Redefine Life Changers, financial advisors, insurance and everything in between – GMA News Online

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.

It’s easy for Filipinos to have the wrong impression about financial advisors. Worse — agents selling life insurance have been branded as “pushy” and annoying” when they are only trying to help their clients protect their hard-earned savings in case anything life/health-related happens. Because if (or when) something does happen, it will be too late to get insured.

The truth is financial advisors wear multiple hats, and becoming a Life Changer means understanding these different roles. Sign up through the ad to know more about the Allianz Life Changer program. For starters, let’s answer the most common questions about financial planning and debunk the taboos about selling insurance.

What does a financial advisor really do?

The purpose of a Financial Advisor, as its name suggests, is to advise anyone willing to listen what the best vehicle for your savings is. They are trained and professionally licensed under the Insurance Commission to assess the financial needs and provide solutions that best fit the identified need. They can suggest and recommend the best financial vehicle for your hard-earned money.

There are many different types of Financial Advisors – some are health warriors and advocate for health insurance (especially to those who may not have the capability to pay for hospital expenses). Some agents are experts in estate planning and securing retirement funds.  Some Financial Advisors specialize in wealth management for high-net-worth clients and focus on risk management for businesses. There is no one-track for being a Financial Advisor.

No matter what you specialize in, your clients must see you as credible, knowledgeable, and worthy of their trust, so they can take the first step towards their short-term or long-term goals through various insurance and investments to supply their needs.

Is life insurance a scam?

A big NO. Some Filipinos tend to have a little faith in insurance, thinking that they have to shell out a few bucks of their earnings for a contribution they won’t use YET. In real-life situations, a life insurance policy is not about you; it’s purchased for the loved ones who will take care of you in case of accidents, illness, or death. While it’s true that insurance was not designed to be profitable for the client right away, it doesn’t mean that it’s a scam. Some insurance products can even give out maturities, but the main essence of buying them is to protect you and your family in case of uncertainty.

As an agent representing an insurance company like Allianz PNB Life, you will undergo a series of trainings to understand the different insurance products and their benefits. To become a financial advisor, you will be guided to earn a license under the Insurance Commission – and with a license comes legitimacy. Much like any product or transaction in the market, your clients may check your company’s legitimacy to operate and your authority to practice investing in the insurance, pre-need, or HMO business.

So, what does an Allianz Life Changer really do?

One policy may work for a client, but that doesn’t mean it will work for everyone else. At Allianz, Life Changers work around this challenge to provide their clients with financial advice and money management techniques catered to their needs.

For Managing Partner (MP) Jane Sarandi, working at Ursa Major Agency changed her clients’ lives, and her life, too. MP Jane pointed out that Allianz Life Changers don’t just recommend products; they listen, research the market, and craft the most appropriate plan for their client’s capacity and financial goals.

Can I really change others’ lives?

Significant life changes constantly happen. A trivial social media post can suggest that a person will need your services to secure and protect the people and things they love. An engagement video, a sonogram photo, a chat inviting you to come to a friend’s business launch – these are ideal times to congratulate friends on the big news.

Everyone will reach out to them on these good times, but only a Life Changer can support them on the bad ones through an added layer of security that you can offer. As an Allianz Life Changer, you are there to save the day – before that day comes.

“It’s kind of a calling,” according to Ursa Major Agency Partner (AP) Avie Opena.

AP Avie recalled her Allianz journey and shared how she heeded the call, “First I was skeptical with the program because I didn’t trust myself that I can do it, but I went in for an interview and learned about being a Life Changer help secure lives.”

How can I avoid the stereotype?

Clients are not robots. They can feel the deep concern and emotions behind a sales talk and decide whether a pitch is manipulative or sincere. Pitching even to your relatives, friends, and most-qualified prospects do not equate to an easy sell.

The key is to sincerely believe in your product by knowing its strengths and how this can benefit your client. Allianz supports proper financial education, training with the experts, and skillful sales techniques provided by your mentors to help clear the hurdle of establishing your credibility, imparting knowledge, and connecting genuinely to your client.

Ursa Major AL Erickson Miquiabas was quick to give his tip for those who are thinking about joining them, “If you want to be part of Allianz, be ready to learn. Empty your cups because you need to have an open mind and be optimistic – and it will be all worth it.”

You can lead others towards financial freedom and a braver future as you carry out the mission of securing lives with a career at Allianz PNB Life. Take the first step to become an Allianz Life Changer and start your application today by signing up through this link.