Easy ways to teach kids about money

With so many online sites and television shows advertising toys, clothes and gadgets for children, today's kids are tempted to buy all sorts of things at a very early age. 

It is important that parents teach their children as early as possible how to manage money well.

AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, offers some tips on how to teach children important financial lessons:

Introduce the concept of money. Helping children understand and respect money from an early age will help them manage it well when they become adults. Start by letting the child see and handle coins and small bills so they become familiar with money as part of everyday life.

Start with a savings jar. A piggy bank is a good idea, but a clear jar is even better. With a clear jar, the children see their money growing. Saving loose change or 10 percent of their allowances can make a big difference. Talk this through with them and stress the importance of savings. 

Let them earn. Summer jobs will help young people learn about business and hard work. The same goes for doing chores. If they get an allowance, call it a commission instead. Allow kids to earn commissions for different household chores.

Show that things cost money. Do more than simply saying, “That toy car costs ₱300.” Let them get some cash from their jars to bring to the store and let them be the ones to hand the money to the cashier. This simple action will have more impact than a five-minute lecture on the value of money.

Set an example. Children learn by example. The best way to teach them about saving money is to set a healthy example for them that they will be much more likely to follow  when they get older. Show children how prices differ and explain how to make more intelligent choices. Reiterate the message that every time they get money, they should save part of it to prepare for the future.

For more information, visit www.axa.com.ph

Top 5 new health and wellness trends to try

New health trends and exercise programs can lead to longer, more productive lives.

“Health is wealth,” the saying goes, but many people often overlook this gem of a concept because of many factors. For one, on top of the demands of a busy lifestyle, workout routines and healthy regimens become boring and uninteresting after a while – or simply get too hard to stick to.

You can get back on track towards wellness by trying out new health routines and practices. AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurers, shares these new wellness trends to revive your interest in a healthier lifestyle:

Online workout subscriptions. If you cannot go to the gym, a few clicks on your computer can lead you to online fitness programs that will help you get fit in the comfort of your own home. One of various exercise routines offered by workout websites may suit your needs and budget. Subscriptions cost only about ₱500 to ₱1,000 per month.

Sound bath. Despite its name, sound baths do not involve water and soap. It is an alternative healing practice that uses sounds and sonic waves to calm the body and mind. As you lie on your back and close your eyes, sound bath healers will produce relaxing music using Himalayan singing bowls, crystal bowls, gongs, chimes, Biosonic tuning forks, shamanic drumming, and other percussion instruments. People now use this auditory approach for deep relaxation and meditation, as the sounds slowly allow them to relax fully and explore the inner self.

Sleep technologies. It is recommended that adults aged 18 to 64 should get seven to nine hours of sleep per day. Not getting enough sleep can weaken the immune system, affect bodily functions,and even increase the risk of future respiratory diseases and cardio-cerebral vascular illnesses. Several companies have developed state-of-the-art devices that can enhance natural sleep and ultimately improve a person's lifestyle: wristbands and smartwatches, temperature regulators, bedside monitors, and smart beds and mattresses to help you get a good night’s rest.

Digital detox. Technology has caused unnecessary stress and emotional strain to many so a growing number of people are trying to “disconnect to reconnect.” Digital detoxification can effectively reduce stress, improve emotional state, increase work productivity and boost social interaction. You will be surprised at how logging off from social media and limiting use of electronic devices can improve your physical and mental wellness.

Intuitive eating. This is perfect for those who find it difficult to follow a strict diet. This no-diet approach is all about eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full. Intuitive eating encourages people to have a healthy attitude toward food and body image, and to honor their hunger by finding ways to satisfy it in a healthy way. It also helps people cope with stress and other extreme emotions without using food as a coping mechanism. Intuitive eating does not only focus on losing weight, but highlights the need to feel energized, strong and alive.

As poor health choices can lead to critical illnesses that can affect anyone at any age, it is important to protect yourself from the financial repercussions of getting sick. AXA Philippines has several health plans that suit your need and budget, no matter what life stage you are in. For more information, visit www.axa.com.ph.

AXA is LFC principal partner

Liverpool FC has announced that AXA, the world’s leading insurance brand, has been appointed Principal Partner and the club’s new Official Training Kit Partner for the 2019/20 season.

To launch the new partnership, Liverpool FC and New Balance have revealed the new collection of training apparel, which will feature AXA branding throughout the range.

The New Balance collection includes warm up jackets, hoodies and sweatshirts, amongst other products, and is available in both adult and children’s sizes. Designed in grey and red pepper and just like the 2019/20 home kit, each product has been inscribed with Bob Paisley’s iconic signature on the inside, paying homage to the Reds’ most successful manager in the year in which he would have turned 100.

