When life throws you curveballs, hit them out of the park!
This is the hard lesson Patrick Arce had to learn when he lost his job in a local savings bank in 2014. From having a stable corporate job as a senior executive, he found himself scrambling for a new one to support his responsibilities as a husband and father to his two kids, Patty (18) and Andy (14).
Life wasn’t easy. He got depressed, had to sell their assets - including the house he worked hard for, and he and his family had to move back to live with his in-laws. Patrick received an offer from a multinational financing company but found it insufficient, so he eventually agreed to his wife’s suggestion of becoming a financial advisor at AIA Philippines instead of continuing to look for other corporate opportunities. This is how a new chapter in his life started.
A New Mission
Making a big shift meant he had to make major changes in his life especially with the way he worked. Patrick learned to be humble and to level himself on the playing field with the rest. He learned to listen to people, especially his wife who was already an experienced financial advisor, and seeing how the competition was tough, enrolled himself in a training center.
When it came to encouraging people to get insurance, Patrick already knew the importance of being insured, having experienced it firsthand. He recalled how at the age of 24, he already availed of two insurance plans at AIA Philippines. Even though he and his wife were not earning much at the time, he believed in the value of being insured, especially in the long run. He saw how being prepared this way helped the family pay for his children’s education funds.
Patrick believes in making sure one’s self and loved ones are protected, and it is, in fact, the most affordable thing of value you can do for yourself. “Pay a little something that will give you more of what you need in the future,” he said. “I’m very traditional, and for me, it is essential to be protected. You know why? All of these things like investment, etc. are good if you are healthy and well. However, if things are not well, protection is the only thing that will help you. The unexpected things, when it strikes and you’ll never know when, protection products will be the one to carry you,” he added.
Bouncing Back from Adversities
Patrick is proud to be in an industry that is very relevant to the times, especially given all that has happened this year: volcanic eruption, Covid-19, and multiple typhoons. It makes him appreciate the beauty of what he is doing even more, and is willing to stay in the insurance business for many years, even hoping to transfer the business to his kids.
“The moment you experience filing a claim and you get to see what it does and how it helps people, that’s when you feel complete as a Financial Advisor. Being in this business not only brought me back my dignity and led me where I am now, it also enabled me to have a better life, not just financially but holistically. Now, I truly have a sense of ownership in what I do and I want to keep on improving myself,” Patrick shared.
“People often hold back because they are scared and concerned about what other people will say. But the thing is, there might be a hidden treasure waiting if only you are willing to take a risk. At the end of the day, as long as you know your why, and for me, it has always been about making my family’s life better, and you are willing to work hard and pay for the price of success, ang kapalit naman niyan eh ma-achieve mo ang pangarap mo,” he explains.
A Fulfilling Career at AIA Philippines
Patrick continues to be inspired by AIA Philippines’ mission to race against risk to protect every Filipino family—and is focused on helping the company fulfill it. From someone who experienced the lowest point in his career, he has now built his own business with perks that he couldn’t have enjoyed with his old job. He encourages individuals like him to become insurance entrepreneurs with AIA Philippines, so they, too, can help in the fulfillment of its mission to save lives, protect dreams, and secure the future of more Filipinos, and help them live healthier, longer, and better lives.
AIA Philippines continues to welcome passionate individuals, with its new program focused on driving an entrepreneurial mindset for future financial advisors. Interested individuals can become part of AIA Philippines, the country’s premier life insurance company, whose Hong Kong-based parent company is AIA Group Ltd, the largest independent publicly listed Pan-Asian life insurance group. With a rewarding and purpose-driven business, AIA Philippines financial advisors have the power to change their story, just like Patrick.
Aside from enjoying a performance-based development plan and receiving rewards such as unlimited income potential, travel incentives, awards, and more, AIA Philippines Financial Advisors are enabled with state-of-the-art digital platforms that allow them to provide seamless service to their clients anytime and anywhere.
