It’s Time!: What got you started into saving and investing?
Edwin: Saving, we first learned it from our parents. Always save a part of your earning.
Our attitude before was to save what is left after spending. When you are young and starting a life of your own, there is always a reason to spend. So sometimes, there were no savings at all. Even the savings are spent. Of course, it is different story now. We learned to allocate a fixed amount of our earnings to savings.
Investing for us at the start was buying properties. But we want to do something else. We cannot do business of our own because we have full time jobs. We heard about mutual funds but knew nothing much about it. We bought a personal finance book and from it we learned the many ways of investing, the risks involved. So we, tried mutual funds.
It’s Time!: Have you always been inclined to save and invest?
Yes, because of the belief that we need to prepare for the future. There will be rainy days. There will be days of retirement but we still have to support ourselves. We want to be financially independent. Although for us, it is a long shot, because our saving and investing are in small amounts. And we started late particularly on investing. But we do it almost regularly. It will accumulate over time. It will be there when we need it
It’s Time!: What is your goal that motivated you to save and invest?
Better future, have a house of our own, education of our child, and help to some extent on the needs of others. Anything can happen to us anytime: loss of income, sickness, and emergencies.
It’s Time!: How did you get to know where to invest?
I subscribed to personal insurances, covers are small though. In one insurance company, and that is Sun Life, my insurance plan is earning dividends. I was not aware that there is such, when I started. This company must really be good.
We did not like to invest in the stock market through a broker. It seems complicated. Maybe, we were just not familiar with it. We learned about the Sun Life Prosperity Fund from newspaper and from there, inquired from the Davao Sun Life office. We were given brochures. We decided to try. And it was easy from there.
It’s Time!: What made you decide to hold on to your investments even if the markets were going down?
From my readings and experiences of others, we were aware of the risks; the market can dip and also go up. Yes, the market is down now but it will recover. Investing in mutual funds, especially on equity fund, is long term.
When the market started to deteriorate last year, we stopped our monthly subscription. But we soon resumed because the amount intended for that was spent, not saved or invested, for something of less important. In fact we should have continued the regular subscription when the values were down. You get the upside when the market recovers.
It’s Time!: How has the discipline of saving and investing long-term changed your life?
We are more confident of the future. As we move forward, the more is the resolve to save and invest. But as we said, in our case, financial independence is still a way to go.
It’s Time!: Are you happy with your decision to invest? Why?
Yes. It is something we can count on in times of need, now and in the future.
It’s Time!: Can you share your experience with our Company that made you become a loyal Sun Life accountholder?
My insurance agent: consistent in giving me updates on my plan through the years and persistent to sell me another insurance plan despite my not deciding yet
Our investment advisor: very accommodating, you can call him anytime, always optimistic and assuring
Sun Life itself: keeps you informed of what is going on with the company and assures you that they are doing best to keep company strong despite financial crisis; access in the internet of status of our accounts; very professional, high degree of transparency in terms of disclosure as to its board and management team and its activities; looks for ways to make transactions easier
It’s Time!: What would you like to tell others to help them become more financially stable?
Save no matter how small, consistently. Then invest part of savings. Start early. It is not late to start. Read and learn from simple and easy to read books on saving and investing by Filipino authors.
By heeding the call to establish a bright future, Sun Life is giving away at least Php 100,000 that may be used as a starter fund for a dream business or anything you wish! Simply pledge your commitment to prepare for tomorrow by dropping by any Sun Life office nationwide or getting in touch with your Sun Life Financial Advisor from September 15 to December 15, 2009. No purchase needed! Just your pledge.
(It’s Time for Me) Card, which may come with a sleeve to symbolize your pledge. Put the sleeve in your wallet to serve as a constant reminder of your newfound commitment to secure your financial future. Before you spend for anything, consider its importance in your life and whether you’re better off putting the money aside for life insurance, health insurance, education fund, retirement fund, or wealth accumulation.
chances for bigger rewards. With all that’s at stake, your future included, isn’t it the perfect time to know your priorities and grow your hard-earned money? It’s time!
