Be a Philam Life Financial Advisor and let dreams come true

Success is no accident. It entails hard work, perseverance, learning, sacrifice and most of all, love for what you do. Oftentimes, those who are unsuccessful often feel trapped, whether in a dead-end career or otherwise. Sometimes, a 180-degree turn or turning to a different direction, can do wonders.

Nina with husband in Milan

Nina Solomon, a Senior Executive Advisor and a Unit Manager in Philam Life, did one such transition. She dared to reinvent herself and found a place where she can excel.

Before joining the corporate world, she manned and managed the fruit wholesale business of her mother in Divisoria for 10 years.  Her good handling of the business made it profitable, but she yearned for something else. She wanted to have a career where she can feel fulfilled. Then a friend told her about the Philam Life insurance business, and she was drawn to it.

The Starbright Financial Advisors Management Team (left to right) Judd Sta Maria, Anna Blanco, Rogel Morales, Dhelle Datinguinoo, Nina Solomon, Jen Sta. Maria, Kat Lacdan and Red Pasetes


It all started-off as a way to reinvent herself, patterning herself mostly after fashionable colleagues on how to look professional, smart and elegant. But it eventually turned into a passion to share the importance of financial literacy. As she began attending trainings, she realized the value of the protection coverage and the benefits that financial products can offer to clients.

Nina in Morocco

“I remember one client of mine who showed me a picture of his family and made me promise that if something happens to him, I will take care of his family – that struck me the most. I felt that I am responsible for my clients and that I should take this career seriously,” said Solomon.

Nina’s respect for the need for financial literacy and planning went beyond training. She experienced firsthand how proper financial planning for life’s uncertainties helped out when a great tragedy struck her: Her beloved husband passed away unexpectedly.

“It was 2006, a day after his birthday. He was brought to the hospital for extreme headache. His blood tests were abnormally high and the doctor suspected either Dengue, Leukemia or a blood infection. I remember how he, in great pain, leaned on me as we waited for test results. Later, it was confirmed he had acute Leukemia,” said Solomon.

Being married for 23 years, Nina did not find it easy to regain her strength and face life’s journey single-handedly. But she found strength to go on with the love and support from her Philam Life family and her drive to fulfill her mission to her clients, whom she treated as family. To date, she has around 800 clients.

“My clients hang on to me. I can’t give up on them,” she said.

A new challenge was given to her by her managers - “What if you duplicate yourself?” She leads 25 Financial Advisors on her first year as unit manager, with ages ranging from the millennials to what they jokingly refer to as “may linya” (with facial lines).  “They are the kids I never had,” she enthused.

Surprise birthday party for Nina Solomon last Nov 15, 2016 by the Starbright Financial Advisors management and advisors team.   

Nina Solomon (right) with Philam Life CEO Aibee Cantos (2nd from right) and Agency Manager Anna Blanco (2nd from left) at the AIA President’s Club in Monaco last 2012.

Nina Solomon has been a Philam Life Financial Advisor for 20 years now. More than ever, she feels excited to fulfill her mission to her clients and to her new mentees. She teaches the value of excellence and passion as key to success.

She has been a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), a prestigious global organization of high-performing financial advisors, for 19 years; Court of the Table for six years; and Top of the Table for one year. She has also attended the President’s Club in New York, just one of her many all-expenses-paid travels around the world given by Philam Life.

Aside from her mission to spread the good news of financial literacy, Nina also serves as president of Foundation for Professional Training, Inc. This is an organization that sends indigent female students to a two-year course in Hotel and Restaurant Management, where 100% of students get employed after graduation.

Nina Solomon (center) was awarded as Top Associate of the Year 2013 (Top of the Table) during the AIA President’s Club held in Hawaii.


Philam Life is the country’s premier life insurance company. It is a member of the AIA Group, the second largest life insurer in the world, and the top MDRT Company worldwide for two consecutive years.

Like Nina, anyone can make a turnaround in their life by choosing to take action, to try-out opportunities, or to find their passion and purpose in life. And when they do, success comes without them realizing it.

To know more about this career option, visit www.philamlife.com

Philamlife launched "Wanderlust" An epic journey to your next big career adventure

Successful people are the ones who see opportunities and seize them. However, not all people truly appreciate how seizing opportunities can lead to a fulfilling life. Only those brave enough to explore possibilities and embrace change can truly enjoy life and live their dreams.

Philam Life launched its first ever MEGA Business Opportunity Program (BOP)at the SM Megamall cinema entitled “Wanderlust.” With over 800 guests, Philam Life introduced how this career of being a financial advisor can change their lives and the lives of the people they serve.