The Reds will begin training in the new AXA training kit this summer ahead of the 2019/20 season.

Billy Hogan, Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer, Liverpool FC, said: “We’re delighted to be expanding our partnership with AXA to see them become a Principal Partner and new Official Training Kit Partner.  

“As a world-leader in its industry, AXA shares our ambitions and values, and we’ve already shared a lot of success since our partnership began in 2018. We look forward to building on our special relationship and continuing to bring to life fantastic experiences for our fans around the world.”

AXA will also continue working closely with the club’s men’s and women’s teams, managers, coaches and health professionals to support the shared goal of promoting healthy well-being and lifestyle. This is in line with AXA’s global tagline ‘Know You Can’ which symbolizes AXA's new promise to its customers, being an encouraging partner to help them feel more confident in achieving their goals and go further.

Thomas Buberl, Chief Executive Officer at AXA added: “We’re excited by this new important step in our partnership with Liverpool Football Club that started in 2018.  

“Featuring the AXA logo on the Liverpool FC training kit is a great symbol of our strong ambition to strengthen the AXA brand consideration globally.  

“By building on our similar values and vision with Liverpool FC, we will also be able to bring to life our new brand promise to our customers on self-belief with the tagline: ‘Know You Can’

The training kit range is available to purchase in store and online at http://store.liverpoolfc.com/.   

AXA Philippines renews licenses to operate its life and general insurance businesses.

  The Insurance Commission (IC) recently renewed the business licenses of AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Charter Ping An Insurance Corp.

The renewal signifies that AXA Philippines’ life and general insurance businesses are in good standing with the IC and that the companies can continue offering their superior life and general insurance products to their customers, thereby helping them to live better and more empowered lives.

Photo shows AXA Philippines chief customer officer, Amor Balagtas with insurance commissioner Hon. Dennis Funa.

AXA Philippines receives Visionary Award for MyAXA Café

AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country, recently received the Visionary Award from Vision Critical, an international firm that provides continuous customer intelligence to power companies with the collective wisdom of the people that matter to them. The winning entry was MyAXA Café, a branded online insight community that provides secure, ongoing, and real-time feedback from customers.

Created in partnership with global service providers ABN Impact and Vision Critical, MyAXA Café is designed to generate faster, research-driven insight to help improve customer service and enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. It also helps AXA create new and better products that are responsive to the needs of customers, while supporting an ongoing, two-way dialogue with them.

MyAXA Café has now become a vital tool to guide customer-centric decision-making processes within AXA Philippines, across multiple departments and stakeholders that may use it as a first step to making business decisions.

“By understanding our customers better through MyAXA Café, we are then able to design even better solutions to improve constantly the delivery of a frictionless customer experience,” says Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines president and CEO.

MyAXA Café has already made a difference in customer engagement. Through messages from customers left on MyAXA Café, AXA Philippines launched an engaging and simplified online financial needs analysis tool called Coach Finn that can support customers with their financial game plan. Customers helped AXA Philippines identify the approach, tone, and persona that will solicit their engagement. By iterating feedback from MyAXA Cafe, Coach Finn was a guaranteed success.

MyAXA Café received earlier the Silver Award from the prestigious Efma-Accenture Innovation in Insurance Awards 2018. For more information, visit www.axa.com.ph.

How to stay healthy this season

‘Tis the season to be overweight? Though it can be quite a struggle to resist temptations to overeat with all the festivities going on, you can still have a good time and get through the holiday season without expanding your waistline. Here are some ways to stay in shape and in the pink of health.

Prioritize sleep. Lack of sleep may result in not just fatigue but also poor decisions, such as going for bad food choices and cancelling workout plans. Take a 20-minute nap when you can to help clear your mind. Try to get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night even with all the celebrations you may have to attend.

Hydrate. Try drinking at least two glasses of water before each holiday meal to avoid overeating. Carry a reusable water bottle with you and refill it often throughout the day. Keep in mind that alcohol dehydrates the body, so if you are having a few alcoholic drinks, have some water in between.

Exercise when you can. Make small changes to your daily routine, like parking your car a comfortable distance from your destination or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, to burn the excess calories from all those holiday goodies.

Take a breather. Running errands and attending holiday parties and family gatherings can be quite stressful. Do your best to limit your stress, whether it is by slowing down or saying no to some invitations. If you are hosting lunch or dinner at home, delegate the tasks.

Give yourself the gift of health protection. Set your health goals early and live them ASAP. Go the extra mile for your well-being with health insurance, like AXA Philippines’ Global Health Access. This health plan provides coverage of up to P100 million and world-class medical service in the Philippines or abroad. This comprehensive worldwide health solution takes care of your medical needs by giving you access to the very best health options available, because you deserve no less.

