Long before joining the industry, three-year MDRT member Ginelle Patricia Sequitin had already been selling insurance with the help of her Mom Angelita or Gigi. 

“When I was younger, my Mom would bring me to work where I would listen to the training sessions. Since my Dads 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,” Ginelle, now 26, 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 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.” 

After graduation, Ginelle 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 now a unit manager handling 200 clients and 10 advisors.“ 

Upskill with a growth mindset 

With over 20 years of corporate experience, Nelson encourages his daughter to take risks and take advantage of every learning opportunity. “In my previous jobs, I would always get promoted since I was hardworking and made it a point to upskill myself for further growth,” he said.  

“For instance, when I switched careers in 2014, LinkedIn and other social media platforms weren’t being widely used yet for prospecting. I used them to find clients online and proved that social media is effective. Now I’m the only sales manager with 50 direct reports, five times our branch’s average size.” 

As a family, they’re able to make working together work. Gigi is the business unit head, while Ginelle is one of the managers under Nelson. 

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

Encourage objectivity and empathy 

After surviving breast cancer, Gigi became a financial advisor in 2011. Two years prior, someone had offered her insurance, but she declined, viewing it as an unnecessary additional expense. Good thing Nelson’s company then helped cover her medical costs. “I thought after my recovery how much easier it would have been on our family if only I had insurance.” 

The experience was a wake-up call for Gigi to help more Filipinos 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.” 

Practice self-mastery 

“Many of our advisors are aiming for MDRT qualification. Despite the pandemic, I qualified again. I share my knowledge and experience with our team on how to hit targets, prospecting and closing bigger cases through combined policies instead of only one, and upgrading the plans of current clients during annual reviews.” 

Achievements only spur Ginelle to move forward. Self-mastery’s next on her bucket list. “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 co-workers.” 

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.” Indeed, the Sequitins never quit. 

Contact: MDRTeditorial@teamlewis.com