How My Maid Became a Millionaire by Bo Sanchez

As many of you know, my financial overhaul began when I signed up at the Truly Rich Club, a membership site by Bo Sanchez. And the very first book I read on the stock market was a free ebook from the club, My Maid Invests in the Stock Market written by him. 


In this book, Bo taught his maids how to invest directly in the stock market. From their Php7,000 monthly salary, they would put their small amount in their stocks portfolio with the goal of becoming millionaires in the future.


I read that book in 2013, and it taught me the stock market on a layman's level. It also enabled me to make anyone understand how the stock market works, the same way Bo Sanchez made his maids understood it. I remember teaching my daughter about stocks when she was only eight years old. 


It also taught me that anyone can invest in the stock market. Five years and more mentoring later, I can say that the stock market is NOT for everyone. Yes, anyone can do it, but not everyone can stay invested in it -- no matter how diversified your portfolio may be.


To get your copy of that ebook for FREE, click HERE. For starters, this is something you may want to consider. I personally recommend it as your POINT A. But please, move forward after reading it. Widen your knowledge and learn about the stock market from different points of view, and learn from your personal experience as well. 

After Seven Years, Bo's Maid Became a Millionaire

In 2017, Bo wrote this book, How My Maid Became a Millionaire, when his house helper turned bookkeeper became a millionaire after investing in the stock market seven years later.


This book is not available in bookstores yet. I just saw a link online. The book is FREE, you just have to pay for shipping. But because I am no longer a member of the Truly Rich Club, I do not have a direct or affiliate link for the book. You can try Google like I did.


Today, as I type away this blog post, with the book next to me here in our room, my daughter asked if I am done reading the book. I said yes. She asked what did I learn from it. I told her that what were taught in this second book were already explained in the first. Personally, I think this was written as a confirmation that yes, you can become a millionaire through the stock market using the strategy of the Truly Rich Club, no matter how much you earn.

Moving On.. Let me share with you some points from the book

The book is divided into two parts.

First is the story of Gina, the maid Bo was referring to in his two books, and how she was able to achieve her first million in seven years through investing in the stock market.

Second is Q and A on stocks investment, with testimonials from the Truly Rich Club members.

Part 1.

I do not want to miss on a point so allow me to give you an idea of the book per chapter. Please bear with me.

Chapter 1 - The story of Gina began when she first arrived at their house applying as a house helper.

Chapter 2 - Gina graduates and promoted to bookkeeper. Bo focuses on the importance of discipline when investing.

Chapter 3 - Bo backtracks and shares how he taught his maids and driver to change their money habits.

Chapter 4 - Bo shares with his banker friend his dream for his maids. The friend thinks that his dream for them was weird and too ambitious.

Chapter 5 - Bo says that banks won't make you rich, focusing on savings accounts giving you less than 1%.

Chapter 6 - Bo teaches the Three Steps to Financial Freedom mainly

          1. Spend less than what you make.

          2. Follow simple instructions from the Truly Rich Club

          3. Invest small amounts consistently

Chapter 7 - Lastly, Bo says that nothing seems to be happening to Gina's money for the first five years. But at a certain point, the money hit a tipping point. This is what exponential growth is about. Question is, will you have the patience to stick around the long runway before the sudden climb?

Part 2.

Let me share some points discussed in the Q & A on Stock Market Investing using TRC's Strategic Averaging Method (SAM).

1. Use the Money Strategy of the Rich which is                                                                                                                                                       

          Income - Tithes and Investments = Expense 

2. SAM guides you in 5 ways through your stocks investment

3. Stocks investment is only for those with cash flow, and is for the long term.

4. Bo shares this principle: It's not the size of your income but the steadiness of your investments that will make you rich.

5. Be an active long term investor.

6. Using SAM will only require you 20 minutes a month.

7. Bo says that daily stock news are there because publishers need to publish, writers need to write, and readers need to read. According to him, they're entertaining, but they're irrelevant to long term investors.

