It started with good intentions and carefully calculated plans. A young investor saw potential in a condominium unit near a prestigious university in Cebu, priced at only ₱5,000 per month. At the same time, she began investing in dividend-paying local stocks and secured a Variable Universal Life (VUL) insurance policy at just 21 years old. Everything pointed to a financially sound future—until the opinions of others crept in.
As shared in an interview with Financial Adviser PH, Tzu Chuan Chiu explained how the influence of fear-driven advice led her to walk away from her most promising investments. Her experience is a cautionary tale that illustrates why sound judgment can sometimes be drowned out by louder, less informed voices.
When Doubt Sounds Convincing
“I usually get a gut feeling when something will do well,” Tzu said. “But the moment I talk about it with others, their doubts get into my head.”
Family and friends began to question her decisions. They warned her that, as a foreigner, she might face legal hurdles with the condo. They pointed to market volatility as a reason to dump her stocks. They downplayed the long-term benefits of her VUL. Slowly, fear set in—not her own, but that of others. And against her better judgment, she exited all three investments.
Those decisions came at a cost. The Cebu condo has since appreciated and now serves as a reliable rental property. The stocks she sold are still paying dividends. And the VUL she let go would have been fully funded by 2027, offering both insurance and accessible funds.
“My past self had already calculated the risks,” she said. “I should have respected that, instead of listening to people who didn’t even know better.”
The True Price of Listening to the Wrong People
Tzu didn’t lose everything—but she did lose time, momentum, and confidence. The opportunity cost was immense. Years of passive income, compounding growth, and financial security slipped through her fingers—not because of bad research, but because of bad advice.
This kind of mistake is more common than it seems. Many aspiring investors start with enthusiasm, only to be discouraged by fear-based comments from others who may not have done their own homework. The result is a hesitation that stunts long-term wealth building.
Lessons From the Loss
Tzu’s story is a lesson in trusting your analysis and honoring your financial instincts. “Fear is not a good signal for making investment decisions,” she emphasized. “Your money, your risk tolerance, your goals—those should be the anchors.”
Now, she approaches investments with a more rigorous strategy. Before making any financial commitment, she mentally maps out potential problems and their corresponding solutions. If an investment holds up under that scrutiny, she moves forward with conviction—regardless of outside opinions.
Four Rules to Filter Financial Advice
Here are four actionable lessons Tzu now follows to stay on track:
Validate But Don’t Outsource Seek opinions, but don’t hand over your decision-making power. Use external feedback to challenge—not override—your strategy.
Document Your Plan When you’ve done your homework and crunched the numbers, write your investment plan down. It gives you something solid to revisit when uncertainty creeps in.
Commit to a Review Period Don’t pull out at the first sign of doubt. Set a timeline—say, 12 months—before reevaluating your investment. This curbs emotionally driven exits.
Know Whose Fear You’re Following Ask yourself: Is this concern based on data or emotion? Is the person giving advice equipped with experience or simply projecting their own fears?
A New Approach, Rooted in Confidence
Today, Tzu is rebuilding her portfolio—this time with stronger conviction. Her investments now span across real estate, insurance, equities, and business ventures. But unlike before, she trusts her preparation and financial analysis over external noise.
“If I’ve done the research and the math checks out, I will follow through. Doubts are natural, but I no longer let them define my financial path.”
