Fitz Villafuerte, a Registered Financial Planner (RFP), didn’t rely on luck to hit his first million—he relied on systems. In an interview with Financial Adviser PH, Fitz revealed the two surprisingly simple tools that helped him build wealth: a spreadsheet and a checklist.
“Working smart means working hard first—then building a system so I never waste that effort again,” he said. For Fitz, productivity isn’t about shortcuts—it’s about structure.
It started with one habit: tracking his cash flow manually in a notebook. Each night, he would encode the day’s numbers into a basic spreadsheet. “Even though it was tedious, I remained patient and persistent,” he shared.
But that spreadsheet didn’t stay basic for long.
“Slowly, my simple spreadsheet transformed. From simple columns of income and expenses, I encoded formulas and other functions that gave me summaries, analyses, and predictions for my cash flow,” he explained. What began as a daily routine evolved into a financial dashboard—and he still uses it to this day.
His approach to bill payments followed the same trajectory: start simple, then improve. At first, Fitz would pin bills to the refrigerator and set phone alarms for deadlines. But over time, he developed a digital system that saved both time and mental space.
“After months of experimenting, what worked best for me was to have a checklist in my smartphone of all my regular expenses with their usual due dates — electricity, water, internet, mobile plan, credit cards, etc. Then, once a bill arrives, which I now get through email, I’d just immediately pay them online and then mark it on the checklist,” he said.
This automation didn’t just keep him organized—it gave him the mental clarity to focus on higher-value tasks. “Creating checklists and developing personal systems improved my productivity. It also conserved my mental energy, so I was able to do more tasks that required analysis and deep thinking.”
By removing the need to constantly remember, follow up, or double-check, Fitz created a routine that allowed him to think bigger and work smarter. It’s a powerful reminder that wealth isn’t just about how much you earn—it’s about how well you manage what you have.
For those struggling with time or money management, Fitz’s advice is simple: Don’t underestimate the power of systems. A few intentional habits—like tracking your cash flow or organizing your bills—can be the quiet engines that drive long-term success.
