When Heidi Casino, a Registered Financial Planner (RFP), hit rock bottom financially, she didn’t lack knowledge—she lacked clarity. As someone who helps clients navigate complex money matters, her own financial crisis became a humbling reminder that knowing what to do isn’t always the same as doing it.
In an interview with Financial Adviser PH, Heidi reflected on her experience. “Ang ganda niya kasi aside from the learnings, aside from the principles and concepts na tinuturo ni RFP, I guess what I really appreciate is your structural approach on how you deal with financial situations,” she said.
It wasn’t just about knowing the concepts. For Heidi, the breakthrough came when she applied RFP’s structured methodology to her own situation. She explained, “Kasi every financial situation is different depende sa tao ‘yun. Hindi mo masasabi na ‘yung dalawang taong may utang, magkapareho pa rin ‘yung financial situation nila… hindi rin pareho ‘yung mindset ng mga tao when it comes sa utang.”
In the middle of a failing business and dwindling savings, Heidi was overwhelmed—until she took a step back and treated her own case like she would any client’s. “I did a financial needs analysis for myself,” she said. “Alam ko naman talaga kung ano yung nagdedeplete, so I really had to detach my emotions from it.”
By removing the emotional weight and implementing the same RFP system she used with clients, Heidi found the path forward. She contacted creditors to restructure payments, added side hustles, and prioritized essential expenses. The method worked. Within two years, she was debt-free.
“Kapag nakuha mo lahat ‘yung mga konsepto na ‘yun at naaral mo lahat ng ‘yun, you would already know… you already have a clearer picture on how to resolve that,” she shared. “It’s just a matter of telling that person kung anong kailangan niyang gawin.”
Her story underscores a crucial point: financial literacy alone isn’t enough—what you need is structure. Advice may inspire, but a framework empowers.
“I’m really happy that I attended RFP,” Heidi added. “Ang hirap lang nun sa’kin kasi ako mismo ‘yung nasa financial struggle. But when I stepped outside of my own emotions, then I saw: ah, okay, ito ‘yung kailangan naming gawin. Step 1, step 2, step 3…”
When the stakes are high, structure saves.
