How two Filipinos are writing their playbook and expanding globally amid the pandemic

If there is one unmistakable lesson, the Covid-19 pandemic, which has gripped the world from March 2020 onwards, is its profound impact, particularly the acceleration of the changes that were already taking place.

Two Filipinos, one based in New Zealand and one in Australia, have put fore their ideas, creating a seamless synergy to tap into the hybrid way in which people invest and find ways to pick up the pace, aware that the lockdown measures have forced a shift, not only work behavior but the market’s fundamentals as well.

“In terms of our company’s perspective, we truly believed that it is the perfect timing to go to the market,” stated Jeths de Jesus Lacson, CEO and founder of the New Zealand-based conglomerate Smokefree Innotec Inc.’s (SFIO). He referred to his partnership with Rommel Santos, founder and CEO of fintech group Smart Asset Management (SAM), based in Australia.

“Now is the perfect timing to invest,” Lacson said. “The market landscape has dramatically changed. It has been shaken because of the pandemic, and a lot of businesses have to adapt and restrategize to be able to suit in the so-called new normal.”

Santos added, “People often ask me when is the best time to invest. My complete reaction (emoji laughs). Especially to those gearing for retirement, retirement from their current work embarking to the new era of unemployed life, but wait, even we are unemployed AKA retired on a pension. Most of us cannot live on pension alone. Moreover, bills never stop too.”

According to Santos, the best time to invest is “yesterday” because opportunities don’t come every day. “But opportunities were here yesterday,” he said.

“So my answer, the best time to invest was YESTERDAY! We all have yesterday to listen, learn, strategize and execute,” Santos insisted on driving his point.

Indeed, Lacson and Santos are writing their playbook to go against the traditional response of businesses every time there is a crisis, which is to wait and see or holds back.

Instead, the Filipino tandem is embarking on a global expansion amid the pandemic. Currently, the duo is embarking on a roadshow in New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and soon the U.S.

“We are trying to demonstrate that we have long-term sustainability (to prospective partners), and at the same time, we have the potential and stability. The investors are looking at opportunities or ventures with minimal risks,” Lacson said.

He added the SAM-SFIO partnership is aware the assets of their investors are hard-earned money.

“With SAM, we have a perfect combination during this stage because they allow their subscribers to manage their asset risks. Meaning, SAM empowered their subscribers to manage and look at risk management within their platform. If they believe they want to engage in the business opportunities offered by the SFIO projects, they have to option to be involved in SFIO through SAM subscription,” he explained.

The response to the SAM-SFIO collaboration is overwhelming.

Although still in its pre-initial public offering (IPO) launch in the U.S., the SFIO reported more than 50 percent of its $30 million targets is already subscribed. The company is listed in the U.S. OTC (over the counter) market but is planning to list in the traditional stock market.

The strong interest is primarily from Filipino communities in the U.S. and Canada, but there were subscriptions from other nationalities, too, Lacson said. This prompted the team to revisit their plans and strategies and are now considering raising their target fund-raising.

Part of the restrategizing focuses on strengthening the SAM-SFIO partnership that has allowed the rapid growth in the interest in the business opportunities within the group. He added the collaboration between SAM and SFIO is offering a unique opportunity for the Filipino community.

According to Santos, the pandemic has offered a shift in opportunities by harnessing the power of technology. He added, providing Filipinos the knowledge to scale the changing business paradigm empowers the Filipinos to become busines leaders.

“The overseas Filipino workers OFW) are the most exploited sector. They are exploited by their employers and even by their own families back home who spend their hard-earned money without care how that money was earned. We want to break this cycle by empowering Filipinos and guide them to new business opportunities so they can be their own boss,” Santos added.

He said the first step for this OFW to begin their entrepreneural journey is by being a SAM subscriber and enjoy its multi-economic opportunities. Combined with the SFIO projects, they will have an endless opportunity.

Santos added, “Being unable to enjoy your hard-earned money during your working life because of the mounting bills, such as school fees, kids expenses, mortgage, utilities and other miscellaneous expenses. We all look forward to retirement to enjoy our pension, savings, and separation pay. When we plan to retire, we also plan to invest. But we must invest in new income era and which is real passive income.

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