When Johnny Fernandez decided to invest in a food business, he thought it was a natural next step. As an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) earning decently, he saw entrepreneurship as a smart way to grow his money while still abroad. But like many others, he trusted family to manage the business back home—and paid the price.
“I invested in a food business and let my in-laws manage it,” Fernandez told Financial Adviser PH in an interview. “But I learned that you should never dive into business without doing a proper feasibility study first. And more importantly, you should physically manage it yourself before handing it over to someone else.”
The experience left a lasting impact on Fernandez, now a Registered Financial Planner (RFP), and has shaped the way he guides others on wealth-building. Today, he openly shares the lessons he learned the hard way: even the most well-intentioned family members can mismanage a business if you don’t put structure and systems in place first.
The Illusion of Trust
Johnny’s story is not uncommon. Many OFWs assume that entrusting a business to relatives is a convenient solution. After all, these are people you know and love. But Fernandez argues that trust alone is not a business strategy.
“I trusted my in-laws to do the right thing, but I didn’t give them the tools or supervision to succeed. That was on me,” he said. Without clear performance metrics, accountability structures, or a strong business plan, the venture was doomed from the start.
Instead of generating income, the food business became a financial drain—a classic case of good intentions without due diligence.
Lessons in Financial Responsibility
That experience wasn’t Johnny’s only financial setback. Before he became an RFP, he was neck-deep in credit card debt, much of it tied to a gambling addiction. From cockfighting to online betting, Fernandez admits he used to throw away hundreds of thousands of pesos with no long-term plan.
It took hitting rock bottom—being rejected at cash registers and nearly contemplating suicide—for him to change course. A turning point came in 2012 when he and his wife embraced Evangelical Christianity. The transformation was not just spiritual but financial.
“We began applying biblical principles to managing our money. Slowly, I was liberated from gambling. Within two years, we had recovered. We bought our first house in Cagayan de Oro City and began rebuilding our lives.”
Becoming a Registered Financial Planner
As he healed financially, Fernandez felt called to help others avoid the mistakes he made. His path led him to the Registered Financial Planner program, where he found not just technical knowledge but purpose.
“I met Randell Tiongson at our church in the Middle East,” he said. “That led me to the RFP program. The budgeting principles, the investment frameworks, everything started to make sense. It wasn’t just theory—it was actionable.”
The RFP training gave him structure and tools to better evaluate investment opportunities. He now teaches others to assess risk, calculate ROI, and implement accountability systems before putting any money down.
Three Rules Before Letting Family Handle Your Business
Based on Johnny’s experience, here are three things you should always do before asking family to run your business:
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Conduct a Feasibility Study
Many OFWs start businesses based on emotion, not research. Johnny emphasizes creating a formal business plan, including market analysis, break-even calculations, and operational costs. “You can’t just hope a business works. You need to prove it can,” he said.
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Physically Manage First
Even if you plan to hand over management later, spend time running the business yourself. This builds institutional knowledge and allows you to set benchmarks and expectations. “Be there first, even for just six months,” Johnny said. “Only then will you understand the ins and outs.”
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Set Clear Systems and Boundaries
Don’t mix family roles with business roles. Document everything—job descriptions, financial controls, KPIs. And make sure accountability is built into the structure. “If you can’t fire your manager because they’re family, you have a problem,” Fernandez noted.
Giving Back to Fellow OFWs
Johnny now lives in New Zealand but continues to coach fellow OFWs pro bono. “Many are repeating the same mistakes I made. I don’t want them to wait until they’re in crisis to start taking money seriously.”
He believes financial planning is not just about numbers but mindset and discipline. Through his work, he helps OFWs map out a path to real wealth—one built on clarity, responsibility, and faith.
The Bottom Line
Johnny Fernandez’s story is a powerful reminder that success in business starts with preparation, not proximity. Family may care about your success, but without the right systems in place, even the best intentions can fail.
If you’re an OFW looking to invest back home, take Johnny’s hard-won advice: study the market, manage the business yourself first, and treat it like a real company, not a family favor. Your financial future deserves that much.