8. Reinvest your dividends.

9. Seniors can still invest in the stock market, but do it for your children and grandchildren. 

10. Forget forecasting and listening to hot tips.

11. Manage your emotions.

12. For long term investors, short term crashes mean nothing.

13. Never borrow money to invest in the stock market.

14. Yes, you can do a little trading on the side. Bo recommends that you study at Caylum Institute.

15. Diversify.

16. Mutual funds vs. Stock Market. 

17. On market manipulation -- and that he is not doing it because he is loyal to his members. 

18. The average growth in the stock market is 12%. This was stated a few times in this 160-paged book.

19. He shares a Simple Budgeting System dividing your income into five envelopes: Eternity Fund, Expense Fund, Enabling Fund, Emergency Fund, Emancipation Fund

20. Earn extra income by being a Truly Rich Club affiliate. It is a commission system wherein if your friend joins the TRC because of your invitation and through your link, you receive 20% of his membership fee.

On the Appendix, he gives a detailed instruction of How to Open a COL Financial Account with its Four-Step Application Process and how to buy your first stocks.

Bo dedicates this book to Edward Lee, Founder and Chairman of the Board of COL Financial and Caylum Trading Institute. Edward Lee is one of the mentors in the Truly Rich Club. 

My Take on the Book

After being a member of TRC for five years, I decided to cancel my subscription recently.

Why?

Because I think I have learned what I needed to learn from the club, and decided to move forward and continue to gain knowledge about the stock market from another point or points of view available. 


The birth of this blog, and my discovery of my passion and my purpose was through TRC, and for that I will always be grateful. It was my Point A. 

But because I am no longer an affiliate of TRC, with no intention of inviting you to the club for the 20% commission, I can honestly say that my opinion in this post is unbias. 

I will be providing you with FIVE additional information, based on what I have learned over time from other mentors and personal experience, which are as follows:

1. Bo mentioned that mutual funds usually charge 2% per year for management fees, yet he did not say how much COL Financial charges for buying and selling transactions.

Below are COL Financial charges I found on their website.

How much are trade charges?

The following lists the corresponding charges for buying and selling transactions:

For Buying and Selling:

Fee	Amount	Remarks
Commission	0.25%	Of the gross trade amount
Value Added Tax (VAT)	12%	Of comission
Philippine Stock Exchange Transaction Fee (PSE Trans Fee)	0.005%	Of the gross trade amount
Securities Clearing Corporation of The Philippines Fee (SCCP)	0.01%	Of the gross trade amount
Additional Fee for Selling
Sales Tax	No. of Shares X Price X 0.006

2. It was repeatedly mentioned that the average stock market return is 12%. The PSE index in October 1987 was 755.04 index points. In October 2018, exactly 31 years later, it was at 7093.75. That is a 7.49% average return per year, not 12%.

3. You can invest in the stock market even if you do not have cash flow. What matters is you have money to invest. You can do this through single pay VULs or lump sum stock market investing. 

4. Yes, banks may not make you rich, but they can actually give you more than 1% annual return. My favorite bank gives me 3.5% interest for my Php100,000 held for one year. Guaranteed.

 5. It is true that anyone can invest in the stock market, but not everyone can stay invested in it as I have said earlier. Filipinos are usually conservative and many cannot bear losing money no matter how small it may be. All I read in the book points to the direction of the 12% annual return, and said nothing about risk; except for the risk on penny stocks which we all know about. 


If you bought shares of MBT (Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co.), in October 2013, its price was at 90 per share in. Five years later, it is only 65.55 per share. MBT is a blue chip company. Five years can be considered long term. But it didn't grow 12% every year on average. It actually declined by 27%. There is risk. Even with blue chips. 

Final Word

Investing in the stock market for five years taught me a lot of things -- both financially and emotionally. I've had my share of 80% gain overnight with an IPO, and 27% loss for a portfolio held for three years, all of which are blue chips. I am the investor, and the person I am today who can control her emotions, because of the stock market.

This is also the reason why I prefer investing indirectly in the stock market through a mutual fund with Insular Life. I let the experts do all the hard work while I enjoy the time to do what I do best. 


The choice is yours. You can either invest directly or indirectly in the stock market. 
If you cannot take losses in your portfolio, do not get into stocks. There are more options available for you. 
At the end of the day, we will all agree that we invest to make our dreams real -- but it must also give us sound sleep every single night. And believe me, that 27% loss for a six-digit investment made me do a lot of thinking. 


Investing, and life itself, will always be about this thing called Risk - Return Trade - Off. The higher the potential return, the higher the risk. How much of that risk are you willing to take to get the return that you want? 


Keep learning, and even unlearning.
Keep acting on what you learn. 
By doing these two, you minimize your risk. 



P.S. I hope you find this post helpful. Kindly click the SHARE buttons below. 


