Good Neighbor Podcast South Charlotte
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Neighbors of South Charlotte.
Good Neighbor Podcast South Charlotte
Felipe Aranha - Primerica- New Country, New Rules: How to Master Money as a Foreigner in the U.S
What happens when your financial knowledge doesn't cross borders with you? For foreign professionals working in America, navigating the complex US financial system can feel like trying to read a map in an unfamiliar language. Enter Felipe Aranha, a Brazilian-born financial advisor with Primerica who transformed his own experience as an international worker into a mission to guide others.
Felipe shares how his journey from supply chain planning to financial advising gave him unique insight into the challenges foreign professionals face. "I've been there," he explains, highlighting common misconceptions about employer-provided benefits. Think your company 401(k) will fully fund your retirement? Or that your group life insurance offers comprehensive protection? These assumptions could leave significant gaps in your financial safety net, especially for those splitting their lives between countries.
The conversation reveals how Primerica's approach differs from traditional financial services—offering advisor services without charging clients directly and making investment accessible with plans starting at just $50 monthly. Felipe's "financial GPS" methodology helps families plot their course toward concrete goals like debt reduction, college savings, and retirement security. His personal touch extends beyond transactions; when economic turbulence hits, he's on the phone checking in with clients, providing the steady guidance that comes from both professional knowledge and personal understanding.
Whether you're new to America or simply new to financial planning, Felipe's expertise serves families across the country, not just in the Charlotte metro area. Ready to align your financial strategy with your family's goals? Connect with Felipe on Instagram @PrimericaFelipeA and discover how your international perspective can become an asset in building your American dream.
Primerica - Felipe Aranha
Instagram @PrimericaFelipeA
(803) 795-2156
Hi everyone. I'm Regina, based here in Charlotte, north Carolina, and I love to talk to local business owners. I'm the podcast host today, speaking with Felipe Arana. He is a financial advisor with Primerica. Welcome, felipe. Hey Regina, thanks for having me. Absolutely. I've loved getting to know you over the last week or so as we've been chatting and you are so bright, so passionate. Tell us a little bit about you and what is Primerica.
Speaker 2:Yeah, of course. So, yeah, I used to work with supply chain planning and I'm originally from Brazil. So you know, I got this great job offer to come to the US and I had a great career, you know. But I was looking for something different and Primerica found me. So Primerica is one of the greatest financial companies in the US and we help a lot of people get in line with their finances, you know, become financially dependent, prepare for retirement, get out of debt and a lot of things like that.
Speaker 2:So me, as a foreigner and a worker in a company, I had, like, my retirement plan, the 401k, and you know you don't think much about it, but that's not enough. You know, if you're going to retire, that's really not enough. And if you especially after you have kids, you know this these things come out to your mind and you're just thinking about is that going to be enough, or should I be doing something else? So you know, when I, when I learned about Primerica, I thought, hey, that's actually great. You know, for people that, like myself, are from outside of the US, have a job, do have some money sometimes, you know to invest or to set aside, but they just don't really know what to do with it. I think that's really great, you know, because sometimes you might even know something about investing, something about finances, but the US system options and all that is very specific, very particular. So I think Primerica is very valuable in terms of helping people do the right choices, you know, do the right things with the best information.
Speaker 1:Well, I know one of your specialties is helping foreign professionals navigate the US financial system, so that's wonderful. You've got this absolute background and firsthand knowledge, and so tell us what. What does that mean? Define who you're speaking to and what this really is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, of course. So families, you know, in age 25 to 55 years old, ideally with kids that's a big one and may or may not be homeowners and that are employed. So that's basically our target audience, you know, because that means you have enough financial responsibility that you need help with and you know the more things that you need, the better I can help you, because a primary cause idea is to help overall with everything with debt, with financial independence, retirement and all that that is so cool.
Speaker 1:So when it comes to a foreign professional and they're hearing this, what, what does that look like? What are the steps?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So we will set up a meeting so that I get to know you. This business is very relational. So, you know, I like to know what you have, what you want, what are your you know desires, dreams. I want to retire, I want to do. You know, I want to go to vacation twice a year with the kids, or you know something, things like that, or even like especially when the kids are in the picture like, hey, I want to set up an investment so that my kids go to college, or something.
