Empowering the Next Generation: Financial Education at Straits and Stonyhurst International Schools Penang

At Melbourne Capital Group, we believe that financial literacy is a life skill that should begin early. That’s why we’re passionate about giving back to our local community by helping students build a strong foundation in money management, long before they enter the workforce or higher education.

Recently, our Private Wealth Managers Tom Raynor and Adam Kinsey were invited to deliver interactive financial education workshops to students at Straits International School and Stonyhurst International School in Penang. These sessions were part of our ongoing commitment to equipping young adults with the tools and knowledge they need to make confident, informed financial decisions in the real world.

What We Covered

Delivered in a relaxed, engaging format, the sessions gave Year 10 and Year 11 students a chance to explore real-life financial topics through quizzes, breakout activities, and group discussions. Some of the key areas we explored included:

• Budgeting: Understanding income vs. expenses and how to prioritise needs over wants
• Banking: Learning the basics of savings accounts, current accounts, and online banking
• Credit & Debt: Understanding how credit works, how to use it responsibly, and the long-term impact of borrowing
• Investing: An introduction to how investing works, the concept of risk vs. reward, and why starting early matters
• Avoiding Financial Scams: Spotting red flags and learning how to protect personal information
• Planning for the Future: From university costs to their first job, helping students think ahead

Making Finance Fun and Accessible

One of the highlights was the interactive team quiz, where students earned virtual money for correct answers and then used their “earnings” to create a bespoke financial plan, considering all the skills they’d gained in the session. Tom and Adam were tasked with choosing which team created the most sensible, meaningful long term financial plan. The standard was fantastic, with lots of the students planning ahead towards future property purchases, or putting away money into an emergency fund and directing some towards longer term goals such as retirement. This sparked plenty of conversation and laughter, while reinforcing key decision-making concepts in a fun and relatable way.

We were genuinely impressed by the curiosity and engagement shown by students at both schools. Many shared their own ideas and experiences, and it was clear they were already thinking critically about their financial futures.

Why It Matters

“Delivering these workshops is incredibly rewarding,” said Tom Raynor, Private Wealth Manager at Melbourne Capital Group, or 'Mr. Tom' as he's now known, “It’s about helping students feel confident talking about money and giving them a practical toolkit they can take forward. These are the conversations I wish I had when I was their age, it’s just not an opportunity we were offered.”

Looking Ahead

We’re proud to support the Penang international school community, and we’re already looking forward to more sessions in the coming months. If your school or organisation is interested in hosting a financial literacy workshop, we’d love to hear from you.

At Melbourne Capital Group, it’s not just about managing wealth, it’s about sharing knowledge and empowering the next generation to take control of their financial wellbeing and giving back to the community.

Feedback from Teachers

Straits International School – “Thanks again for your talk yesterday. I had a quick chat with some of the Year 10 students at the end of the day and they voted your session as their favourite so far fyi. The prizes were also very popular and students who won loved them.”

Stonyhurst – “Hi Tom and Adam, thank you both so much for taking the time to speak with our Year 10 Economics students yesterday. Your session was incredibly insightful, engaging, and well-paced, the students truly enjoyed the interactive format and gained a solid understanding of financial responsibility. Thanks once again, and we hope to welcome you back in the near future.”