P.S. 2 Got questions in mind? Send me an email at financialplanningforpinoys@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you. 

Four Things You May Not Know About Life Insurance

The first week of October is LIFE INSURANCE AWARENESS WEEK, and with this, I thought of sharing some things you may not know about Life Insurance.


1. Life Insurance cost is cheaper than your favorite signature coffee. 

Yes, everytime I tell my friends just how much they are paying for insurance cost, they are in awe. To give you an idea, a healthy individual pays for Php100/month for a Php1M insurance coverage. Yup, just that. And this amount increases as we age as the risk of dying also increases.


2. You will not always be insurable. 

Today, one of my client's insurance application was declined. She was willing to pay a Php160,000 annual premium, but unfortunately, she is no longer insurable because her health is already compromised.

For the record, she is my third client in my career as a Financial Planner whose insurance application was declined. The first one was willing to pay Php240,000 annual premium, while the second has a Php200,000 annual premium on the proposal.

This is proof that we may have the money, but we will never be as healthy as we used to be. Unfortunately for these clients, they only realized the value of getting a life insurance when it was already late. I encourage you to apply for life insurance NOW while you are still young and healthy. And that is not just a cliche.


3. Everyone who buys a Life Insurance policy will use it eventually. 

Remember how we make purchases and most of them just end as part of the clutter because we don't end up using them at all?

This is what I tell my friends: I like selling Life Insurance because it is the ONLY purchase that will definitely NOT go to waste. Sooner or later, you and/or your beneficiaries will gain from it.

While there is a one in 43 million chance of winning that 800 million jackpot in the 6/58 lotto, there is a 100% chance of claiming proceeds of your Life Insurance policy.


4. You don't have to be dead to benefit from your Life Insurance policy. 

A Life Insurance policy is not only synonymous to "death benefit." Your life insurance policy has "living benefits," too.

You can add riders to your life insurance policy which includes disability, hospitalization and dreaded disease coverage. This way, you are completely covered.


Final Word


If people only knew what a life insurance policy can do for them, we will no longer be needing Financial Advisors to offer them. But reality is, most people do not know.

Your Life Insurance policy is for income replacement in the untimely death of a breadwinner. It will also pay off existing loans and other debts. It also makes sure that the kids will finish college. It is also used to pay for the insured's death expenses and estate taxes. 

Yes, a single document does all that! And that is PEACE of MIND.

Considering getting a Life Insurance policy? Send me an email at financialplanningforpinoys@gmail.com for adequate Insurance Planning.

First Things First: The Financial Planning Pyramid

http://www.fourpointsfinancial.com/the-financial-planning-pyramid

Today is the first day of the "BER" months and 2019 is just around the corner. The question is, "How are we so far with regards to our 2018 goals?"


When I was still employed, this is the time when I am filled with so much excitement because bonuses begin pouring in almost every month! This may also apply to you. Admittedly, Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year -- and the Philippines have the longest celebration!


But please don't let another year pass without you being any step closer to your financial goals. If you haven't begun building a financial plan, this is the time for you to do so.


Starting with a clean slate? PERFECT! As the title of the blog post says, "First Things First."

The Financial Planning Pyramid

It is very important to plan for your financial future, and the financial planning pyramid will be your guide in doing that.

 

This widely accepted and simple tool can help you in creating a financial plan that is based on solid foundation. The pyramid above clearly shows you which financial matter you should address first. And as you move up the pyramid, your income protection needs are replaced by your need to accumulate more wealth.

 

Your trusted Financial Planner will work with you in doing this.



During my Registered Financial Planning (RFP) class, I met one of my mentors Mr. Melvin Esteban. Below is a video of one of his ANC Shoptalk episodes on the Basics of Financial Planning. Watch the video and learn from the expert.

 

Insurance or Investment First?

Obviously, insurance should be your top priority. This is the solid foundation from which you will build your financial wealth.

 

But in my five years of learning about money, reality is that people I have talked with are more interested in investing than getting a life insurance coverage. 

 

This is the norm that we have to begin deviating from.

 

Investment Takes Time to Build, Insurance Doesn't

 

If you will think about it, as long as you are still insurable, insurance money is technically "instant money." 

 

If the insured is diagnosed with critical illness, he/she gets a lump sum from the insurance company for his/her medical treatments.

 

If the insured becomes disabled due to accident, he/she gets a weekly fund as income replacement.

