In an interview with Financial Adviser PH, Tzu Chuan Chiu shared how her journey from a conservative saver to a diversified investor taught her a powerful lesson: saving alone won’t get you to real financial freedom. It may be a starting point, but it’s far from the endgame.
Tzu Chuan grew up in a household where money was managed cautiously. Her mother instilled in her a deep respect for education and hard work, reminding her constantly that “money can be stolen, but what you know can keep you going in life.” She learned to save diligently and live simply. But as she entered adulthood, she realized that savings, while safe, simply wasn’t enough to keep up with inflation or achieve bigger goals.
A Turning Point in Her Money Mindset
“I always thought saving money is enough,” she said. “That’s what everyone says. But, saving money and earning less than 1% is painful. Especially when such money is accumulated through hard work.”
The turning point came when she reached a milestone savings goal, only to discover that the interest barely moved the needle. That frustration became fuel for her curiosity.
“That’s when I became relentless in searching for value in other financial products and services,” she said. She explored Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs), Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs), life insurance with investment components, real estate, local and global equities, precious metals, and business process optimization.
A Strategy of Layered Investing
Tzu Chuan didn’t just shift her savings into a single investment. She layered her investment strategy, diversifying across asset classes.
“Money is not enough for me,” she said. “This kind of asset that is too liquid and susceptible to inflation and dependent on reserves cannot go a long way when not managed well.”
Her new mindset was rooted in value. If something had the potential to increase in value over time, she was interested. If it had tangible utility or long-term demand, even better. That’s what drew her into tangible assets like real estate and precious metals, and later, into equities where she could participate in business growth.
Learning Through Experience and Education
Despite having a good sense of money, Tzu Chuan didn’t leave her financial growth to intuition alone. She enrolled in the Registered Financial Planner (RFP) program to formalize her understanding.
“I joined RFP just to make sure I was financially literate and prepared,” she said. The program equipped her with frameworks for assessing financial instruments, building an investment plan, and understanding long-term wealth strategies.
Tzu Chuan is especially passionate about applying what she’s learned to empower others. “Financial planning must be taught among children, women, and elders because they are the most vulnerable in society,” she explained.
Moving From Dependency to Self-Sufficiency
A key part of her financial evolution was recognizing the danger of dependency. Tzu Chuan experienced this firsthand when a family tragedy disrupted the financial support she and her siblings depended on for education.
“Having a business is not enough, having a consistent income is not enough, having properties is not enough, having millions of pesos is not enough… if you are still a child depending on someone else, adults have to have insurance,” she emphasized.
From that moment on, she focused on becoming self-sufficient. She saw financial independence not just as security, but as freedom—freedom to make choices, pursue passions, and build the future on her own terms.
From Saver to Investor
“To be perfectly honest, I am every one of those. I was a saver once and it was painful but rewarding. I was also a spender, it helped me see how money can be earned and what it can do. Now, I consider myself more as an investor. I am willing to take risk as long as I see value in it, or see a possible increase in value in the future.”
This evolution from saver to investor wasn’t overnight. It came through lived experience, education, and a mindset of always searching for value. Her story is a powerful reminder that the path to wealth isn’t linear and that diversification, education, and initiative go a long way.
Final Advice: Seek Knowledge, Not Just Interest Rates
“Ignorance is a choice in the age of information. Always search for solutions for future problems. If health has a saying that prevention is better than cure, in finance, planning is better than paying out of pocket.”
Tzu Chuan Chiu’s journey is proof that it’s not just about how much you save—it’s about how well you grow what you’ve saved. Her advice? Start saving, but don’t stop there. Learn, invest, diversify, and prepare for tomorrow with intent.
