Before Johnny Fernandez became a Registered Financial Planner, he was an overseas worker with a six-figure debt, a gambling addiction, and a sense of financial hopelessness so deep that it nearly cost him his life. In an interview with Financial Adviser PH, Johnny shares a brutally honest account of the darkest period in his financial journey—and the redemption that followed. His story isn’t about chasing wealth. It’s about redefining it.
The Illusion of Having Enough
Johnny’s first memory of money was a lesson in value. As a child receiving an allowance from his hard-working parents, he quickly learned that money doesn’t come easy. But despite understanding its importance, he didn’t learn how to manage it.
“Growing up, we were told to save money,” Johnny says. “But no one ever taught us how to save, invest, or manage it.”
After high school, that gap in financial education collided with his growing interest in gambling—cockfighting and cards. And when he became an OFW in 2003 at age 26, the stakes only got higher. “I was earning a decent salary. I had the means to invest. But instead, I blew it all on gambling,” he admits.
The Spiral
Gambling wasn’t just a weekend hobby. It became a full-blown vice that dictated how Johnny used money—and how much debt he was willing to rack up. At one point, he was betting hundreds of thousands of pesos on cockfights, both in-person in Olongapo and online from abroad. He even bought a farm just to raise fighting roosters.
But his financial life was crumbling beneath the surface.
“We maxed out all our credit cards. We couldn’t even buy basic necessities. I remember feeling anxious at the grocery store checkout line, just praying the card would go through,” he recalls.
Eventually, his cards were declined. Multiple times.
That’s when the panic turned into despair.
“I knew something had to change. But I was in denial,” Johnny says. “I thought I could keep fixing it with another bet, another salary cycle. But instead, I started thinking about ending my life. Not just once—three times.”
The Turning Point
Johnny credits his wife’s unwavering prayers and support as the first anchor that pulled him back. But the real change came in 2012 when they became Evangelical Christians. That same year, Johnny decided to study the Bible—and in it, he found a financial philosophy rooted in stewardship, discipline, and redemption.
“My wife and I slowly started applying biblical principles to our finances,” he says. “That’s what saved us.”
By 2014, they were debt-free.
By 2015, they bought their first home in Cagayan de Oro—paid in full.
Redefining Wealth
Johnny’s definition of wealth today isn’t about the size of your paycheck or portfolio. It’s about clarity, contentment, and alignment.
“Wealth is being free from bondage—especially the kind that you put on yourself,” he says. “For me, that meant walking away from gambling, fixing my finances, and being the provider I was called to be.”
That transformation led Johnny to become a Registered Financial Planner, using his experience to teach others the lessons he learned the hard way.
The Power of Vulnerability in Financial Advice
Johnny doesn’t just talk about budgets and investment plans. He talks about rock bottom.
“I’ve been there. I’ve had the money. I’ve lost the money. I’ve borrowed just to gamble. I’ve lied to myself. That’s why I’m passionate about helping people—not just with spreadsheets, but with the mindset that drives those numbers,” he says.
He believes true financial freedom starts with humility and honesty.
“You can’t budget your way out of addiction if you’re not honest with yourself. You can’t invest wisely if you’re doing it to escape your guilt,” Johnny adds.
The Message for Every OFW and Young Earner
Johnny has a message for those earning well but still struggling:
“Money doesn’t fix what’s broken inside. Learn how to manage it, not just earn it. Build wealth that lasts. And if you’re in debt, don’t wait until it becomes unbearable. Ask for help. It’s not too late.”
Final Thoughts
Johnny Fernandez’s journey is more than a financial comeback story. It’s proof that wealth is emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal. He doesn’t wear his RFP title as a badge of expertise. He wears it as a reminder of the life he almost lost—and the purpose he found.
“Real wealth,” he says, “is knowing that your money decisions are aligned with your values—and that you’re no longer a prisoner to the past.”