Record-breaking attendance with almost 800 passengers and Philam Life Financial Advisors

Three of the power speakers, Aileen Palmes, Nina Solomon, and Eric Nicdao are all proud travelers of the Philam Life Premier Agency career path. Each of them described how different their journey started at first and how similar they have become.

Aileen Palmes started out in the hospitality industry and then shifted to the retail industry. She wanted to have personal growth, own her time, and do the things she loves doing. She then decided
to make a career change and become a Philam Life Financial Advisor. At first,the adjustment was difficult because she would constantly find herself out of her comfort zone. But Aileen found this
career to be more meaningful in terms of providing serviceto her clients’ needs. This gave her strength and inspiration to overcome her challenges.

 District Manager Eric Nicdao, Unit Manager Nina Solomon and Premier Advisor Aileen Palmes answer questions by the audience and by celebrity host RJ Ledesma

“I realized that as a Financial Advisor, I’m still in the service industry,” said Palmes. “What I enjoyed in my previous work in a hotel, I still enjoy up to now and even more because servicing has rewarded me with engaging with clients, and really getting to know them to build lasting relationships.”

Unit Manager Nina Solomon likewise came to the same conclusion. Her personal experience strengthened her commitment to help others secure their future and those of their loved ones. “As a Philam Life Financial Advisor, I’ve made it my mission to make sure that my clients’ families will have a good life no matter what happens,”she said. Nina’s hard work has also been greatly rewarded with travels to 25 different countries for free. She was able to accomplish these while being the master of her own time, something that District Manager Eric Nicdao also affirms.

In the first seven years of Eric Nicdao’s corporate career,staying late in the office until 4am and reporting back at 7am was expected of him. This left him with no free time to be with his family. When he made the career shift to join the Philam Life Premier Agency,Eric truly appreciates being able to balance work and life.“A happy person should have a healthy body, a spiritual life,and a good balance between life and work,” said Nicdao.  “As a Philam Life Financial Advisor, you own your time thus enabling you more leeway to set your priorities and live a quality life.”

The three speakers have many traits in common--persistence, courage, and charm. They also attribute their success to a wide array of intensive training and development programs offered by the Philam Life Premier Academy. A combination of training and hands-on mentoring from well-experienced agency leaders has also helped them understand the business,build their client portfolio,bring out their leadership capabilities, and step up to be highly productive and profitable.

All these have made Aileen, Nina, and Eric achieve their Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) status. MDRT is an organization whose membership is internationally recognized as the standard of excellence in life insurance and financial services.

To cap off the event, Philam Life Head of Agency Strategy Office Stephen Segismundo stressed the common bond that ties Philam Life Financial Advisors and their customers together.


“Being a Philam Life Financial Advisor is more than just a career. We are in the business of helping our customers live their real life passions and achieve their dreams. Taking on this career path will reward you in ways that you could never have imagined. In life, using the road less travelled can be worthwhile,” said Segismundo.

Philam Life offers this exciting journey to those who want to make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others. Indeed, life is full of possibilities worth discovering.

For more information, please visit http://www.philamlife.com/en/about-us/careers/agency-careers/

Real People, Real Heroes

We often see heroes as larger-than-life individuals with super strength, cool gadgets, or martial art skills. But in real life, heroes are characterized by genuine kindness, selfless acts, and making a difference. It is these seemingly non-super-powered (yet still challenging) every day acts of kindness and selflessness that make these real life heroes super in their own right.

AIA Group Limited, the real life company, believes that ordinary people are more than capable of going above and beyond the call of duty to help others.  They have launched the first-ever AIA Real Life Hero Awards, a conglomerate-wide search for outstanding financial advisors of the AIA group of companies, which includes Philam Life, the country’s premier life insurance company. AIA has been on the look-out for stories of advisors that best embody the four brand beliefs of AIA: professionalism, caring, fairness, and ease to work – making them fit to be called heroes.

Out of the 15 selected candidates from various AIA markets in the Asia Pacific region, the Philippines is proud to have two finalists from Philam Life. Captain Chris Cervantes actively promotes financial literacy among his fellow OFWs, and Nina Solomon shares her time and blessings to many charitable institutions. Their mission as Real Life heroes is to help Filipinos secure the future, so they can enjoy the present.

To know more about the inspiring works of Chris Cervantes and Nina Solomon, and to vote for whom you think is the best Real Life Hero, please visit http://www.aiareallifeheroes.com/hero/voting/index.   Last day of voting is on May 20, 2015.