The building blocks of 50 years of success

MANILA, Philippines - First Life is a company well known for its organizational strength and steadfast promise of financial protection for the Filipino family. Keeping to its thrust, First Life works to provide long-term financial security for the family, promoting life insurance as the only product that provides real leverage to face the uncertainties of the future.

So what could be the secret to First Life’s success? A big part of it derives from its people, strategic partnerships and community involvement.

People at their Best

One of the main factors behind First Life’s staying power amidst tumultuous times is its people. The company thrives on a simple philosophy — the “relationship-based sale.” This same philosophy provides clients with a deep understanding of products they have purchased. The exchange is supported by people who always reach out to clients, making sure the relationship is built to last — a reason why First Life remains strong and competitive.

Celebrating 50 solid years of excellence, First Life places value on the future of its clients, employees and financial planners by keeping its promise to serve, protect, and assure the financial well-being of others. The First Life philosophy is really about building meaningful relationships with customers, enabling them to achieve financial freedom. This commitment is evident in First Life’s long-time faith in traditional, permanent life insurance products.

“We’re not in the business of making the most money; we are here to deliver the best value to our clients who have supported us over the years, and as a result, everybody involved in the company is going to be benefiting from that,” says Peter Coyiuto, president and CEO of First Life.

First Life’s Partnerships

First Life continues its evolution towards creating strategic partnerships with the world’s finest. In 1996, it was chosen to be the local pooling partner of Swiss Life Insurance and Pension Company, the world’s largest employee-benefits network. A year later, it forged another strategic international alliance with Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company of Japan.

With 50 years of experience, First Life is among the country’s leading providers of employee benefit products and services. It finds itself in the leading position in group business due to its financial strength and professionalism in providing high standards of customer service to its clients.

First Life has been recognized for reinvesting 100 percent of its earnings in the Philippine economy as it remains purely Filipino. With branch offices situated in various strategic locations all over the Philippines, First Life is committed to delivering world-class insurance products and services that evolve and scale to meet the ever-changing needs of its clientele. In the light of the continuing globalization and the rapid development of emerging economies, the steady yet deliberate growth of the Swiss Life Network is bound to continue over the years to come.

With First Life’s long-held reputation for safety, stability and performance, the company stands in good stead and is well placed to weather any potential financial crisis. In fact, according to Peter Coyiuto, “the current economic climate provides an opportunity for First Life and the company is going to make it in much better shape than most others.” With its strong partnerships and clients’ trust and faith, First Life is able to create long-lasting ties, nurturing relationships through the years.

A Passion for Corporate Social Responsibility

First Life employees and financial planners are among the strongest advocates of corporate social responsibility. Coyiuto says, “Our core business is protecting families, ensuring that the family is financially provided for in the event something unexpected happens to the breadwinner. It is, therefore, especially touching to learn that many kids are abandoned every year because of poverty. Our hearts go out to them; I’m very happy to know that with the ‘We Care Fund,’ many of these innocent kids will be provided with good nutrition with the help of the CRIBS Foundation.”

As part of its campaign, the company launched the “We Care Fund” project to raise funds for the CRIBS (Create Responsive Infants by Sharing) Foundation Inc. CRIBS Foundation provides temporary shelter and holistic residential care for abandoned and surrendered babies, from one day old to four years old. Financial planners and employees contributed a portion of their income to this fund monthly until the First Life anniversary month of November 2009. First Life organized a party for the kids of CRIBS, dressing up the library with balloons and fairy-tale decor. The CRIBS kids will witness the turnover ceremony of the fund during First Life’s 50th anniversary on Nov. 11.

 “It is a great privilege for our employees and financial planners to have helped several kids by giving part of their income to CRIBS. This 50th-year anniversary celebration is about our clients, employees and financial planners and, just as important, the charity projects we support,” Coyiuto said. “Our people are proud to be part of this community project and this celebration is an ideal time to reinforce that.”

Visit www.firstlife.com.ph for more information about First Life.