A 15 YEAR NAVY VETERAN, TODAY, AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR BASED IN DUBAI.

HAVING QUALIFIED 10 YEARS IN A ROW TO THE PRESTIGIOUS MILLION DOLLAR ROUND TABLE (MDRT), 

THE ELITE CLUB OF THE TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS WORLDWIDE, I AM NOW A LIFE MEMBER AND UAE COUNTRY CHAIR PERSON SINCE 2021. 

3 REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE

HERE'S WHY

HI THERE, I'M SIJO MATHEWS

I am always excited to see the “about me” page on websites like this because they’re mostly in the third person …even though they’re written typically by the owner of the website.

So, after Sijo Mathews made umpteen tries to seem smarter than he really is by writing about himself in the third person, he finally abandoned that method and then decided to try and write this page like a letter to a friend.

Which, well it is, in many ways.

Anyway – what would you like to know?

I'm 51 years old. I live Dubai with my wife Vineetha 

We have a Golden retriever, Simba, his friend Kiara (Arabian Mau) and then there are at least half to a dozen (often more) rescue cats being cared by my wife..

I'm guessing that's not the kind of stuff you're looking for.

Now you're probably wondering,

Is This Guy for real, Is he worth My Time And Attention?

For many of you, my answer is NO.

AND HERE'S WHY

1. I CAN NOT HELP YOU GET RICH QUICK.

For some reason people equate financial planning & investing to "sell on the internet" social media etc " as get rich quick schemes"

Sure I can relate to that. That's what attracted me to Pyramid selling & internet in 2004 after retiring from Indian navy (You will hear more of it later)

It was supposed to be easy money with thousands flowing to my bank everyday – on auto pilot

Well it definitely wasn't easy money at all.

Now I do have consistent second income coming in every month – my pension from Indian Navy – kind of on auto pilot, but it took 15 years of serving aboard different warships to reach there.

… Yes it still takes a lot of effort to ensure that I have a decent income for the Dubai life.

So if you're not ready to commit to sticking to your insurance or investment plan that I assist you with, so you and your family enjoy the financial freedom today and for the rest of your lives – I am not your guy.

2. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SAVE OR INVEST,

SO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES CAN HAVE A SECURE FUTURE
YOU'RE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO ENJOY MY STUFF.

I am an Independent Financial advisor, and here's why I am telling you all this.

Start going down the "Insurance & Investments" rabbit hole, and you'll see all kinds of "money making apps and schemes offering overnight multiplying of your investment

Does some of it work?

Probably. In the short term. But so does a lottery.

if you rely on that, you don't have a regular income stream, just pray for a lot of luck.

And its mostly a waste of your time. If you want to waste time, go see a movie. It's more fun.

3. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR "THE EASY WAY",
I DON'T WANT TO HELP YOU.

It's important you understand what I'm telling you.

I can help you, I just won't. I'm capable of it, but I refuse to do it.

WHY?

Because when I hear someone say, "What's the best investment plan", what I'm really hearing is, "Totally safe, highest returns, no commitment, low or no charges and yes instant liquidity, just like my bank.

And that really translates to "I will be Aladdin and you be my Genie".

Look, setting up a financial plan that ensures that you have an income back up if something goes wrong

OR

If everything is right, then your investments grow and fetch good returns so your kids can go to their chosen Universities in US, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, and then you retire peacefully with a decent monthly pension.

This can be just like you imagined – Passive income and money while you sleep.

All this isn't easy.

But that takes HARD WORK to create, and it takes DISCIPLINE to maintain. Which is where I am going to help you.

YOU'RE STILL HERE? GOOD.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME.

• A proper financial plan designed for you – based on your income, need for future and budget.
• Right investment strategies and methods to structure your portfolio.
• Blatant sales pitches.

Can you believe I just told you flat out that you're going to receive blatant sales pitches from me?

WELL, WHY WOULDN'T I TELL YOU?

I mean c'mon – I'm a "Financial planning advisor". I make my money by selling you insurance and investments – YES, the right kind that will help you achieve your financial goals.

This is what I believe in. I will help you so you can help me.

However – it's always preceded by really valuable Investment ideas & strategies you can use immediately.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FREE.

