Stay Invested - TEDxAUBG Workshop on Financial Well-Being

On February 17, 2026, in the BAC Auditorium, TEDxAUBG hosted a workshop on financial well-being in partnership with Postbank. The workshop was led by Vasil Slanchev, the Strategic Lead Private Banking and Mutual Funds at Postbank.

He delivered an interactive presentation focusing on the importance of structured investing, mutual funds, and other core concepts in the world of investment.

During the event, two AUBG students also shared their experiences with Postbank as interns. Right before the reception, the speaker also awarded two other AUBG students the annual Postbank scholarships. 

The Trends in the Global Financial Market

At the start of his presentation, Vasil Slanchev explained the changes of the investing market in 2025, highlighting a strong performance of various assets. 

He shared that newly implemented tariffs and trade wars, central banks, as well as AI and other technological advancements, now play a huge role in investment.

Mutual Funds & Exchange-Traded Funds

Vasil Slanchev continued with introducing mutual and exchange-traded funds as tools for building a diversified portfolio. 

Mutual funds are a collective investment scheme in which many investors’ funds are grouped, and the amount is invested in various assets. He explained that one of their main benefits is professional management - a specialized team that manages the money in the fund and invests under the investment objectives of the clients.

The speaker also explained the concept of exchange-traded funds - investment assets, traded on the capital markets, bought and sold on the stock exchange. With ETFs, the investor can direct various amounts of money in different stocks following a strategy and being aware of the stock indexes. 

An important factor for investing, highlighted by Slanchev, was also liquidity – the ability to enter or exit the market at any time, while possessing different types of investments. He also mentioned: “It is now much easier to build a diversified portfolio with as little as 10 euros of investment.”

Emotional Investing

Beyond asset selection, Slanchev also examined the role of emotional investing and investor behavior. Many investors fall into the trap of selling when prices are low and buying when they are high, often driven by emotions.

He highlighted that in investment, it is important to be a “reasonable investor” with a focus on “long-term investment, increasing the likelihood of positive returns.” Longevity and regular investment, according to the speaker, smooth out market volatility and ensure a diversified portfolio.

Conclusion & Awarding 

Slanchev concluded his presentation by highlighting the importance of understanding and managing the relationship between risk and return: “If you'd like to achieve 100%, you should expect to lose 100% of your portfolio.”

After the talk, audience members raised questions about the proposition of new payment provider services in the UK. It was also discussed why financial literacy is important for students interested in investing.

AUBG students Mariam Arakelyan and Kristiyana Kiranska then shared their experiences as interns in Postbank’s Human Resources department, evaluating the vital practical knowledge they gained there.

Following their story, two other AUBG students – Kristiyana Shivarova and Toni Kanchev, were awarded scholarships of $5,000 from Postbank’s and AUBG’s partnership. 

Audience Impressions

Maria Arsova, a first-year student at AUBG, shared that what stood out to her were the mutual funds that she now views as a safer option for investment. She also added that she now acknowledges the importance of investing early in life.

Boris Kourtev, also a freshman, said that his main takeaway from the workshop was the importance of investing in various assets and building a diversified portfolio. He also mentioned that the workshop changed his perspective on investment and how accessible it has become.

Interview with Vasil Slanchev

After the reception, the speaker shared that his passion for finance and investment started in his university years. He even dedicated his senior thesis to mutual funds. 

Slanchev also stressed that many young investors are overly focused on making profits quickly, often lacking the patience needed for long-term investing success. Aggressive and emotional investment, he said, is a very common mistake of new investors.

Slanchev also highlighted some vital skills outside of finance that a successful investor should possess – curiosity, awareness of global trends, and interest in the various market processes that drive the world. 

He concluded with a short, but very thoughtful advice: “Stay invested!”

Edited by: Hary Dikov and Vasil Paskov

This article was brought to you by AUBG Daily's title sponsors: 

• United Bulgarian Bank (Member of KBC group)

And

• BG MARKET