A popular quote goes, “Whenever a student exceeds the master, the master surpasses himself.” This is certainly true in the case of financial advisor-parents at Sun Life Philippines, who have nurtured their children to succeed and carve out their own names in the insurance industry. Their narratives of success and growth, where seasoned veterans impart their experiences while likewise learning from the novelty and dynamism of their next generation counterparts, are proof that mixing personal and business is a worthwhile pursuit, more so if it centers around a noble purpose, such as helping clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.
Read on for their tips on how families can also each other’s Partner for Life when it comes to building their careers.
Mother & son tandem, Brian and Rosemarie Villanueva celebrating life’s victories on camera
Strive to achieve work-life integration.
For mother and son Rosemarie and Brian Villanueva, the trust and support they have for one another, the desire to educate clients on planning for a brighter future, and the family culture that they adhere upon paved the way for their mutual success.
Rosemarie, a long-time Sun Life Branch Manager (BM), became an inspiration for Brian as he joined the company to assist in his mother’s pursuits as a Sun Life advisor. Inspired by her achievements, Brian enthusiastically trained under her mentorship, learning the ins and outs of the business, and eventually finding his passion to educate clients on proper financial planning. “I believe in the general anecdote that the best way to learn how to swim is to jump into the deep and fight for your life,” says Brian. The jump was worth it, as it led to Brian’s eventual appointment as a BM with his very own New Business Office (NBO).
As a mother who recognizes her son’s potential, Rosemarie admits that Brian likewise inspires her, especially because his ideas and strategies become invaluable in certain situations. “We work together and strategize our plans to reach targets,” she shares.
Being a mother-and-son tandem, it has become inevitable for Sun Life to become intertwined with their family lives as a sort or work-life integration. Nevertheless, they maintain that they only discuss work between them, and this never gets in the way of their personal time, especially with their loved ones.
Mother & daughter branch managers Mary Chan & Christine Chan-Lee learns from each other’s successes
Give each other room to grow.
As a veteran Sun Life BM, Mary Chan is well acquainted with the ups and downs of her business. This inspired her daughter Christine Chan-Lee to emulate her example as she worked hard to build her career in the insurance industry.
But while Mary strives to be a good example to Christine, she also gives her the leeway to fulfill her own vision of success. “As it is with all my advisors, I respect how Christine works according to how she perceives herself,” says Mary. “Everyone has a different personality, set of values, and capabilities that affect their mindset, and it is my duty to draw out the best in her.”
Mary’s commitment to helping her advisors grow and succeed has made a lasting impression on Christine. Now that she is a BM as well, she is inspired to pay it forward by nurturing her own team and helping them unleash their potential.
More than sharing the success, the mother-daughter tandem finds satisfaction in the fact that they play a role in leading their advisors to a brighter life. Christine believes that taking care of their respective teams is of utmost priority, and she is grateful that Sun Life helps them in this endeavor. “Sun Life values its people. It genuinely loves us back,” she says, highlighting that Sun Life truly is a Partner for Life – not just for its clients but also its advisors.
Mother & daughter Amy & Vannie Reyes work together by understanding the importance of cultivating team dynamics across different generations
Consider the age gap as an asset rather than a liability.
Being from different generations never stopped mother and daughter Amy Reyes and Vannie Reyes from achieving one win after another.
Amy was still a burgeoning BM when Vannie joined her team as an advisor. Working together led both of them to understand the importance of cultivating team dynamics from across different generations. Amy muses that being a baby boomer and an industry veteran, she appreciates learning from her millennial daughter. She even commends the drive of the new generation to achieve a purpose in life, as well as how they set their priorities. “Working with Vannie gives me a different perspective on how the industry is evolving,” says Amy.
Vannie appreciates this fact and is happy to share novel ways of doing things with her mom. This creates an atmosphere where learning is a two-way process for the mother and the daughter. The lessons learned have taught her to be an excellent leader as well, now that she is also a BM herself.
With Vannie now in the same league as that of Amy, she looks back and the recalls all the hard work and efforts she went through, and she is grateful for all the experiences and wisdom she has gained from such a wonderful mentor – her mom, who is her own Partner for Life.
Managing family businesses can be tricky, especially with dynamics crossing over from personal to professional. However, it can be done, as the stories of Rosemarie and Brian, Mary and Christine, and Amy and Vannie show. And with a partner like Sun Life nurturing their shared passion, passing on the torch from one generation to another can be a truly pave the way for a brighter legacy.
