Seminar Recap | CPN “Personal Finance for Immigrants” – 24 September 2025
On 24 September 2025, Chinese Professionals in Norway (CPN) successfully hosted the first seminar in its Personal Finance for Immigrants project at Litteraturhuset in Oslo. The seminar focused on pension, saving, and investing, aiming to help immigrants understand how the Norwegian pension system works and how to get started with saving and investing to secure their financial future.
The event marked the launch of a broader initiative designed to provide immigrants with accessible financial knowledge and practical guidance for navigating the Norwegian financial system, strengthen their financial security, and better integrate into society.
The seminar was hosted by Ellen Zhang, Vice President of CPN and Project Manager, who opened the event by welcoming participants, introducing CPN organization, and presenting the background and goals of the project.
The Personal Finance for Immigrants project was created in response to a common challenge faced by immigrants to Norway (especially newcomers): understanding the country’s financial systems and making informed long-term financial decisions. Topics such as pensions, savings, taxation, and insurance can be complex even for locals, and immigrants often face additional barriers including unfamiliar regulations, language differences, and limited access to reliable information.
To address this need, CPN applied for funding from Oslo Municipality to organize a series of educational seminars that would be free and open to all immigrants living in Oslo. Although the organization received only about one third of the funding originally requested, CPN was proud to be the only non-profit organization awarded funding by Oslo Municipality in 2025 specifically for personal finance education.
With the support received and the commitment of CPN volunteers and partners, the project was adjusted to focus on two core topics in 2025, instead of the four originally proposed:
1.Pension, saving, and investing – first seminar (24 September 2025)
2.Insurance – upcoming seminar planned for Q4 2025
The project aims not only to improve financial literacy but also to empower immigrants to build long-term financial stability and integrate more confidently into Norwegian society.
The seminar attracted strong interest from the community. In total, 110 immigrants originally from seven countries registered, and around 60% were women. Most attendees were working professionals from both the public and private sectors, along with a few students and retirees.
Participants came from various parts of Oslo, both eastern and western districts, reflecting a broad geographical and cultural diversity. This diverse audience highlighted the widespread need for accessible financial education among immigrants in Norway.
The seminar featured two keynote speakers from Storebrand, one of Norway’s leading financial services companies:
•Petter Enger (41), Private Banker and Pension Specialist
•Preben Nausdal (60), Senior Private Banker
Both speakers have extensive advisory experience. Petter Enger frequently participates in pension discussions with senior management and executives in major Norwegian listed companies, while Preben Nausdal manages investments for some of Storebrand’s largest private clients.
During the seminar, the speakers provided a comprehensive overview of key topics in personal finance, including:
•Understanding the Norwegian pension system, including the three-pillar structure and how employment affects future pension benefits
•Best practices for saving and long-term financial planning, with practical tips on building financial security in Norway
•Principles of investing, including diversification, risk management, and long-term investment strategies
Their presentations combined professional insights with practical examples, helping participants better understand how financial decisions today can affect long-term economic stability.
The seminar was highly interactive. Participants asked numerous questions during the presentations and the Q&A session, and many continued discussions with the speakers during the breaks and after the event. Several attendees also sought advice related to their own financial situations.
The strong engagement created a lively and welcoming atmosphere, demonstrating the high level of interest in financial knowledge within the immigrant community.
Feedback from participants was very positive, with the seminar receiving an average evaluation score of 4.57 out of 5. Participants described the event as informative, practical, engaging and highly relevant to their needs.
Many attendees expressed interest in attending future seminars on topics such as insurance, budgeting, debt management, and taxation. The next seminar in 2025, focusing on insurance, is currently planned for 28 October (TBC).
As a follow-up to the event, up to 10 participants were invited to attend one-to-one consultation sessions with the Storebrand speakers to discuss their personal financial situations. These sessions are primarily intended for individuals who meet Storebrand’s private banking requirements, although other options may also be explored.
CPN would like to extend its sincere gratitude to all participants, volunteers, partners, and Oslo Municipality for supporting this initiative and making the first seminar a success. On behalf of the organization, CPN President Dr. Xiuhua Zhang presented flowers and small gifts to the two speakers as a token of appreciation for their valuable contributions.
CPN looks forward to continuing the Personal Finance Project and providing more opportunities for financial learning and empowerment in the immigrant community.
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming seminars and events!