When I was asked if I would be interested to attend a special meeting with Suze Orman, I almost dropped my phone out of excitement. This lady is a prime mover in the personal-finance arena and probably the most popular and perhaps the most influential itself. I would be crazy not to drop anything and rush into this appointment.

When given the opportunity, I asked her how finance media people like me can help in the financial education of the Filipinos.  I mentioned that personal finance material is not a popular thing Pinoys care for as much as they should.

Here’s what the famous personal-finance icon told me: “stop writing about money that people don’t have.” Wow! She encouraged me to write about stories of people, how they deal with their issues. People don’t like to be lectured at, they want to find hope. Too many times, writers & speakers like me get embroiled on all those technical things, too much on the nose bleed stuff. Suze was dead on and was a good reminder that I should always think about the readers are concerned about. She encouraged me to get the people to first care about their financial future, open their minds and challenge their set behaviours. When they get their acts right, they will naturally yearn to learn more, understand the rudiments of investing and be ready for heavier stuff.

She also encouraged me to continue with what I am doing and that she has so much faith in the spirit of the Filipinos. It was nice to know that she also likes the work of Dave Ramsey, someone who has such an influence on me. There are many finance coaches out there and many of them Suze Orman doesn’t really like but “Dave Ramsey is one of the few guys I like” she muses.

In a short period of time, I learned much from Ms. Suze Orman but what I didn’t expect was that she will also motivate me. In the next blogs, I will write more of the stuff I learned from her or cross-post articles that I am writing for other sites, publications.

Thank you Bank of the Philippine Islands for inviting me, it sure was an honor and a blessing to finally meet an icon.

It is only 2 days before 2011 comes to an official end and we usher 2012. As the clock ticks during these times, I can’t help but look back on a year that was truly eventful for me.

By the end of 2011, it will mark a full 3 years since I left my corporate job to go full time on what I love to do, that is to teach  financial literacy to those yearning to learn. Amidst the uncertainties of becoming truly independent, bereft of a stable flow of income and benefits, I took the path of the less travelled unfazed by the risks that are inherent with the new endeavor. Many well-meaning friends and family were concerned at my new direction and for a good reason—I got 4 hungry mouths to feed, 1 of whom was entering the university. I held on to my belief that the Lord wanted me on this path, one that is unclear. Faith and obedience has not been my strongest traits in the past but when I let Christ rule my life, it has been the driving force of my life ever since. Well, all these are now in retrospect.

2009 saw a year of many struggles, ambivalence and yet I had a glimpse of what was to come. It was a year of faith and trusting completely on my creator. As my eldest child enters the University in 2009, my wife and I truly experienced the faithfulness of the Lord and the generosity of many friends and family. 2009 reaffirmed that I was on a path that was the right one for me.

By 2010, many changes transpired; the most eventful was a decision for my wife to home school our 2 young boys which also means that she must stop working – something not easy for her after being used to earning a living for 20 years. With my wife not working due to home school, the burden of providing for the financial needs of my family now solely belongs to me. Since the time we got married, my wife has been a tremendous help in keeping the family finances afloat but it was a decision we had to make. More opportunities opened up for me — more talks, more seminars, and more travels which equated to reaching out to more people. My career was in full swing, my family life was stable and my walk with Jesus was getting better. 2010 was truly a satisfying year and while there were a lot more things to improve on, I felt contented with what was going on. By the year’s end, I had a taste of my first quasi-endorsement as one being featured in UCC’s Beacon of Change 2011 Planner. This was also the year that we started to move in generosity because we knew that such acts pleased the Lord.

But the Lord is a God of plenty and a God of amazement. While I was contented He had bigger plans for me, beyond what I could have imagined. 2011 was truly an eventful year for me and my family. While it was not one without any challenges, the year brought in many pleasant surprises. My career was even productive and many more doors of opportunities are being opened. I found myself speaking all over the country, Hong Kong, Singapore and even in Macao. I’ve collaborated with many great friends whom I share a passion to teach… Cito Beltran, Francis Kong, Chinkee Tan, Paulo Tibig, Jayson Lo, Miriam Quiambao and more. I also found myself writing the stories of Richard Poon, Christian Bautista and others. It was also this year that I had the opportunity to reach out to more youth by being invited to speak in campuses and through our youth finance program, Blue Chip. My former staff and now business partner Jen and his ever supportive husband Luis and I established White Board, a formal entity for all our endeavors. My TV appearances were also on a high, as well as radio. My blogs have been read much more than before and I find myself being asked to write left and right.

2011 was turning out to be an unbelievable year but the Lord was not about to stop the surprises. After all, His gloriousness allows Him to bless those who are undeserving, of which I was one of the worse. After writing a column for the Business Mirror (an awesome newspaper) for about 3 and half years, my good friend and RFP big boss Henry Ong called me to ask me if I would be willing to start a column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer – it took me about half a second to say yes.  Money Matters is a weekly column which I alternate with my good friend Efren Cruz and has taken quite an interesting format, a Q&A one. My new column got me even more attention and opened even more doors. A short while after, I was surprised to see my name listed as one of the top 12 Most Influential People in Personal Finance by Moneysense Magazine. To be included amongst a roster of people I look up to is so surreal and overwhelming. Just when all the buzz of being part of the 12 people was about to die down, I got a call from a former professor of mine (Rose Dinio) and she seems so happy to let me know that I am included as one of the Most Outstanding Alumni of my school, the University of Santo Tomas.

2011 also so the actualization of a dream of mine, to run a full day seminar that will teach people on the process of financial security… not a 1 hour talk, not even a half day training but rather a full day program that will bring those attending into the a process that will answer many of their questions in achieving the much coveted goal of financial freedom. Since my program is a step by step instructional one, we decided to call it Steps to Financial Peace. It’s launching was a successful one and I am so privileged that many corporate sponsors lead by BDO and Cole Haan supported it. The same program was also brought to Davao through the industriousness of a dear friend, Joseph Doce and the generosity of our presenters, Sun Life and AirPhil Express.

I continue to help the Registered Financial Planner Philippines in its aim to professionalize the country’s financial planners. Go Negosyo was also an organization that I am proud to be a part of and we aim to teach as many Pinoys as we can. The Blas F. Ople Policy Center was also one of the groups that I co-labor with, reaching to our heroes – the OFWs. And of course, I am steadfast in my commitment to my church, Victory Green Hills – my spiritual family where we fellowship in honoring God and making disciples.

Many other events escaped me right now, trying to recall made me feel overwhelmed. I am overwhelmed because by my own, none of these would have even been remotely possible; and yet such blessings are bestowed upon me and my family. Why do I get such unmerited favors? Is it because of my faith, my obedience? Not really. We get all these blessings for one reason only, God is a faithful God, glorious and magnificent in all His splendor. The reason why all these are happening is because of Him. When I surrendered my life to Jesus 4 years ago, I did not only become a better me, I became a new me. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV

What does 2012 hold for me? I don’t know but I am steadfast because I know Jesus is the captain of my life. I need only to be faithful in my purpose in life, that is to worship Him.

Happy New Year to all and God bless all of you!

The biggest personal finance event in Davao for 2011!

Catch me, Francis Kong and Jayson Lo this November 11, 2011.

For inquiries, send email to jddoce@yahoo.com or visit www.stepstofinancialpeace.com