Fluent in Finance
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today
because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
Warren Buffett
Financial seminars and workshops for students at
Bryanston school in Dorset
Fluent in Finance
In 2025 and 2026 Montgomery Associates have been invited to present our Fluent in Finance workshops to hundreds of students in Y10, Y12 and Y13 at Bryanston school in Dorset. With basic finance being added to the National Curriculum in 2028, our sessions are interactive and engaging, bridging the gap to empower the next generation of savers and investors.
If you attended one of our sessions you can recap on the topics we discussed and see extracts from the slides we presented below. If you want to ask about something from our talk or have a general query about finance, we would love to receive your question.
Don’t just take our word for it
Here’s what the Bryanston students had to say:
"Their talk was so inspiring I have already started to save"
"I now have a better perspective of money and I realise that the steps I take now will benefit me in the future."
"I would highly recommend this seminar to other students"
"I feel that I can really take this information through life"
"They showed me new ideas about money and how to manage it, which I didn’t really think about before"
"I especially loved the enthusiasm they had for the subject matter, and you can undoubtably tell that they are doing what they love"
“It really opened my eyes to smarter ways to grow my money and plan for the future"
"It will be great to do another talk similar to this - it will help me and everyone to know how to invest and deal with your money before you're 18"
About the speakers
James Montgomery
James is the Managing Director and second generation of Montgomery Associates. We are a 50-year family wealth management business specialising in investments and financial advice, managing £110 million for clients from our two offices near Shaftesbury and Bath. James and the team are launching a pioneering new service in Spring 2026 called Montgomery Wealth, dedicated to young investors and those new to finance, with ready-made portfolios starting from £1,000. montgomerywealth.co.uk
Seb Johnston-Brown
Seb is an Associate Wealth Manager. He advises clients on investments and financial planning, and is a member of the Investment Committee. He is involved in our responsible investment strategy, coordinates our Montgomery Portfolio Service and is on the team developing our new digital investment service for the next generation of clients, launching in Spring 2026. montgomerywealth.co.uk
What did we learn?
All of our sessions start with the basics of finance in the real world; what different bank accounts do, the discipline and patience needed to look after and grow your money, how compound interest can supercharge your savings, and the practicalities of how to invest. For sixth form students we go a step further by understanding what a payslip tells us, exploring the difference between funds and shares and how to read an investment report and past performance chart - no jargon, just straightforward explanations to empower the next generation of savers and investors.
Revisit some of the content we presented below and please do contact us to ask a question about anything you want to learn more about.
If we mentioned a financial term you’re not familiar with, visit our Glossary for quick and easy definitions.
Tip of the Iceberg
On the surface, you might assume that wealth is created either by getting a well-paid job, investing in property or playing the stock market. While this can be true, in reality these avenues rarely yield success without a great deal of patience, sacrifice and discipline. Building good financial habits from an early age can have a lasting positive impact.
Warren Buffett is famously quoted as having said:
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today
because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
You can read more about Warren Buffett, his legendary career and the timing of his retirement announcement in our May 2025 Market Update article (4 min read).
The Power of Compound Interest
Compound interest is when you earn interest on your money and on the interest you've already earned. This has a snowball effect over time where interest grows on interest.
Simple example:
You save £100 that pays 10% interest per year. After 1 year you earn £10 interest so you now have £110. In the second year, you earn a further 10% interest on £110 (not just the original £100). Your 10% interest in year 2 is therefore £11, so you now have £121.
Each year your interest payments build substantially over time because you are earning interest on a larger amount as each year passes.
NEW: test our Compound Interest Calculator with your own figures.
Golden Rules
Having invested for clients and advised multi-generational families for more than 50 years, we at Montgomery Associates have become well-versed in the pitfalls to look out for and how to handle the delicate topic of family finances.
Don’t expect a penny - instead of waiting for something to happen make sure you get your own finances in order; a job you enjoy, saving regularly, keep a rainy day fund for emergencies, use your ISA allowance and consider contributing to a pension are all worthwhile financial habits.
Make hay while the sun shines - if you are lucky enough to receive a gift, make it count. Before you spend it, consider what the gift could be used for and how you could make your money work for you. Interest rates and investment returns can vary over time, so think carefully about your attitude to risk. Always seek professional advice if you are unsure.
Sleep at night - if you are battling a financial dilemma don’t let it keep you up at night. Get advice, share the problem and research possible solutions. There are plenty of resources available online such as www.moneyhelper.org.uk, www.boringmoney.co.uk or www.moneysavingexpert.com.
It’s good to talk - we have seen families benefitting hugely when children and grandchildren are included in financial discussions. Talking about your finances together can help to educate those with less experience and create an atmosphere of trust. Most importantly this can be a key step in helping to share and preserve wealth from generation to generation.
Play the long game - if you are thinking of investing, remember that all investments carry a degree of risk and you may not receive back all of your initial investment. Consider your time horizon when putting your capital at risk by investing. Are you prepared to leave your money invested for five years, ten years, or longer? Compounding is one of the most powerful ways of growing your wealth over the long term.
Fluent in Finance
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today
because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
Warren Buffett
Financial seminars and workshops for students at
Bryanston school in Dorset
Disclaimer
The Fluent in Finance presentations for Bryanston school students, their content, this web page, and other web pages on www.MontgomeryAssociates.co.uk or www.MontgomeryWealth.co.uk does not constitute an offer or invitation in respect of investments described, nor should it be interpreted as advice or a recommendation. You should contact a financial adviser or accountant for advice relating to your own circumstances, or contact us with any questions you may have. The opinions and information in the presentation have been prepared from sources believed to be reliable at the time and are given in good faith. The value of an investment and any income from it can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
Montgomery Wealth
Coming in 2026: ready-made investment portfolios.
Dedicated to young clients building their career, growing a business, climbing the property ladder or raising their family.