 

If the insured dies, either by accident or natural death, his/her family gets the insured amount, which may be NET of tax, to pay for his/her final expenses, death taxes, housing and auto loans. It also ensures that his/her young kids will finish college and that his/her family will not live a worse lifestyle that what they have now, with or without the insured.

 

If you are having a hard time understanding the logic behind life insurance, just think why you are getting an insurance for your car or for your home. Consider also why your bank requires you to pay for mortgage redemption insurance (MRI) when getting a home loan.

 

With investments, it takes time to build -- and the length of time depends on the rate of potential return of your chosen tool. You should also take note that the higher the potential return, the higher the risk. You should also have the size (read: large sum of money to begin investing with) and expertise to grow your money in your preferred investment.



As one of the richest people in the world, Elon Musk, said, "It is okay to have your eggs in one basket, as long as you control what happens to that basket." This applies if you want direct investing.

The Role of a VUL in the Financial Planning Pyramid

As I have mentioned above, almost all of the people who I have talked with wanted to learn about investing first, but didn't move into action simply because they do not have the time and expertise to do so.


But there were also those who initially wanted to learn about investing, but after I explained to them the importance of getting a life insurance, the security and peace of mind that it can provide you with, they decide on getting a life insurance policy while growing their money through investing indirectly, both at the same time. This is conveniently done through a Variable Unit Linked (VUL) policy issued by insurance companies.


If you will learn how a VUL actually works, it can address ALL levels of the Financial Planning Pyramid from Protection, to Savings and Wealth Accumulation, to Growth and Diversification -- all at your own CONVENIENCE.


In 2017, I wrote a blog post about our first VUL and the lessons it taught me as a policyholder. I encourage you to read the post, click Not All VULs are Created Equal. May you learn from that experience as well.

Final Word

Do not rush into things. Everything that is worth it takes time.


Personally, thinking about how my 2018 has been so far made me write this post.


I have checked 4 out of my 5 set goals for the year. These are:



1. Being able to retire from mandatory work at age 35.

2. Being able to make my passion and my purpose now my full time profession.

3. Being able to spend more time with my family.

4. Being able to have my own car.



But all of these did not happen overnight, nor eight months in particular. This took five years of learning, planning, and risk taking -- which I still do up to this day.


While I was busy with my day job back then, I worked on my dream job, writing blog posts at 5am or 11pm, meeting with clients on weekends, and used my vacation leaves to attend financial seminars.


Every time money would come in, I made sure that a part of it goes to my VULs (I have six policies as of this writing) and I lived on minimum.


It was never easy, but as I experience the fruits of the risk - return trade - off that I took, I can say that it was all worth it.


Whatever your financial situation may be right now, believe that you have full control over it. Be the master, not the slave, of money.


P.S. I hope you find this post helpful. Kindly click the SHARE button.


P.S.2 Considering getting a VUL? Send me an email at financialplanningforpinoys@gmail.com or you may visit our website at http://www.synergiainsurance.com.

 

 

 

 

Two Years Later, I Asked COL Financial Again, "What If Account Holder Dies based on the TRAIN Law?"

Credits: https://www.entrepreneur.com.ph

In 2016, I wrote a blog post regarding COL Financial's reply, my online stockbroker, regarding my inquiry. To view that post, here is the link >>> I Asked COL Financial, "What If Account Holder Dies?"




Two years later, with the changes in TRAIN Law, I sent them an email again asking what the heirs of an account holder need to do in case of the latter's sudden demise.




Below is COL Financial's reply dated May 21, 2018:

____________________

Dear Joan,


The requirements and procedures for claiming the estate is still the same despite some changes in the Estate Tax rate based on the TRAIN Law. Please see attached checklist for your reference.


Once all requirements have been met and submitted, the successor(s) may then decide on how they would like to receive their assets and fill out the attached RELEASE, WAIVER, AND QUITCLAIM form accordingly:


Option 1: Transfer the stock and cash to another COL Account

• Applicable if there is only 1 or 2 heir/s
• Quitclaim should state that the heir/s requested to transfer the assets to another COL account
• If heir/s do not have a COL account. they have to open one. No funding needed.

Option 2: Liquidate the stock and release all cash

• Only option for more than 2 heirs.
• Quitclaim should state that the heir/s requested for the release of the funds
• Check will be payable to all heir/s
• If there are still stocks in the COL account, a signed request letter from the heir/s is needed authorizing COL to liquidate the shares.

