Florence Wong also outlined the study and preparation pathway for the CFA examinations, encouraging students to proactively prepare for professional careers and keep pace with global developments in the financial industry.

Following the two thematic sessions, Mr. Vo Minh Duong, Ms. Florence Wong, Dr. Nguyen Vu Duy, and other speakers engaged in a Q&A session with students, addressing topics including behavioral finance, investment strategies, the CFA designation, and career opportunities in the finance sector.

Through the program, students gained practical insights into behavioral finance, a deeper understanding of the role of psychology in financial decision-making, and greater awareness of career development pathways in professional investment. The experts provided comprehensive responses, offering students diverse perspectives and valuable insights drawn from professional experience.

The webinar “Decoding Behavioral Biases in Finance: From Daily Decisions to a Professional Investment Mindset” was a resounding success. The event not only provided participants with valuable knowledge and practical insights but also reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to strengthening students’ professional competencies and preparing high-quality human resources to meet the evolving demands of the modern financial market.

Tran Khanh Quynh, Tran Nhan Nghia
School of Financial and Banking Technology.