By Mark Louis. F. Ferrolino
In recognition of their exemplary performance in the previous year, hundreds of Insular Life (InLife) financial advisors and agency leaders across the country were recognized recently at its annual awards night at Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.
This year’s awards ceremony was inspired by a popular Latin phrase called “Ad Astra per Aspera,” which means “to the stars through hardship.” This reflects what InLife financial advisors have gone through in order to achieve greatness. They persevered and allowed themselves to grow through hardship. They surpassed their limits to reach high enough to graze the stars with their wings.
In her opening remarks, InLife President and Chief Executive Officer Mona Lisa B. de la Cruz likened the awardees to stars that were formed after overcoming great disturbances and turbulence. “You are here tonight because you battled many obstacles along the way, and emerged victoriously after. You are stars in your own right, formed as a result of the hardships you had to conquer,” Ms. de la Cruz said.
InLife Executive Chairman Nina D. Aguas likewise expressed her gratitude to the awardees for their achievements, noting that the said awards night is a fitting tribute and a clear testament to their blood, sweat and tears.
During the event, those who made it to the Chairman’s Guild of Excellence, President’s Circle of Producers, and Master Agency Builder and Consistent Agency Builder Honor Roll were recognized, together with over a hundred Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) qualifiers.
Top agents and agencies were also honored in various categories, including General Agents and Managers Association (GAMA) International Management Award, Consistent Agency Builder Honor Roll, Centurion Award, Consistent Weekly Producers National Level, InLifers Guild, and Insular Life Quality Award.
Kristina T. Monsanto, one of the President’s Circle of Producers awardees under the Rookie Underwriters’ Category, told BusinessWorld in an interview that being an InLife financial advisor comes with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that she has been able to help Filipino families be financially secured. “It’s been my desire to really help other people,” Ms. Monsanto said. “I realized that being a financial advisor is also a way to help other people. It’s helpful by educating Filipino families about life insurance, savings, and the right kind of investments.”
Ms. Monsanto joined InLife as a part-time financial advisor in 2017. After realizing the benefits of the profession, she decided to resign from her job and work at InLife full time.
Real-life couple Cecile C. Gurrea and Mercedita F. Gurrea, who received the President’s Circle of Producers Non-Rookie – General Agencies’ and the Non-Rookie – Underwriters’ Awards, respectively, shared other advantages of being a financial advisor, including the freedom of time and the opportunity to travel across and outside the country.Both of them have very interesting stories before entering the insurance industry, with Mr. Gurrea as a former seminarian and Ms. Gurrea as a former fish vendor. Through trainings and testimonies from other agents, they both realized how beneficial it is to become a financial advisor.
The three said awardees belong to one agency, Agila Financial Team General Insurance Agency, Inc., headquartered in Cebu City. It was founded by Mr. and Ms. Gurrea in 2014 to serve as their legacy for their children when they get old. From its inception with only 15 agents, the Agila Financial Team now boasts of more than 100 agents. It turned out as a successful family business, according to Ms. Gurrea, with the help of their top financial advisors and underwriters. The agency takes good care of its members as proven by the awards it has garnered over the years.
Although Agila Financial Team only started five years ago, Mr. and Ms. Gurrea have an extensive experience in the insurance industry, working as InLife financial advisors for 16 and 23 years now, respectively.Over the years, the couple was able to witness how the industry has changed. As Ms. Gurrea said, “Compared to 20 years ago, mas maganda ngayon kasi ang tao aware na sila dahil sa social media, sa mga news (the industry is much better now because the public is more aware on what insurance is through social media and news). Aware na ang mga tao na ang insurance ay part ng family (The public is now aware that insurance must be part of the family.”
Mr. and Ms. Gurrea said that their lives have improved because of the profession. Working as a couple has given them an additional advantage to easily gain clients’ trust. “Nakikita nila kung gaano kami ka-sincere. (They see how sincere we are). Mapagkakatiwalaan kami kasi nga dalawa kami (They trust us more because we are two),” Mr. Gurrea said.
Asked what made them stay in InLife, Mr. Gurrea said that InLife is like a family. Ms. Gurrea agreed, pointing out that all the people she has met in the company are very friendly, supportive and family-oriented. She added that InLife has never disappointed her since all its promises are always delivered on time.
In light of all the changes primarily brought by advances in technology and the changing market, financial advisors like Ms. Monsanto and Mr. and Ms. Gurrea have undergone trainings for free to keep them updated with all the trends and developments in the insurance industry.Moreover, Ms. Monsanto believes that InLife’s recent rebranding is the company’s other means of empowering its financial advisors amid the challenges of the digital world.
“InLife is very much committed to bringing a lifetime for good to Filipino families. We now live in a very technological age and people nowadays are into social media and the like – especially millennials. With InLife’s adaption to the new age, to the technological era, it really helps us reach out to more Filipino families,” Ms. Monsanto said.
Insular Life adaption to the digital age is reflected in its reenergized brand identity. With InLife as the refreshed brand name, the 108-year-old insurance company wants to show its dynamism and capability to deliver insurance and financial solutions, as appropriate for its market and in a manner that is most convenient for them.
