Due to an age gap and differences in life experiences, there might be challenges in following the advice that someone gets from their parents. However, for Allen Clark Oracion, a three-year MDRT member from Dumaguete City, Philippines, the insights he received from his father have helped him personally and professionally.

“My father has been a middle school professor for 34 years. Since he was away at work most of the time when I was growing up, our relationship only blossomed after I became a dad and his workload had eased up. We’re making up for missed opportunities, so we’ve been spending a lot of time together. Through our conversations, I’ve profited from the lessons he’s learned in his life that I’ve been able to apply in my career as a financial advisor and in my family.”

Do the administrative tasks in the morning

An invaluable piece of advice from his dad that he follows daily is to be proactive in the morning, as it will create opportunities to learn, grow, and do well at home and work, especially when one feels refreshed after a good night’s sleep. “After I wake up, besides preparing breakfast for the family, I multi-task by sending proposals, updating clients on their policies, and checking up on them. I accomplish it first so my messages will be on their phones' notifications after my clients wake up. They’ll have time to read it, process my message, and send their questions in the afternoon.”

Oracion says his morning routine allows him to complete tasks more efficiently and have more time for himself and his family because the job gets done early.

Simplify financial discussions

As Oracion’s dad is a teacher, he always tells him to simplify complex ideas so children would understand them. “Having meaningful conversations while explaining complicated concepts to my kids improves my communication and analytical skills.”

Similarly, insurance plans are often complicated to digest at first, according to Oracion. “Through practice, my father’s suggested approach has helped my clients better understand the intricacies of their policies and the kind of commitment they need to make to protect themselves and their families,” he adds.

In addition, Oracion’s father advised him to always note his client’s questions. “They challenge me to tweak my presentations as I integrate answers to their queries in succeeding meetings, giving me more time to get to know them personally.”

Be updated on trends

Forever the teacher, his dad encourages Oracion to be lifelong learner as learning is a never-ending process, especially since the world is evolving, and the trends are constantly changing. “As a Technology and Livelihood Education teacher, my dad deals with the new generation of students, so he continually updates himself, keeping abreast of the innovations in his field. It’s the same with me. As a financial advisor, I need to learn the nitty-gritty of our company’s new products and services and familiarize myself with the latest economic news that may affect my clients’ portfolios and other helpful tools.”

Oracion’s clients appreciate how detailed he is in his work. “When I meet new clients for the first time and ask them how they found me, I’m told that existing clients referred me because they appreciate how knowledgeable I am about policies and how constant economic shifts such as inflation affect them.”

His dad’s best advice is to “keep pushing myself to be better as a father, husband, and financial advisor. Never be satisfied. There’s always something new to learn, and there’s always another person to help. I’m grateful to have been blessed with a happy family life and a fulfilling career, and I never take them for granted.”

Contact: MDRTeditorial@teamlewis.com

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4 lessons from dad

A financial advising lesson plan