For more information, visit www.axa.com.ph.

AXA Philippines CEO named Outstanding Leader in Asia

AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance companies in the country, was recently recognized at the prestigious Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability Awards (ACES) 2018 held at the Fairmont Hotel in Singapore.

Its president and chief executive officer Rahul Hora (in photo) was named one of the “Outstanding Leaders in Asia” and was cited for his outstanding business acumen, professionalism, and entrepreneurial skills.

The unprecedented growth of the company – breaking the organization’s annual premium income records twice in 2017 – was attributed to his strong leadership.

The illustrious ACES awards recognize successful companies and individuals across Asia in two main domains: leadership and corporate social responsibility. For more information on AXA Philippines, visit www.axa.com.ph.

Rags2Riches – Uplifting Lives through Social Entrepreneurship

For entrepreneur Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, a major turning point in her life was when she was named Young Laureate for the Environment at the prestigious Rolex Awards for Enterprise in 2010. The award brought international recognition to her efforts to help impoverished women in the Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City through the social enterprise Rags2Riches, a fashion and design house that empowers underprivileged community artisans.

Using a business model based on collaboration and inclusivity, Fernandez-Ruiz sought to break down barriers between the underprivileged community and the market. She adopted a marketing strategy that took cottage industry to the next level.

More important, her efforts transformed the lives of the women in Payatas, who provide Rags2Riches its merchandise. From living lives of abject poverty, the women now live with pride and dignity, equipped with entrepreneurial and life skills to achieve their ambitions.

Rags2Riches enabled Fernandez-Ruiz to achieve two goals: Create sustainable and eco-ethical products by upcycling waste like rags, scraps of fabrics, etc. into bags and other fashion accessories, designed for the high-end market; and empower women entrepreneurs in Payatas by eliminating the middleman so they can sell directly to retailers. By partnering with top designers like Rajo Laurel and Amina Aranaz, the Payatas women were able to level up their creations to world-class standards.

Just as Fernandez-Ruiz helped the women reach their goals, AXA MyAmbition, an investment-linked product with insurance, also wants to help people secure their future and fulfill their dreams—by encouraging them to have a game plan in place that will enable them to live the life they choose.

AXA MyAmbition is an affordable investment and life insurance plan that’s the first in the country to be made purchasable online. It lets you grow your money by investing it in a fund best suited for you. A one-time investment of a minimum of P50,000 and a maximum of P125,000 is all that is needed to be on your way towards living the life you choose. What’s more, you also get life insurance coverage of 125% of the single premium or the account value, whichever is higher.

To learn more, visit axa.com.ph today.

ABOUT THE AXA GROUP

The AXA Group is a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 166,000 employees serving 107 million clients in 64 countries. In 2016, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 100.2 billion and IFRS underlying earnings to Euro 5.7 billion. AXA had Euro 1,429 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2016.

The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISN FR 0000120628 – Bloomberg: CS FP – Reuters: AXAF.PA). AXA’s American Depository Share is also quoted on the OTC QX platform under the ticker symbol AXAHY.

The AXA Group is included in the main international SRI indexes, such as Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and FTSE4GOOD.

It is a founding member of the UN Environment Programme’s Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Sustainable Insurance and a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.

ABOUT AXA PHILIPPINES

AXA Philippines is a joint venture between the AXA Group and the Metrobank Group, one of the country’s largest financial conglomerates. AXA Philippines is 2nd leading life insurance company in the country, with P21.6 billion in gross premium income reported in 2016, and over 811,000 customers protected under various individual and group life insurance products.

Most recently, AXA Philippines announced its entry into the non-life insurance business with the acquisition of Charter Ping-An, the 5th largest non-life insurance company in the Philippines.

AXA Philippines helps Filipinos become retirement-ready

AXA Philippines recently launched Retire Smart, an investment and insurance plan, which helps Filipinos build a future fund for retirement. The cruise-themed event featured fun-filled activities designed to have guests imagine an enjoyable retirement. A panel of distinguished speakers in different life stages were invited to talk about their thoughts, plans, and tips for retirement. Photo shows (L-R) AXA Philippines wealth management segment director Tony Isidro; AXA Philippines president and CEO Rahul Hora; Happy Skin Cosmetics founder Jacqueline Yuengtian Gutierrez; entrepreneur and former broadcast executive Jose Ramon “Monchet” Olivez; Sarsa and Kafe Batwan Chef JP Anglo; columnist, author, and former advertising executive Barbara Gonzalez; and AXA Philippines chief customer officer Amor Balagtas.

