She is only 21, but the final-year business student at the National University of Singapore qualified for AIA’s rising star club in June.
She also received the Top Sales award during her summer internship at AIA last year.
Miss Marissa Fuad puts in about 20 hours a week during her school term and earns between $1,500 and $2,500 a month.
During school holidays, she invests up to 50 hours a week and earns $4,500 to $5,000 a month.
Miss Marissa got interested in financial planning in her first year of university, after attending a career talk by SP-Win, an authorised representative of AIA.
“You learn about the impact you can have on people when you help them with their claims and savings,” she said.
She found that she connected with people her age and was able to explain financial planning to them.
“At the university level, most students do not know much about financial planning, but as someone in this line, you are the go-to person when people have questions,” she said.
SACRIFICES
Juggling her studies with her work came with some sacrifices.
Miss Marissa said she did not have time to indulge in her favourite Korean dramas and Game of Thrones TV series.
Last year, she gave up going to South Korea for an exchange programme as part of her undergraduate business course because it would take place at the same time as her internship programme at AIA.
An AIA spokesman said that agents who are also undergraduates help in getting their peers to understand the importance of financial planning from a young age.
She added: “Some (student consultants) have really excelled and even received commendations, recognitions and promotions to financial services manager (positions) even before they graduate.”
While AIA declined to reveal specific figures, it confirmed that its number of agents who are still students is increasing.
Ms Wong Sze Keed, chief agency officer of AIA Singapore, said: “The job flexibility, strong mentorship and the AIA brand are some key reasons they have cited for joining us.”
At the university level, most students do not know much about financial planning, but as someone in this line, you are the go-to person when people have questions.
Source: www.tnp.sg