Speaker 2:You know, this is also something that we can help. So, you know, after I get to meet you and to know you, then we do a second meeting that we call the FNA, the financial needs analysis, and that's basically a data collection meeting and we also like to call it the financial GPS, like a regular GPS. You know you want to go somewhere, you went to the car and the first thing you do is you define where you're going, right, so that's what I need to know as your analyst, and then I'll be your financial GPS and help you avoid tolls, accidents or you know the best route. That's basically the idea of the F&A.
Speaker 1:I love that analogy. That is fun. Well, since we're talking today about, you know, helping foreign professionals navigate in the US, what are some of the things you see over and over that you are helping people with?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So, as I was saying myself, being, you know, exhibit A of that when I was an employee with Corporate America, as I said, first thing is retirement. So 401k plans are great, they are wonderful, and especially the matching that the company usually does for the employees. That's great, you know. But that's not nearly enough for you to actually retire. So, you know, you could be spending part of that in a separate retirement account and you can have many, you know. And then, so that way you're not having all your eggs in a basket in the same basket and you're doing different things, you know.
Speaker 2:Another big part of it is also like the life insurance. The what we call group life insurance or life insurance through the employer is very, very limited, you know, and people don't know that. I didn't know that, you know, and the companies are not broadcasting that because they don't want to know that, hey, the life insurance that you have is, like, really limited. For example, it's very rare that if you're on a vacation outside you know, I know us foreigners like to travel around If you're on vacation and something happens, you're not covered, you know. So that's a big example. So some misconceptions you know that you're covered with life insurance or the 401k is just enough, or things like that, or maybe, maybe, oh, I need so much money to invest and you know, those are things that I'll help you clarify and be you know, clear and make the right decision what I think I'm hearing is you allow people that really don't know anything about this world take those baby steps with you yes, correct, perfect, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then you, we're going to tailor to your level of knowledge or your conditions in the moment. So, like, the minimum to invest with us is $50 a month. You know, if you have more, great you know, but $50 is good enough for us to start.
Speaker 1:That's wonderful. So what sets you apart If you look at other financial advisors and even within your own company? Tell us about you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. So just before my personal level, primerica sets itself apart by not charging clients for the advisor services, right? So all the services that I provide on the client end are free of charge. But obviously we don't work for free, so the companies that I help you set up the services with they pay me. So that's a big difference from other companies, right? Yeah, so that's great. And on a personal level, you know, if you're, like myself, a foreigner, you know and you're working. I've been there, I've been there, I've done that. I know how you feel, I know what your anxieties are about all that, and I like to take good care of my clients, I like to make them feel comfortable. I don't know if there's crazy news that something economic is happening, so I would call my clients like hey, hey, are you good? Do you need a hand or you need to vent or something you know, because, really, the things about finances that if you have the knowledge, if you know what you're doing, you don't have to panic. So that that's basically it that is so cool.
Speaker 1:I love. I love your passion and your knowledge and this company just sounds amazing. I didn't know you could have an advisor and not pay them. I just I didn't know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that's right, that's. That's something special about Primerica.
Speaker 1:And $50 a month, that is quite doable. Yeah exactly, exactly so. Tell our listeners how to find you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I'm mostly on Instagram. My handle is Primerica Felipe A and that's P-R-I-M-E-R-I-C-A, then my name, Felipe F-E-L-I-P-E, and then letter A for my last name. So that's my main sort of contact, but you can also text me or call me at 803-795-2156.
Speaker 1:And I know you serve primarily the Charlotte metro area. What other areas do you work?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so also this is neat about Primerica because I can help people anywhere in the country, in the US, you know. So I do have some friends, foreigners also, that are like in Florida, in Texas, in New Mexico, and I help them set up their investments in their life insurance, things like that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then their family. I mean you know we all. That's the best connection in the world once they connect with you and you help them get started. It has been a pleasure getting to know you and talk about Primerica today. Thank you very much, Hulibé. All right, Thank you, Regina have a good one.