A secure life starts with good leadership

InLife (Insular Life) is home to agency leaders who share the company’s commitment to help families attain financial security.

InLife’s top agency leaders include Cecile C. Gurrea of Agila Financial Team General Insurance Agency, Inc., Ida S. Jacob of Binondo DSO, Caroline Patricia V. Malipero of CPV Malipero and Associates Insurance Agency, Inc., and Leonila P. Ceniza of Cebu DSO IX. They lead their teams of financial advisors with an unwavering passion to spread the benefits of life insurance to as many Filipinos as they can.

Teamwork and integrity

Agila Financial Team’s Gurrea from Cebu City says his desire to help Filipinos chart their financial futures powers his almost three decades in the life insurance industry.

“Witnessing the financial struggles of friends and family inspired me to pursue a career where I can make a tangible difference in people's lives. My goal is to provide clients with peace of mind and financial security, helping them plan for their future while achieving their life goals. Sound financial planning is crucial for a stable and prosperous life, and I am committed to guiding my clients throughout their financial journeys,” he says.

To make life insurance relatable and relevant to his clients, Gurrea illustrates real-life examples and shares personal stories. He points out that a solid financial plan is not just about safeguarding against risks, but also about achieving long-term dreams, such as buying a home, funding education, or ensuring a comfortable retirement.

Gurrea says teamwork and commitment to excellence motivate the Agila Financial Team to exceed performance targets and expand their reach.

“Implementing innovative strategies, leveraging technology for efficiency, and nurturing strong client relationships were key factors in achieving our milestones. The Top Agency Head Award recognized not just my individual achievement but the collective effort of our team in delivering exceptional service and results. It highlighted our commitment to professionalism, integrity, and continuous improvement in the insurance industry, setting a benchmark for future growth and success,” he says.

A goal-oriented and customer-centric focus

Since 1992, Ida S. Jacob has headed the Binondo DSO through servant leadership. She focuses on the well-being and professional growth of her team of unit managers and financial advisors.

“We study, conduct research, and invest in learning how best to serve clients’ needs and make them loyal to us, and go for a repeat, an upgrade or cross-purchase. Harnessing a positive work culture is a crucial ingredient in [achieving] a stronger bottom line quicker. Making efforts to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty through exceptional service delivery can be [the] key to achieving overall growth and sustainability for the long term,” Jacob says.

As a consummate goal-getter, Jacob never rests on her laurels. 

“Every year, I am fueled by achieving targets, growing in numbers, making more and more members of the team qualify for awards and honors. This quest never stops,” Jacob says, adding that it is important to keep the team motivated to conquer self-doubts and inhibitions and move in one direction to excellence.

The feisty agency leader also points out the importance of non-stop training on products, sales, and communications. She adds that rejections and seenzones, even from close friends and relatives, don’t deter her drive to spread the benefits of life insurance to as many people as she can.

Persistence and collaboration 

CPV Malipero’s Caroline Patricia V. Malipero, who is from Davao, started her professional journey in an accounting firm and commercial bank. Her venture into the life insurance industry was motivated by the need to secure her children's future. In no time, this motivation intensified to involve the future of her clients and their families.

“I have been working as a financial advisor for 30 years now. My inspiration to enter this profession stemmed from the desire to provide financial security for my family and to help others achieve their financial goals. My primary goal in this profession is to empower my clients with knowledge, ensuring they can build a secure future for themselves and their families,” she says.

Malipero notes that InLife’s solid reputation as the country’s first and largest Filipino life insurance company proved to be a crucial factor for her family-run agency’s financial advisors and clients.

“I focus on leading and mentoring our team of unit managers and financial advisors and selling life insurance. I lead by setting an example in reaching sales targets. I mentor new financial advisors, helping them develop their skills and succeed in the profession. For clients, I meet them to understand their needs so I can offer the best insurance and investment options for them,” she said.

Malipero further said credibility, persistence, collaboration, and dedication to customers drive the agency to success.

Fruits of loyalty 

Leonila P. Ceniza, of Cebu DSO IX, honed her sales expertise in the encyclopedia business years back. Her big move to the life insurance industry in 1997 pushed her boundaries and fulfilled her dreams.

Counting her 27 years in the business as her greatest win, Ceniza says her professional goal now revolves around her team of 200 financial advisors and 14 unit managers.

“I am loyal to my goals, my people, and my company. With my loyalty comes integrity. I was able to live a comfortable life and make other people’s dreams come true,” the agency leader from Cebu says.

Ceniza also expresses hope that more people will pursue the financial advisor career and amplify InLife’s mission of helping Filipinos lead A Lifetime for Good.

“I never stop inviting people to see the opportunities in the life insurance industry. I will continue to empower others no matter how long the path for them to succeed is. As an agency leader, I will help them get through it and help them achieve their goals,” she says.

Do you also want to lead others to financial security? Visit the InLife website to start your winning pursuit.

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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Insular Life.