For many Filipinos, the idea of financial planning often stops at a single step—saving money. But for Leonidelisa Abad, a Registered Financial Planner, saving is just the start. The real strategy lies in matching each goal with the right financial vehicle.
It’s a lesson she learned through the Registered Financial Planner (RFP) program and one she now applies in her own life and business. “In RFP, nawala sakin yun dapat isa lang yung vehicle. Dati kasi dapat insurance agad, hindi pala pwede. Each goal, that’s why you have to learn your goal,” she explains.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All in Investing
Abad emphasizes that every financial goal has its own timeline, purpose, and risk level—and therefore needs a tailored approach. A single investment product, no matter how good, can’t possibly meet all of them.
She points to the common mistake of putting all savings into one product, thinking it will address every need. “Dati kasi dapat insurance agad,” she says. “Hindi pala pwede.” For example, a short-term goal like a vacation fund should not be placed in a volatile investment with a high risk of short-term losses. Conversely, a long-term goal like retirement should take advantage of compounding growth over decades.
The Power of Goal-Setting and Tracking
For Abad, financial vehicles are only effective if you’re crystal clear about what the goal is in the first place. This is why she advocates for structured goal-setting, a practice she now teaches to clients and workshop participants.
“You have to write down your goals,” she says. “Prioritize kasi ang dami mong gusto sa buhay pero alin dyan ang number one mo, number two… simula ka lang one to five tapos categorize kung short term ba ito, long term ba.”
To make the process more practical, she integrates SMART goal-setting—making sure each goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Once goals are set, she encourages people to identify the right vehicles for each one. “Sulat mo dito kung anong vehicle that you can use. If you don’t know, ask.”
Matching the Vehicle to the Goal
Abad explains that the right vehicle depends not only on the goal’s timeline but also on the investor’s tolerance for risk. Short-term goals may require safer, more liquid instruments such as time deposits, short-term bonds, or high-interest savings accounts. Long-term goals might benefit from a diversified portfolio that includes stocks, equity funds, or real estate.
She draws from her own experience of building her portfolio with a mix of products that serve different purposes. This diversification helped her fund her master’s degree abroad without taking on debt. “Recently, I realized after eight years, this investment has helped us… a significant amount was earned from there, and it’s dollar so malaki yung kita mo—you’re earning two times.”
From Advocacy to Innovation
Abad’s passion for tailored financial planning goes beyond her personal finances. She has developed her own personal finance module to teach others how to set goals, determine timelines, and pick the right strategies.
Her next step? Creating a goal-tracking app that will help users see exactly where they are in their financial journey. “I wanted to create an app that will track your goal and where you are right now,” she says. The idea is to make goal tracking accessible, visual, and motivating—reminding users to stay on course and adjust their financial vehicles as needed.
Breaking Old Habits
For Abad, this approach also addresses a deeper problem: the cultural habit of saving without direction. Many Filipinos are told to “save” from a young age but are never taught why they are saving or how to make those savings grow.
By teaching people to link goals with specific financial tools, she believes more Filipinos can break free from cycles of ineffective saving and even generational debt. “Do this, guys,” she urges. “Write down your goals… prioritize… categorize… and then choose the right vehicle.”
The Takeaway
Financial planning isn’t about chasing the newest investment trend—it’s about aligning the right strategy to the right goal. For Leonidelisa Abad, the difference between financial frustration and financial freedom lies in that match.
Her advice is simple yet powerful: Don’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you’re planning a vacation, funding education, buying a home, or preparing for retirement, take the time to define your goal, understand your timeline, and select the financial vehicle that fits.
As she puts it, the process is not just about growing your money—it’s about making your money work in the right way for the right purpose.
