Ginelle Patricia B. Sequitin had already been selling insurance long before she became an advisor.

“When I was younger, my mom would bring me to work, where I would listen to the training sessions. Since my dad is also a financial advisor, it meant conversations at home focused on work, which made it conducive for me to learn financial literacy at such an early age,” the five-year MDRT member said. “However, following in their footsteps didn’t occur to me until a college classmate approached me to learn more about insurance since she knew my parents were in the business.”

Her other friends also became interested and wanted to build their wealth too. “After I give the introductory insurance and investments talk, my mom would talk to them about the actual financial products. We were able to insure about six of my friends,” Sequitin said.

After graduation, Sequitin decided to join her parents’ team. “They told me that I would be treated like any regular employee under them. If I didn’t hit my numbers, they would fire me. No special treatment at all. Today, I’m a unit manager handling 400 clients, 17 advisors and spun off a team of 13 advisors.”

Journey to a new profession

The path for Sequitin’s mother, Angelita, was a bit different. She became an advisor in 2011 after surviving breast cancer. Two years prior, someone had offered her insurance, but she declined, viewing it as an unnecessary additional expense. Fortunately, the benefits from her husband Nelson’s employer at the time helped cover her medical costs.

“I thought after my recovery how much easier it would have been on our family if I had insurance,” said Angelita Bestres Sequitin, a four-year MDRT member.

The experience was a wake-up call for her to help more people protect themselves through financial literacy.

“I used to be shy and sensitive, which was a stumbling block. How would I help other people become more financially knowledgeable if I could not talk to them and explain the concepts clearly? Through sheer will and constant practice, I overcame my fears and insecurities. As I got to hear the stories of people, the more determined and empathetic I became, which helped me hone my skills. ‘Nurture dreams, transform lives’ is our team’s goal,” Angelita said.

Moving from her comfort zone

As a family, they’re able to make working together work. Angelita is the business unit head, while Ginelle is one of the managers under Nelson, who brought more than 20 years of corporate experience before becoming an advisor in 2014. He encourages his daughter to take risks and advantage of every learning opportunity.

“I was a busy college student,” Ginelle said. “I was the thesis leader, a debate club member, a vice president in a college organization, a pageant candidate and ran for student council. While I was fearful, I treated these challenges as growth opportunities. This mindset has served me well in my career.”

Her mindset got an assist from meditation. When she had a bout with COVID-19, public speaking, which previously came naturally to her, suddenly made her anxious. She would find herself becoming embarrassed during virtual events with colleagues when she was unable to recall what she wanted to say next. The illness, combined with a personal problem that sapped her energy, affected her work and brought on panic attacks.

“I knew I had to do something,” Ginelle said. “I contacted a trusted life coach who introduced me to 4 a.m. group meditation. We focus on our fears, disappointments and personal questions in life. Then we share our thoughts with other members, achieving clarity and bliss in the process. It has greatly helped in keeping me grounded throughout the day. Besides meditation, doing holy devotion guides me spiritually.”

Despite the pandemic, she qualified for MDRT again and shares her experience with colleagues about how to hit targets, prospect and close bigger cases through combined policies, instead of only one, and upgrading the plans of current clients during annual reviews.

“In my quest to become a better person, daughter and professional, I start the day with meditation and exercise. I carve out time for myself before working. It has had a positive impact on my life and improved relationships with my family, friends and coworkers,” Ginelle said.

When asked what makes her business unit different from the others, Ginelle said that “our being a family of financial advisors is our competitive advantage, as clients are assured that our brand of service is multigenerational and continuous.”

Little steps toward the Whole Person

Besides meditation, Sequitin suggests these “clearing out steps” to protect one’s well-being:

Clear unread messages and silence notifications in your digital space, which may be daunting at first. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll realize it’s manageable.
Get your physical space in order by getting rid of any clutter. Attend to your emotions afterward.
People come with baggage. If there’s been a misunderstanding with someone, reach out to that person and seek resolution. During my silent meditation, I practice forgiveness, which can be as simple as forgiving someone in my mind. In the process, I ended up forgiving myself.
Get your finances in order. A financial advisor needs to lead by example. If you have debts, pay them off as soon as possible. Integrity is priceless.

Ariana Ubina writes for Team Lewis, a communications agency assisting MDRT with content development for Asia-Pacific markets. Contact mdrteditorial@teamlewis.com.

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From college mentor to leader