There are many people without whose advice we cannot live with. These are our doctors, lawyers, mentors, counselors, families and friends. These people whom we trust and seek for wisdom provide us guidance in our day-to-day lives. Doctors make sure we are in tiptop shape while lawyers make sure we stay out of legal trouble. Our families and friends provide us with personal insights while our mentors at work provide advice for our careers. Undoubtedly, we acknowledge the important roles these people play in addressing the different needs we have in various aspects of our lives.
Still, there is an often neglected aspect of our lives for which we also need advice and guidance—our finances. For this, a different kind of professional is needed—a financial advisor. He is a kind of specialist who is as important as other professionals whom we go to for advice. But rather than using stethoscopes, or X-rays, these financial specialists would look at a person’s financial history, financial objectives and capabilities in order to help him secure his financial future. After all, in the same way that a person’s failure to seek medical attention from a doctor may put one’s physical health at risk, a person’s failure to do a proper financial review and consultation may also put one’s financial health at risk.
Unfortunately, only a minority of Filipinos seek out financial advice. This may be the reason why many Filipinos are financially unprepared for their future. Statistics show that 90 percent of Filipinos have little or nothing to leave their families when they pass away. And, out of 100 Filipino children who enter elementary school, only 10 eventually graduate from college. Furthermore, out of 100 Filipinos aged 65, 45 are dependent on their family for support, 30 are dependent on charity, 22 cannot retire and only two are financially independent.
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These statistics may all be the result of the Filipinos’ lack of awareness for the need for proper financial counseling and lack of urgency when it comes to financial preparation.
As a response to these alarming statistics, Sun Life Financial Philippines has taken efforts to improve the financial preparedness of Filipinos through the It’s Time! campaign.
It’s Time! is Sun Life’s financial literacy advocacy that aims to inform Filipinos about their financial needs, empower them with knowledge about the proper financial solutions and encourage them to act with more urgency in securing their financial future. And to serve as ambassadors of this financial advocacy, Sun Life is armed with 2,600 financial advisors who are well trained and equipped to provide proper advice and guidance to Filipinos to help them achieve financial security.
Having been around for 115 years in the country, Sun Life Financial Philippines has earned the trust of generations of clients who have all taken steps to achieve financial freedom and security. Sun Life understands the strong need for Filipinos to have a financially secured future, which is why it has pursued its campaign in order to properly educate people about financial planning.
This campaign promotes how valuable financial advisors are helping people protect their income, manage their wealth and accumulate funds for their future needs.
“We believe that the future and life’s uncertainties need to be prepared for and managed. We all have dreams and aspirations in life and we need to protect these dreams for ourselves and our loved ones by proper financial preparation. And people need not worry because they can do this through the help of our Sun Life advisors” said Alex Narciso, chief agency distribution officer of Sun Life Financial Philippines.
Some people think that insurance is an added expense and it is an intimidating concept. “We want people to know that insurance is not complicated and must not be treated as an expense but as a guarantee for the future. We have professional and well-trained advisors, some of whom are certified by highly reputable management schools in the country who would be more than happy to provide financial counseling,” Narciso asserted.
Because most people think insurance and investments have so many unfamiliar words and figures, Sun Life has also taken steps to simplify its language. From their brochures and print ads, people can now have a clearer grasp of the company’s products and services, and more can now easily choose the type of insurance and investment products that are perfect for their needs and financial capabilities.
For generations now, Sun Life Philippines has steadfastly grown despite the economic crises that have hit many businesses through the years. It has stood by the Philippines through several world wars, people powers, economic meltdowns and political crises and has never faltered in its service to the Filipino people.
More importantly, it has helped bring a brighter future for over a million Filipinos, who have been enjoying Sun Life’s insurance services for themselves and their families. With its 2,600 advisors acting as ambassadors of financial freedom, Sun Life continues its mission of encouraging everyone to understand the value of financial planning.
This article was originally published in the Features – Supplement Section of the Philippine Star on October 17, 2010.
