How financially prepared is every Juan?

HOW FINANCIALLY PREPARED IS EVERY JUAN?

Live. Shine. Prosper.

A supposedly uneventful morning turned out to be a very enlightening one.

Might be a bit late for me to start wondering on how to put the pieces of my life back together and I have to give it a thought somehow. Where am I? Am I lost? Am I in the right direction? Do I have all the puzzles fit on where they should be right now? How’s my health? Am I secure? Am I #FIT2LiveFree?

Could this be the same question that each and everyone of us is asking? The answer is probably YES to most and a NO to very few. Then I came to listen to the speaker in front of me as she does make sense. A lot of sense, actually.

Now, I’m hearing a few words from a survey: Filipinos are ready to fund expensive purchase, but are unprepared for health needs. Ooooooppsss! Guilty as charged! As I was startled with this statement, I sat straight and focused on the speaker.

The speaker was a petite lady in a black and grey dress and I am hearing her talk as to how she quit working to become a full time mom, and in Dalya’s thoughts… what’s new? Seems to be a very ordinary story for me. But then she didn’t stop talking and I started listening to her as she babbles about the challenges her family experienced because at the time they were building their dream home and how they became financially challenged and in my thoughts again… that was a choice, isn’t it? But was it? She is a mom first and foremost, one thing I will not understand… yet. But she was brave enough to quit her job and stay at home BUT it didn’t stop her to pursue her passion because now, she has the time. She used her skills and published books, she is the first #SINAG winner, is currently a contributor for Phistar.com and a financial blogger for FQmom.com. The speaker was Ms. Rose Fausto.

I intently listen to her as she talks about FQ (Financial Intelligence Quotient), pardon me for hearing this acronym for the first time. But I definitely love what it stands for. Sun Life indeed has great programs for financial preparedness.

As it declares the month of June as Financial Independence Month, Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc., the country’s longest standing life insurance company, urges Filipinos to prioritize financial preparedness for their health needs for their health needs and employ more appropriate ways of preparing financially for their other needs.

This is in response to the results of a Social Weather Station survey commissioned by the company where Filipinos claim to be prepared to fund expensive purchases, despite having health-related concerns.

The survey showed that 1 of 2 Filipinos are planning to make an expensive purchase within the next two years, such as land, a house and lot, or a car, or expand their business, with 9 out of 10 actually prepared to fund it.

But at the same time, 7 out of 10 Filipinos are worried about the uncertainties brought about by worries such as the death of a breadwinner (90%), a family member suffering a grave illness (90%), and inability to pay for huge medical expenses (80%).

Only 6 out of 10 of the respondents say that they are prepared financially in the event of a grave illness in the family.

“There seems to be a disconnect between the Filipinos’ priorities and concerns and the way they financially prepare for these. They are worried about their health and possible illness but they do not prepare financially. Most of them rely on their active income or on other people to fund their needs,” said Sun Life President and CEO Riza Mantaring. “What we need to remember is that wealth and health go hand in hand. By making sure that the right products are availed of to prepare for both wealth goals and health needs, Juan can be fit to live free.”

In order to address the situation and help Filipinos act on their financial concerns, Sun Life is launching the #FIT2LiveFree campaign this Financial Independence Month of June.

To inspire them to take care of both their wealth and health in a fun and interactive way, Sun Life will make available digital content to engage the public. Those who would like to determine their money mannerisms can take the Moneyrism Quiz on Facebook, while those who would like to share their fitness journey can join the conversation on Instagram with the hashtag #WellnessWednesday. By engaging with fellow wealth and health enthusiasts online, they get the chance to WIN minor prizes of FitBit wireless activity wristbands and a grand prize of a travel package to Seoul, South Korea.

For those wanting to go on an in-depth learning of personal finance, modular lessons will be offered online in the Brighter Life Institute. Its initial offering is a five-module lesson for those starting their financial journey. This can be accessed at brighterlife.com.ph for free, where relevant articles are also shared regularly. The Brighter Life Institute is another pioneering effort of Sun Life to make financial education accessible and within reach to more Filipinos.

Another digital activation to watch out for is the #FIT2LiveFree Twitter and Google Hangout with RAPPLER on June 10 at 2PM. Hear from our speakers, who advocate wellness and prosperity, battle it out on what must be prioritized: Wealth or Health? Hosted by Sam Oh, this will prove to be a cliffhanger until the very end of the discussion.

Aside from the online initiatives, the public can also attend the #FIT2LiveFree Expo where bull runner, Jaymie Pizarro joins other known personalities such as actor-triathlete Matteo Gudicelli, lifestyle blogger Anton Diaz, TV host Edric Mendoza, and financial experts Randell Tiongson and Rose Fausto who will guide participants in setting their wealth and health goals. These experts will also share tips and inspiring stories on achieving the balance between health and wealth. The event will be held on June 20 at the SMX convention Center in the Mall of Asia Complex.

All these initiatives will help Filipinos determine the product solutions that will help them achieve the wealth and health goals that they have identified. To address their wealth goals, Sun Life offers the Sun Life Prosperity Funds, which will be promoted in a new TV spot called “Live Free” that encourages Filipinos to invest in their financial freedom. For their health needs, Sun Life has Sun LifeAssure and Sun FlexiLink Assist, to ensure that they have the funds to regain their health, should sickness occur.

“We’re here to empower Filipinos so they can truly enjoy a life that’s free from financial worries,” Mantaring said. “They deserve nothing less.”

Now, are you are ready to be #FIT2LiveFree? For more information, visit brighterlife.com.ph and follow @sunlifeph on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.