LIST: 4 actions to take in life, health and wealth for recovery beyond the pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — No matter their backgrounds in life, Filipinos have been afflicted by the global health crisis. When the World Health Organization announced the pandemic back in March, everyone was left unprepared by the scale of the situation—something unprecedented in the last 100 years. 

As Filipinos now live under what is called the new normal, they begin to recoup. They also find a renewed consideration for needs and life choices. 

While optimism is a good virtue to adopt, it’s also best to take a more proactive course of action.

Here, we list down what everyone can do to secure their lives, health, and wealth so that we may rise to a brighter and more hopeful tomorrow ahead:

1. Build an emergency fund

As part of a sound financial plan, an emergency fund is a separate amount of liquid savings dedicated to shouldering large amounts of unexpected expenses, such as medical and household bills. It also aids in case of months of unemployment. 

Based on what has become apparent in the last few months, an emergency fund could make a universe of difference during a pandemic. 

Financial advisors recommend a good reserve that should cover three to six months. While it is ideal to start your fund with a sizeable amount of deposit, you can always start small and work your way up. 

2. Adopt a sustainable lifestyle

Living in isolation for several months has had a lot of us thinking about what’s important. This includes the way we lead our lives. 

A good way to start living sustainably is by adopting environment-friendly practices such as reusing and recycling at home, reducing wastage, doing away with disposables, and eating locally-sourced products.

3. Safeguard your health

Protect yourself and your family’s health by observing proper hygiene, maintaining a nutritious diet, and setting aside even a few minutes every day to physical activity. These help in optimizing the immune system, which fights off infections and shortens the duration of sickness.

In conjunction with an emergency fund, it’s also ideal to take the greater leap by investing in robust health insurance that can greatly ease costs should you or a loved one suffer unexpected illness. 

Sun Life has a wide array of health protection insurance products to help get you started. You can also learn how to prepare for health emergencies through their Health and Wellness Planner. You can even learn how much insurance your need, by going on to their Life Insurance Calculator.

4. More savings

During times like these, it’s important to be vigilant with your spending to make sure you’re not going beyond your means. You can start avoiding unnecessary expenses by getting a clear picture of your budget and discovering your money-handling style.

Granted that not everyone is financially savvy when it comes to investing and growing their money, there are professionals that are more than ready to help. 

Sun Life can match you with an advisor who will guide you through your financial journey—and given the circumstances, you can now consult with them remotely.

Rising to the occasion

With the theme “Rise Together to a Bright New World,” Sun Life has released a series of talks featuring multidisciplinary experts on health and wealth, examining today’s situation while offering solutions and opportunities for overall growth. 

You can browse their Sun Talks Online Resources (S.T.O.R.E.S.) for resources on dealing with a global crisis. Even celebrities, who are affected, share the lessons they have gained and the many ways they have been coping. 

As part of this campaign, Sun Life has also launched two specialized programs to further help Filipinos cope with challenges brought about by the crisis. 

The first is the SUN Future Proof Program that aims to empower business owners with a financial plan to future-proof their business and personal life goals. On the other hand, Shine Pinoy Program aims to help overseas Filipinos retire comfortably and come “home for good.”

With Rise Together to a Bright New World, Sun Life does its share in helping the country push forward, and ultimately, helping Filipinos recover and secure a better future for their loved ones. 

For more information, go to Sun Life’s Rise Together a page here. For updates and more information about how you can get started on getting your financial goals on track, visit https://www.sunlife.com.ph.