How It All Began
Shown above was my first photo with Bo Sanchez. He is a best-selling author, speaker, Catholic lay preacher and entrepreneur. This photo was taken last February 2013 when I attended his How To Heal Yourself Naturally seminar at the Unilab Bayanihan Center in Mandaluyong City. This was the first time that I heard him speak and saw him up close. I never thought, nor expected, that this occasion will change my life BIG TIME!
After attending that seminar, I Googled "Bo Sanchez" and came across his Truly Rich Club website. I immediately signed up as a member without thinking twice.
On the website it says that TRC's vision is to help good people become rich.
I think I'm "good," and I wanted to be rich!
Because I do not have anyone else to ask personally, I self-studied. I learned as much as I can and applied what I learned ASAP.
The next thing I knew, I was buying shares of giant companies with my small amounts month after month. And that was just the beginning.
The Truly Rich Club's Wealth Summit
One month later, March 2013, I was at the Truly Rich Club's Wealth Summit in PICC. Here, I learned about the different kinds of investments (paper assets, real estate and business) and how money could actually work hard for me.
Here is my photo with Dean Pax Lapid at the Wealth Summit. He is a professor of Entrepreneurship at AIM, and starts a new business every year. Amazing!
And did I mention that the date of the Wealth Summit was held on the same date as our company's incentive trip to China? Because my reason for missing the trip was valid (I invested five-digits for this seminar), mine was converted to gift certificates instead.
Just an outpouring of abundant blessings!
Develop Your Passion
During the summit, I heard Jomar Hilario, the Online Marketing Guru, and enrolled at his Online Marketing Course. The OMC caused the birth of this blog. Because of this, I have developed my passion for writing -- a talent which I never thought actually existed.
It is very heart warming every time I receive feedbacks from readers of how this blog have inspired and blessed them. This blog aims to increase financial literacy among Pinoys, help them get out of bad debt, increase their income streams and prepare for retirement, among others.
This blog does not only offer financial knowledge to learn. But more importantly, it provides actual investment products that you could start RIGHT NOW.
For three years now, I have also been earning passive income here through Google AdSense.
My passion for learning grew each day. I splurged on self-growth, purchasing new books often and attending seminars here and there, because I believe that we are our best assets and an increase in learning means an increase in our value. While many would look for those that are FREE, I would find myself at various business and investment seminars that are not cheap. Paying always forces me to grow. If I paid for it, I am forced to apply everything that I have learned.
And as our knowledge increases, we are able to serve people better.
As of this writing, I also serve at The Feast Bay Area as a writer. It is one way of serving God and His people.
Above is a photo of my growing financial bookshelf. Believe me, I have purchased and read the most number of books this year than I have in my entire life! Reading has never been this fun and interesting for me.
I could only wish for more time to read in the coming days.
Keep Your Day Job, But Start Something On The Side
Through the Truly Rich Club, I met my business partner who is from Davao City. The attendees at the Wealth Summit created a Facebook group with the attendees as its members. Ironically, my partner was not at the Wealth Summit physically but was in that group. Fortunately for him and I, our paths have crossed. It is true when they say that there are a lot of opportunities around us, we just need to learn to recognize them, but at the same time, not say yes to all.
In July 2013, my partner and I opened our Tarlac Business Center for V Moringa Superior Liniment. It is the first and only Filipino-made organic (read: edible) liniment that is available today. Not only was it effective, but more importantly, it provides extra income even to the lower class due to its minimum capital requirement. We are aiming to build more business centers in Luzon. To know more about our product, please LIKE our Facebook page V Moringa Superior Liniment and send us a private message anytime.
This small business is another source of our income. Everything I earn from here, I invest directly in the stock market which grows exponentially through compounded interest. But because we are preoccupied with our jobs and other stuff, we have a great team (led by my mother) that manages it for us. And as for my partner and I, we just do what we do best for the business -- MARKETING!
Take A Leap Into Your Courage Zone
In October 2013, I had the courage to go on my first solo trip out-of-the-country. I went to Bangkok, Thailand. Staying for only one day, I shopped for clothes wholesale and sold them back home as retail. I also supplied clothes to other sellers. In a couple of months, I will be going back because the "BER" months are fast approaching. And yes, this is another source of income for me, plus I get to enjoy travelling.
Say YES To Opportunities
A month after, another opportunity came. Because I was obviously an advocate of increasing financial literacy, the wife of my friend invited me to become a licensed financial advisor under the first and largest Filipino-owned insurance company, Insular Life.
Through this, I learned the value of insurance and investment. As a financial advisor, I am proud that I help protect families in case of premature death, and prepare them for retirement in case they live too long.
We are hiring Financial Advisors under my team, by the way. If you are from Central Luzon, at least 25 years of age, passionate for learning and helping others, send me your resume at financialplanningforpinoys@gmail.com. Together, let us make our own dreams real.
This is a photo of my family's growing insurance and investment portfolio. We are protected, just in case. And because expense is always cheaper BEFORE the need, my husband and I have started investing for our children's college fund and our retirement funds.
Discover Your Purpose
At the Truly Rich Club, we are taught that the main purpose of wealth is to love others. We try to earn more, not merely for ourselves, but to be able to give more to do God's work.