Let us know if you need further assistance. You can just reply to this email.


Thank you and have a good day!


Sincerely,


Chris
COL Financial Customer Support

____________________

Just for the record, as of this writing, I only have a small amount in my COL account portfolio. And by "small," I mean below the board lot (minimum number of shares to sell) which I received as dividends in the past. I sold everything months back to fulfill a specific dream. That was my EXIT STRATEGY.

As I talk to more people, I realize that many of them would be more interested in investment over insurance. Personally, I think both are equally important. Again and again, this is where my Insular Life VUL plays its role, and the PEACE OF MIND that it provides me with in case worse comes to worst.

Why? Let me cite a few reasons.

1. I have stated in my insurance policy how the sum insured will be divided among my beneficiaries, and the frequency of how it will be given to them. I do not want them to live as one day millionaires.
2. My beneficiaries will receive the sum insured NET of tax.
3. Filing and processing of claims is FAST and EASY. All I need to do is keep my insurance policy, let my beneficiaries know where it is kept, and just go to an Insular Life Office, just in case.
4. Investment wise, with the stock market literally going like a roller coaster, I let Insular Life's EXPERIENCED fund managers do what they do best, while I enjoy doing other things with my time, like educating more people about money and help them move into action. Historically, Insular Life's Equity Fund has OUTPERFORMED the PSEi. That is SOMETHING!
   

My Insular Life VUL addresses ALL of my needs for insurance and investment. That is the PEACE of MIND that I get every single day and night.

Preparation is Key

Investment is my preparation to fulfill my dreams.

Insurance is my preparation for life's uncertainties -- not just death, but accident, disability and critical illness while I am still alive.


I do not want to be a financial burden to my family in case any of these unexpectedly happen.


I highly encourage you to do the same.




P.S. I hope you find this post helpful and kindly click the SHARE buttons below so others may also be made aware of. Thank you very much.


P.S.2 Consider getting an Insular Life VUL? Send me an email anytime at financialplanningforpinoys@gmail.com.

Change Your Money's Emotional Association

http://www.healthandwealthover40.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/emotionsmotivation-650x350.jpg

As my mentor said, every object triggers an emotion in you. He calls this "emotional association." For a lot of people, the emotional association of money is this...

"Money = Evil"

 

 

We have heard and seen this many times. I remember most villains in telenovelas are rich and powerful. If this emotional association is branded in your subconscious, you will never get rich.

 

 

Why? Because we do not like to be evil. And because of this, we will reject money like it was the devil itself.

 

 

Here is the truth: You will gravitate towards what you subconsciously want, and avoid what you subconsciously do not want. If you believe that money is evil, you will subconsciously avoid money.

 

To begin with, the idea that "money is evil" is not in the Bible. Let me quote three passages that will help you change your emotional association of money.

 

Create a New Meaning for Money

 

I am a mother of two wonderful daughters. This is why I can relate to this passage.

 

Jesus says, So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him (Matthew 7:11).

 

This is so true! I am not perfect, but I love giving good gifts to my kids. Instead of "Money = Evil," create this new emotional association in your brain..

 

"Money = God's Provision"

 

 

Secondly, the Bible says, It is God who gives you the power to create wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Question: If God thinks that wealth is evil, why would He give us the power to create wealth in the first place? Create this new emotional association in your brain..

 

 

"Money = God's Power"

 

 

When you earn money, you are using God's power. Confess this, "I have the power to create wealth." Say this Faith Declaration everyday!

 

 

One final passage. The Bible says, The Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servant (Psalms 35:27). Wow. God is happy when He sees you successful!

 

 

"Money = God's Pleasure"

 

 

Some people think God wants us to be poor because Jesus was poor. Yes, Jesus was poor. But poverty is a special call He gives to very special people, like celibates in religious orders.

 

 

The Bible also says that you need to provide for the needs of your relatives and immediate family, or you are worse than the unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8).

 

 

How I Changed My Belief About Money

 

 

I was an employee for thirteen years. I was earning a decent paycheck as rank and file, but investing has helped me turn my linear income to exponential income over the years.

 

 

More than a month ago, financially prepared, I gave up employment and decided to make my passion my profession as a Financial Advisor of Insular Life.

 

 

Since effort is proportional to income in this commission-based career, I honestly just put in "enough" effort that gives me "enough" income -- enough to put food on the table, enough to pay the bills, enough for my expenses at work, enough to give in to my wants sometimes, and enough for investing.