AXA launches new insurance product for today's ambitious market

AXA Philippines has launched MyAmbition, an affordable investment and life insurance plan that you can avail of online

Today’s young professionals are ambitious and often on-the-go. They work hard and at the same time want to pursue their own passions. As they focus on their careers, they want to maintain a work-life balance, and ensure that they are also preparing for their ultimate ambitions.  Some would want to travel around the world, have their own business, or pursue a pricey hobby like golf or scuba diving.

Recognizing the need for investment and protection of today’s discerning consumers, AXA has launched MyAmbition, an affordable investment and life insurance plan that you can avail of online.  Designed with your busy lifestyle in mind, the convenience of availing of an investment product with just a few clicks gives you an attractive option to help fulfill your ambitions in life.

MyAmbition can be availed of with a one-time investment that starts at only P50,000, a great opportunity to put that 13th month bonus or extra savings to better use.  You can also invest up to a maximum of P125,000.  The funds are professionally-managed by the AXA group to give you security and peace of mind.

MyAmbition gives you a range of options to suit your risk profile and financial goals.  There’s an investment fund for conservative investors, a balanced fund for those who have a moderate appetite for risk, and an aggressive growth fund for those who want to maximize the potential of their investments.

Application is easy. Just visit www.axa.com.ph, and click on MyAmbition.  You can assess your investment profile, pick an investment portfolio, and pay for the policy with your credit card. Debit card and other online payment options are also available.

Mr. Rahul Hora 

(President and CEO of AXA Philippines)

“Our innovative digital solutions address the unique demands of digital natives.  You can avail of MyAmbition through our e-commerce site.  You can also download MyAXA, the mobile app that allows our clients to access policy information anytime, anywhere.” says Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines.

On top of these benefits and conveniences, MyAmbition gives you life insurance coverage of 125% of the single premium or the Account Value, whichever is higher.  Should you choose to keep your funds longer, you can receive a Loyalty Bonus of 5% of the average account value to be paid on the 10th and 20th year.

Ms. Amor Balagtas 

(AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer)

“We understand the needs of today’s professionals. MyAmbition takes their lifestyle needs into consideration – it is affordable, available online, easy to purchase, can meet various investment considerations, and is payable via a credit card. MyAmbition’s combined offering of affordability, convenience, and flexibility will definitely help young and mature Filipino professionals achieve their financial goals and fulfill their ambitions,” adds AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer Amor Balagtas.

ABOUT THE AXA GROUP

The AXA Group is a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 166,000 employees serving 107 million clients in 64 countries. In 2016, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 100.2 billion and IFRS underlying earnings to Euro 5.7 billion. AXA had Euro 1,429 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2016.

The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISN FR 0000120628 – Bloomberg: CS FP – Reuters: AXAF.PA). AXA’s American Depository Share is also quoted on the OTC QX platform under the ticker symbol AXAHY.

The AXA Group is included in the main international SRI indexes, such as Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and FTSE4GOOD.

It is a founding member of the UN Environment Programme’s Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Sustainable Insurance and a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.


ABOUT AXA PHILIPPINES

AXA Philippines is a joint venture between the AXA Group and the Metrobank Group, one of the country’s largest financial conglomerates. AXA Philippines is 2nd leading life insurance company in the country, with P21.6 billion in gross premium income reported in 2016, and over 811,000 customers protected under various individual and group life insurance products.

Most recently, AXA Philippines announced its entry into the non-life insurance business with the acquisition of Charter Ping-An, the 5th largest non-life insurance company in the Philippines.

For more information:
AXA Philippines
Donna Marcelo - (+632) 885-0101 local 3304

AXA Immediate Check Release

Charter Ping An recently turned over a check for 46 million pesos to Grand Sierra Pines Hotel, less than a month after BTG Holdings, Inc., owner of the boutique hotel in Baguio, completed its insurance claim documents. In a simple ceremony held at the AXA Philippines head office, Mr. Ray Florence Reyes (middle), President and CEO of BTG Holdings, received the check with his father, Mr. Cesar Reyes (2nd from right) and brother Mr. Jay Reyes (2nd from left) from Mr. Noel Que, Senior Management Advisor and Business Development of Charter Ping-An (leftmost) and Mr. Peili Zhang, Chief Technical Officer of Charter Ping An. As first-time clients of Charter Ping An, BTG Holdings was pleased with the quick delivery of the check that will be used to repair property damages from Typhoon Lawin. Charter Ping-An was acquired in April 2016 by AXA Philippines, the number one global insurance brand for the 8th consecutive year according to Interbrand.