Visit Abandoned Elders at Anawim
I had the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage at Anawim last August 2013. This is one of Bo Sanchez' ministries which is for the abandoned elderly. The lolos and lolas were very happy when they saw us. I became teary-eyed thinking of how their relatives could leave them just like that. Most probably, because of poverty and we cannot put blame on anyone. There was even one lolo who walked kilometres to reach Anawim because he had nowhere else to go.
Anawim is a home for more than 40 elderly. It becomes their last stop before God calls them home. Every month, it needs Php700,000 to take care of its residents. With a required amount as huge as that, why would you NOT want to earn more?
This also serves as a visual reminder to sow even in times of famine -- to invest and prepare for retirement NOW no matter how little you may be earning today. No one wants to be a resident at Anawim. Not me. I want to be a donor instead.
Note that these abandoned elders used to have jobs when they were younger. Although most are house helpers, there were also government employees, teachers and even OFWs. They used to support their families. And when they became burden, their families left them.
Financial planning plays a very important role in this. I know my children love me so much, but I do not want them to be my "retirement fund" in the future -- because they will eventually have a life of their own, kids to send to school, dreams to fulfill -- and I do not want to hinder any of that just because I did not prepare for my own future when I have the chance.
Besides, I imagine myself as the rich lola that my grandkids would love to visit!
Sponsor Kids Through World Vision
Also in 2013, I began child sponsorship through World Vision. With only Php600 per month, I was able to send a child to school and help in their community through livelihood programs. Every time I receive handwritten letters from my sponsored child, my heart would almost melt. The feeling is beyond butterflies in my stomach. It was unexplainable! Being able to give hope to a child and a better shot at life, and showing her that her dreams could come
true, that is definitely something. I encourage you to sponsor a child today and help make a difference in another person's life. Click Sponsor a Child Today.
To my friends who are also sponsoring kids, THANK YOU! Not only are we helping a child, but a family and a community as well. In our small ways, we are helping fight poverty.
Do Volunteer Work
I also had the opportunity to celebrate my 32nd birthday last June 2014 in a totally different manner by joining the Volunteer Caravan for Visayas with World Vision. This was my first time to do social work, and it gave me a sense of purpose. I flew to Bohol with my new found friends, did construction work and spent time with the kids in Maribojoc. After the earthquake, even though they lost a loved one and their homes, hope was evident. That life goes on. Being with them made me realize how blessed I truly was. I pray that God continues to use me as a channel of blessings to others.
This is a photo of our "finished project." The family would no longer need to bear the heat of the sun and the rain inside their tent. We have helped them transfer to their new home. Hats off to my fellow volunteers! If you are reading this, let us start our fund raising projects, shall we? I miss you all!
Say YES to God and He Will Take Care Of The Rest
In one audio seminar from the Truly Rich Club, I learned that the best investment is investment in God's work. We can never out give God because His economy is totally different from ours. God has been faithful. Not only did He take care of my finances (Yes, I used to be flat broke at almost all times!), but He gave me a new heart that is designed to love others.
Every time I attend The Feast in PICC, I surrender all my problems to God and let Him worry. Everything that I have prayed for in His name, He gave it to me -- maybe not in ways that I expected, but in ways that is most perfect from His perspective.
This is a photo of our family that was featured at the official Facebook page and Instagram account of The Feast Bay Area. It was pure awesomeness! I just had to post this photo because it was totally unexpected. My prayer is that God transforms the lives of my family the way that He did in mine.
Bo Sanchez and I Met Again
Fast forward to July 2016, I met Bo Sanchez again in Sydney, Australia while we were both attending the Hillsong Conference! Yes, he was an attendee, too!
I repeat. I was attending the same conference as Bo Sanchez did in Sydney, Australia!
It sounds so crazy that I had to repeat it in order to convince myself that it actually happened! Haha!
And yes, we were in a different continent just for the conference. People would think it's soshal; I would say it's money working for me. And yes, it can work even harder than this for you, too.
My friend and I saw him seated in one corner during the break, had the courage to approach him and introduced ourselves. He invited us to join their group for next year's conference. Without hesitation, we said yes! Oh, goosebumps!
One Last Note
"For I know the plans I have for you..
To prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
From Day 1, a lot has changed.
Before all these had happened, I used to be flat broke, living paycheck after paycheck, and with zero savings and investments. Worse, when work becomes toxic, bills come on time and our incentives are delayed, I turn into a grumpy wife, mother, daughter and sibling. I thank my family for bearing with me and loving me unconditionally.
Admittedly, I am still a work in progress. I still have dreams unfulfilled.
I still dream of making my passion my profession.
I still dream of sending at least ten kids to school through World Vision.
I still dream of building that eight-digit retirement fund.
But you know what?
Today, this is what I realize.
My dreams could wait, but time with my family, especially with my growing kids, cannot.
At the end of the day, it is still a choice of people over things.
Like my mentor, Bo Sanchez, often says, "We do not live just to fulfill our dreams, but to inspire and bless others."
I invite you to join us at the Truly Rich Club, experience God's abundance and miracles in ALL aspects of your life. To sign up, click Truly Rich Club.
Be very blessed.
P.S. I hope you find this post helpful. I would appreciate it very much if you click the SHARE buttons below. Thanks!
P.S.2 Do you dream of earning UNLIMITED income, experiencing time flexibility, opportunity to meet a lot of people and going on incentive trips? Be a part of Financial Planning For Pinoys Financial Advisors. Email your resume at financialplanningforpinoys@gmail.com. Thanks!