 

 

I used to believe that the money I earn is for me and my immediate family alone, that if I wanted to earn more, it will make me selfish and greedy. This thinking came back to me again recently, and the reason why I had to write this post.

 

 

 

This Came in the Mail Yesterday...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unexpectedly, I received a free book by Bo Sanchez and a Thank You Letter from the admin of Anawim for the donation I gave last May. Anawim is the home of abandoned elders. It is one of the many ministries of the Light of Jesus family, led by Bo Sanchez. Five years ago, my first pilgrimage to Anawim taught me to start investing for my retirement.

 

 

This mail was a wake up call for me.

 

 

After a month of mediocrity, this is what I realized. I may have earned enough for my needs and my family's needs, but I failed to give my target amount for tithing that helps in doing God's work. (It's not a percentage of what I earn, but an exact amount.)

 

 

I love doing what I do, but right now, as I write this, I feel like I was not doing enough.

 

I was reminded that the main purpose of wealth is to love and serve others -- that my increase (and in this case, decrease) in my income may not have affected my standard of living, but it was affecting my standard of giving.

 

As I change my belief about money, I now want to earn more so I can help and serve more. I want to send more kids to school through World Vision and be able to help finance other ministries as well.
 

 

The wrong emotional link of money was replaced by new emotional links. I began to see money as God's provision, God's power and God's pleasure.

 

Today, I am praying a new prayer: "Lord, prosper me so that I can prosper others."

 

Prosper Your Mind

 

I do not know what your financial condition is now.


You may be living in mediocrity like me, settling for just "enough."
 

 

You may be in debt.

 

You may be in a financial famine.
 

 

You may be without a job or stuck in a low-paying job.
 

 

Here is my message to you: There is hope. Prosper your mind and you prosper your money.

 

 

Five Beliefs Necessary for Wealth

 

1. You need to believe that God has left the decision to you to be rich or to be poor. He will respect your decision.
 

 

2. You need to believe that you can serve God with your wealth.
 

 

3. You need to believe that money is good if it is in a good person's hands. Will you be that good person?
 

 

4. You need to believe that you have the ability to be rich.
 

 

5. You need to believe that you deserve to be rich.
 

 

You Don't Have to Be Poor

 

There is hope for you.
 

 

You don't have to be poor.
 

 

You don't have to be buried in debt.
 

 

You don't have to suffer financial struggles.
 

 

You can be financially free.

 

How?

 

Change your beliefs.
 

 

Prosper your mind so you can prosper your money.

 

 

 

 

P.S. I hope you found this post helpful. If yes, please CLICK the SHARE buttons below.

 

P.S2 Do you want to gain financial wealth and spiritual abundance at the same time. I strongly encourage you to join Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club. To become a member, click HERE.


P.S3 Do you want to grow financially through sound investing? Send me an email at financialplanningforpinoys@gmail.com.

 

 



My Journey to Being a Full Time Insular Life Financial Advisor

I am Joan Veronica Trojillo.

For 12 years, I was employed with the #1 pharmaceutical company in the country today as a Medical Representative. 

Recently, May 25, 2018 to be exact, was the effectivity of my resignation giving up my fixed income, the company car with free gas and maintenance, free phone plan with no data cap, free rice ration, meal allowance, outside home base allowance, profit sharing, bonuses and other benefits like group term insurance, HMO, medical and dental reimbursements, conferences held at high end hotels and incentive trips abroad. 


I gave up ALL of that to become a Full Time Insular Life Financial Advisor.
Crazy, right?


My friend even said, "Hindi ko maintindihan sa'yo bakit ka nagre-resign sa trabaho mo." I gave him my reasons and at the end of our conversation he said, "You best know what's best." To my friend and mentor, if you are reading this, THANK YOU. Although we both know that you just said that because we choose not to argue, but one day I will SHOW you why.

Flashback to 2013

When I began educating myself financially, my friend's wife who is with Insular Life asked me, "What happens to your stocks investments in case something happens to you? A VUL is the only investment with insurance."

I then emailed COL Financial, my online stockbroker, regarding this question. Here is a link to COL's reply >>> I Asked COL, "What If Account Holder Dies?"


