Three brothers, one MScFIN: Where complementary strengths become shared success - CUHK Business School

Three brothers enrolled in the same master’s programme and graduated together — a storyline worthy of a dramedy, yet it truly unfolded among the 2025 graduates of CUHK Business School’s MSc in Finance. Not born into a financial dynasty, nor working in the same sector, each had carved out his own path before ultimately joining the cohort together. It soon became clear that their complementary strengths sparked academic synergy, leaving behind a memorable chapter in both their lives and the history of the Business School.

An unexpected harvest

The three Ngan brothers are six years apart in age. Influenced early on by their eldest brother Alvin, the younger siblings also chose careers in finance. Yet their distinct personalities and expertise placed them on different tracks: Alden, the youngest, works as an equity analyst at an asset management firm on the buy side; Ares is an investment adviser in private banking on the sell side; while Alvin specialises in strategy research at a securities firm. They note that in the past, they might only gather once or twice a year. Entering the same programme together was a matter of timing and serendipity, one that yielded unexpected rewards.

“We happened to be all working in Chinese firms and felt the need to upskill. Competition in the industry has intensified, most colleagues already hold master’s degrees, and newcomers arrive from prestigious universities. Relying on experience alone is no longer enough to stand out,” says Ares. Drawn by CUHK Business School’s reputation and flexible part-time programme design, he led the way by applying for MSc in Finance in late 2022. After the offer arrived, he also encouraged his brothers to seize the chance and give it a try.

Alvin (centre) shares that he has already begun instilling the concept of lifelong learning in his four-year-old son, and hopes that his son will one day pursue a master’s degree, just like himself and his younger brothers. (Photo provided by interviewees)

Achieving synergy and shared growth

Alden jokes that his first thought was purely practical: “With three brothers studying together, we had enough hands for group projects, even for meals before and after class.” Over time, they realised that working across different spectrum of finance gave them complementary perspectives and greatly broadened their horizons, “There’s real synergy. New ideas come easily.”

Beyond one another, the brothers’ positive influence reached the entire cohort. Alvin playfully comments that they embodied the economic concept of “positive externality”. “We were proactive in learning, often raising real-market questions that sparked lively discussions.” From yen carry trade winds and the resulting stock market volatility back in July 2024 to China’s dramatic policy reversal in late September, to the impact of tax incentives on Tesla’s performance, and practical client-facing skills, the trio sparked discussion in class and became catalysts for learning. They are grateful to professors who engaged deeply after class, refining both their thinking and practical abilities.

The trio particularly enjoyed Professor Tang Nai-pan’s (leftmost) classes, where assessments have no standard answers, critical thinking is encouraged, and real-world experience from his role as a chief risk officer is incorporated, adding practical value to the lessons. (Photo provided by interviewees)

Ares and Alden (front row, fifth and sixth from the left) have been selected for the Dean’s List

Sharpening knowledge, deepening bonds

Class discussion often escalate into heated debates, and competition among peers is inevitable. Yet the brothers say their bond was never tested; instead, it grew stronger. “At moments of disagreement, there were times when we would go straight to the professor to see whose view was better,” Ares recalls. “But we were seeking knowledge, not grades. Our debates were always about ideas, never personal.” Alden, who has long been the bridge of communication among the trio, adds that this shared journey even led to the creation of a brothers’ WhatsApp group, further enriching their exchanges, “That’s the greatest gain beyond knowledge itself.”

This shared journey of learning culminated in a three‑generation graduation ceremony. The synergy and rapport nurtured inside and outside the classroom have seamlessly carried into each of their future paths.

One household with three outstanding sons — their parents could not be prouder

First published in the CUHK Business School Alumni Website on 8 January 2026, this article is republished with permission from the School’s Alumni Affairs and Development Office.