Mini Course: Personal Finance for Scientists in Japan 2026

This is Session 1 of 2

Please REGISTER here if you plan on coming...

Personal finance can feel unnecessarily complicated—especially when advice is filled with jargon and concepts that feel daunting to understand. This practical, accessible course explains the foundations of money, inflation, saving, and investing through clear models, simple explanations, real-world examples, and group discussion. No prior knowledge of economics or finance is required.

Across four interactive sessions (two days), participants will estimate their retirement needs, develop a workable savings system, and learn about the major classes of long-term investments, risk and return, diversification, and the power of compounding wealth. The course also offers a practical introduction to Japan’s NISA system, including how to choose a provider and plan a first investment. Participants will leave with useful tools, greater financial confidence, and a clear plan for turning long-term goals into practical action.

*This course does not provide financial advice. All contents are for informative and educational purposes only.

Note: Bring a laptop or iPad, as some exercises require the use of a computer for opening an html file.
Course participants will be sent a simple retirement calculator. Runs locally, safe and easy to use.

Sessions 1 and 2: Friday October 9

0900-1200 in L4E01 

Money, wealth, and inflation

Saving and planning for the future

Sessions 3 and 4: Friday October 16 

0900-1200 in L4E01

Risk, return, and building an investment framework

Using NISA in Japan: NISA setup map and 90-day action plan