Their reply changed my whole perspective about insurance and investments making me get my first VUL in 2014, and become a part time Insular Life Financial Advisor.. To fully understand what made the shift in my strategy, here is another link from my past post >>> BTID and VUL from the Point of View of Someone Who Does Both

Reason #1. As I Help Educate More People Financially, I Discovered My Purpose in Life

With the birth of this blog, Financial Planning For Pinoys, I was reaching to more people thanking me for the learnings from the blog. Almost everyday, a former colleague, a Mom from my kids' school, or someone I do not know personally, would message me saying that my posts have inspired them. Honestly, with these messages, I am inspired to continue doing what I love doing the most.


I also feel that sense of fulfillment every time I provide solutions to every person's need like:


 - Income for your loved ones in case of your sudden demise through Income Protection

 - Money in case income stops due to critical illness through Critical Illness Coverage

 - Sufficient funds when you are no longer at work through helping you build your Retirement Fund

 - Education Funds to prepare your children for better opportunities

 - And, Estate Tax settlement for liquidity


After every meeting, I know that I have made an impact with their lives. I also love it knowing that they have full trust in me with their financial decisions, and value the kind of work that I do. 


My Gastro friend said, "Thank you, ang dami kong natutunan" when he decided to prepare for his retirement.


The wife of my husband's colleague said, "Thank you! Ikaw lang ang nakapag-convince sa kanya na kumuha ng insurance."


These messages, and many others, fill my heart with so much joy that I cannot even comprehend. Through spreading financial literacy, I was serving God and He made it clear to me that this is my purpose in life.

Reason #2. Twenty Four Hours Didn't Seem to be Enough

For people I know personally, I used to schedule meetings with them during weekends. This was my only available time then because I was still employed. I felt guilty when they would say, "Just meet me whenever you are available." I would tell myself, "What if something happens to them before I free my schedule and they have no insurance coverage yet?" Partly, that would be my fault.

Scheduling meetings with people I do not personally know from my page and blog was another problem. Of course, I wanted to reach to as many people as possible.

But because I also needed to make time for my family, I decided to give my weekends to them and to God. Logically, I realized that it is pointless to work so hard and say that I am doing this for my kids' future when I cannot even be here for them in the present.

And because of this, I would meet my friends after work instead. Imagine that exhaustion of driving to BGC on a Friday night after working in Tarlac. Or meeting a client in Pampanga after covering in Pangasinan. 

Although I was accomplishing so much with my time, I felt like I cannot go on like this everyday, or it will take its toll on my health.

I had to make a choice between staying in my comfort zone or leaping into my courage zone;

Choosing between loving what I do and doing what I love.

I chose the latter.

Reason #3. My Goal is to Create a Life I Don't Need a Vacation From.

Don't pick a job with great vacation time. Pick one that doesn't need escaping from.

Believe me, as of March this year, I have already consumed all of my vacation leaves while employed. Most of which were spent on personal development in preparation for the career I choose to take. 

Today, as I write this post, is a non-working holiday. For many, they spend this day for rest and leisure. But not for me. I woke up at 6am, began blogging, and preparing proposals for tomorrow's client call. This is definitely the kind of life that I do not need escaping from. 

On Sunday nights, I plan my week ahead based on my own schedule. Each day, I wake up full of energy and enthusiasm to do what I love and what I believe I do best.

And as St. Iraneus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." And this for me, is being fully alive, all for God's glory.

Final Note

When I told my husband months ago that I wanted to quit my job, I gave him the assurance that I will not be a financial burden to him; that if I was able to succeed as a medical representative achieving my quota year after year for the past 12 years, I can also succeed in this noble profession doing what I love. I thank God for giving me a supportive husband.

As of June 1, 2018, I am affiliated with Synergia Insurance Agency for Insular Life. As Steve Jobs said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust the dots will somehow connect in your future."

Being with Insular Life since 2013, when my friend's wife asked me about my stocks investment, that was the first dot in my career as a Financial Advisor. 

And then I became qualified for the Financial Advisors Program of Insular Life in July 2016. This is the second dot, because here is where I met one of my mentors and now Agency Leader.

In October 2017, was the third dot, during my Time Value of Money class in Registered Financial Planning (RFP), wherein I met the fascilitator, and who happened to be the Chief Learning Officer of Insular Life at that time.

I am now on my fourth dot. I do not know what the future holds, but I believe that the best is still yet to come. 

Be very blessed!

P.S. Do you want to consider a career as a Licensed Financial Advisor and help us spread financial literacy? Visit Synergia Insurance Agency, Inc.