For most people in their 20s to early 30s, choosing a career path can be challenging. The phrase “follow your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life” is often thrown around but in reality, finding the right career is an anxiety-riddled path.
Most people even go through radical career shifts halfway through their 20s because of a change in their goals or a realization that they want something deeper out of their current job. Whatever the case may be, finding a financially stable and emotionally fulfilling career is never easy.
Such was the case for Jason Mestidio Caro, a flight attendant who flew down from the sky to become a successful financial advisor.
Shifting Careers
The 29-year old didn’t have plans of becoming an insurance entrepreneur. In fact, his original plan was to become a doctor. He took up nursing as his pre-med course but the cost of pursuing a medical degree was beyond his family’s financial capacity.
When his father was diagnosed with cancer, Jason soon had to look for more opportunities to help with the rising medical bills and decided to start his career as a flight attendant. After passing the recruitment process, he gave up his two jobs and took on his new role where he stayed with the airline for the next five years.
While he enjoyed the perks of being a flight attendant, Jason was also away from his family most of the time because of work. It was a challenge for him especially when his father’s condition worsened.
Finding his true calling
As the breadwinner of their family, he had to shoulder his father’s growing medical bills. With the increasing expenses, he had to look for a part-time job as his savings was slowly depleted.
In 2017, an opportunity opened up for him to become a financial advisor for AIA Philam Life. Jason realised he could work part-time in the insurance industry while keeping his full-time job as a flight attendant. “As a flight attendant, we normally fly only for 12 days, giving us the rest of the time to do what we want. But instead of wasting my time and resources being idle, I decided to train as a financial advisor and develop my skills and client base when I am not flying,” he explained.
Jason recalls what truly cemented his belief in his career as a financial advisor was when he met an accident while at work. “I suffered from a slipped disc. I was hospitalized and was not able to fly for several days. Luckily, I had the foresight to protect myself months earlier and availed of a policy from AIA Philam Life which covered daily hospitalization benefits and continuous income in case of any accidents and other critical illnesses.”
A few months after starting as a part-time financial advisor, he invited other cabin crew members to join him. Despite only working part-time, he was able to achieve full-time results, leading his agency in production and earning a lot in commissions.
A Promising Career
Jason eventually left the aviation industry to become a full-time financial advisor after he realised it was better for him financially and at the same allowed him to help more people protect themselves against risk. In less than a year, he was able to qualify as a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), an association internationally recognised as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business, after reaching the stringent requirements needed. Three years after signing on to work full time as a financial advisor, he is now on his way to building his own agency, handling a team of seven managers and more than 40 financial advisors from various professions.
“As a financial advisor, I have become more passionate with what I do because I realized this career has a purpose of helping others," he shared. “The beauty of this profession is that it’s not about selling insurance—it’s about building your own business and building relationships with our clients by analyzing their financial situation and providing sound advice that helps them reach their dreams and goals in life.”
He hopes millennials his age can make use of the time they have in their hands to grow and learn at AIA Philam Life. “Let me share with you a quote by businessman and philanthropist Richard Branson, ‘If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!’ As millennials, we have so much time in our hands, we always want a fun environment, professional growth, and income. You can achieve all of these as a financial advisor at AIA Philam Life. As a piece of advice for those who are struggling in their career, as Mark Cuban once said, 'If you are not yet successful then say yes to every opportunity.' Because when you do, 99% may not work, but that 1% may be your game changer. And If you don’t, for sure, 100%, you will miss out on the opportunity to learn."
AIA Philam Life welcomes aspiring insurance entrepreneurs to be part of their purpose-driven business that will give them the power to change their lives and the lives of others. With AIA Philam Life’s solid franchise business model, future financial advisors can leverage on their strong brand, world-class training, and state-of-the-art digital platforms that allow them to provide seamless service to their clients so they can live healthier, longer, and better lives.
Click here to know more about becoming an AIA Philam Life insurance entrepreneur and join the Business Opportunity Program.