Economic uncertainty has become a regular part of life for many Filipinos. Inflation rises, markets fluctuate, jobs change, and unexpected crises can disrupt even the most stable financial plans.
For Registered Financial Planner Mariel Tablan, the best response to uncertainty is not fear—it is preparation.
Speaking at the 14th Financial Fitness Forum last April 11, Tablan introduced what she calls a financial “resilience playbook,” a set of principles designed to help individuals protect their finances during unpredictable times.
“Our topic today is about the resilience playbook—protecting your finances in uncertain times,” Tablan told the audience.
Financial resilience, she explained, is not about predicting the next crisis. Instead, it is about building the habits and financial structures that allow people to withstand shocks when they occur.
Build an emergency fund before a crisis happens
One of the most important elements of financial resilience is having an emergency fund.
Unexpected events—job loss, medical emergencies, or sudden economic downturns—can quickly destabilize finances if individuals do not have savings set aside.
An emergency fund acts as a financial buffer that allows people to continue paying essential expenses even when income is disrupted.
Tablan emphasized that preparing for uncertainty requires action before problems appear.
“We cannot control uncertainty, but we can control how prepared we are,” she said during the forum.
For many financial planners, this preparation means saving enough to cover several months of basic living expenses.
Protect what you have built
Another key element of financial resilience is protection.
Many families focus on saving and investing but overlook the importance of protecting their income and assets.
Insurance—such as health insurance, life insurance, and other forms of financial protection—plays a crucial role in safeguarding long-term financial plans.
Without protection, a single major event can erase years of financial progress.
Tablan said resilience requires thinking beyond growth and focusing on preservation as well.
“Financial planning is not only about growing money. It is also about protecting the life you are building,” she explained.
Develop financial awareness
Resilience also depends on awareness.
Many people struggle financially not because they lack income, but because they lack clarity about their financial situation. They may not track expenses, understand their liabilities, or recognize the risks they face.
Financial awareness begins with understanding how money flows in and out of one’s life.
This awareness allows individuals to identify vulnerabilities early and make adjustments before small problems grow into serious financial stress.
Discipline during uncertain times
Finally, Tablan emphasized the importance of disciplined decision-making.
Periods of uncertainty often trigger emotional financial choices—panic selling investments, taking on unnecessary debt, or abandoning long-term financial plans.
Resilient individuals, however, remain focused on their long-term goals even when conditions become difficult.
“Resilience means making disciplined decisions even when circumstances are uncertain,” she said.
Preparing for an unpredictable future
Uncertainty will always exist in the financial world. Economic cycles rise and fall, and unexpected events will continue to affect households and markets.
But according to Tablan, individuals who build financial resilience—through emergency funds, protection, awareness, and discipline—are better equipped to navigate these challenges.
Because in uncertain times, the most powerful financial strategy is not predicting the future.
It is preparing for it.