The idea is you'll say, "Man, Sijo this free stuff really helped me. I really don't have the time or expertise to do the planning. I think I will let Sijo do it for me".

Pretty simple, right?

I call it the old "Demonstrate How You Can Help Them By Actually Helping Them" trick.

Works like a charm.

But you still might be wondering …

SIJO, HOW DO I KNOW IF YOUR ADVICE IS ANY GOOD?

Well, the smartest thing to do is to just hear what some of my clients say.

I have been doing this for 14 years now.

As far as credentials go

I have an MBA from Pune University,

QUALIFIED 13 YEARS IN A ROW AND NOW LIFE MEMBER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS "MILLION DOLLAR ROUND TABLE" – PREMIER ASSOCIATION OF FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS.

CURRENT COUNTRY CHAIR FOR UAE

Simply means I am an expert in my chosen profession.

If you like what my clients say, you'll probably want to try me out.

If you don't like it, you won't.

But I think I'm supposed to do the whole "self-promoting biography" thing now so here goes nothing.

"Travel the Earth" slogan got me started as a Sailor in the Indian Navy way back in 1989.

Once I was in, I realized that 71% of that Earth is water.

But yes, I did get to see some part of Earth too. Sailed the oceans and seas, serving my country for 15 long years.

Retired (without being tired) in 2004.

Second phase started with corporate marketing, parallelly tried my hand and restaurant and later string of cake shops.

While working the entrepreneur in me moonlighted – Invested my end of service benefits from navy in the business, and then reinvested everything back into it and when recession hit, everything went down.

My Friends used to say – "You must be the only person in the whole world who started a restaurant because he loves to eat".

Well, I was lucky in the job, failed miserably as an entrepreneur. (nice word)

Exactly what I am educating my clients not to do. Guiding from my own experience. Never put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify – especially your portfolio.

Long story short – Business wasn't my cup of tea. I quit

After two years of wasted entrepreneurship (I really like that word) the job market wasn't same as it was for a freshly retired veteran.

Was referred by a friend to do a stint with a human rights documentary producer for a while. Shooting documentaries about female infanticide, Naxals, Honor killing, human trafficking etc etc, just your usual everyday stuff.

Nice work – Got threatened and beaten up in different parts of the world – Every place has their unique beating style, some just use hands, others prefer nature – sticks and stones….

Since I didn't have a good life insurance then, the wife made me to quit after a year.

While I was recovering from my last adventure in Orissa where fishermen taught us another use of "Oars" (read beating) I saw this ad for insurance advisor from a company – where coincidently I had a small policy

THIS HAD ALWAYS INTERESTED ME – INSURANCE AGENT.

Flashback – Had an aunt who was with LIC (Life Insurance Company of India). Always in the newspapers for achieving this and breaking some high target and then travelling to different countries for conferences and holidays – all incentivized by LIC.

My dream life again – travel the world….

I applied and my Service experience scored again. They needed someone disciplined with good work ethics – story of my life.

Got some amazing training by the best in the industry – all about insurance and investment and I was ready to take on the world.

Soon after joining I decided to try a different approach than the usual conventional methods. Got a visit visa to UAE. 

In less than a month I had my annual target done from the supporting “NRIs”.

While here I got introduced to an old Navy officer's son working in an insurance brokerage – he offered me a job to work here.

So on 3rd Feb 2010 I started my journey as an insurance agent in the UAE. Like every second NRI who comes here, I too thought to work for a few years, make my pizza (not pie) and go back.

It wasn't easy at all – We were here in the peak of recession.

Income tax in India helps the insurance sales. Absence of it here makes it 10 times harder. It seemed to me like every NRI I met only wanted Indian Insurance and investment plans.

And then I heard about some agents who were doing really well. Researched on them, attended some sessions conducted by the MDRT committee. Very positive and motivating sessions. 

If they could do it, so can I – try.

But the issue was, no one had time to mentor or train me. So It was a lot of hard work, research, reading and self teaching.

I have always been an avid reader.

But only nonfiction I ever read was "Autobiography by Lee Iacocca".

Discovered Zig Ziglar and Robert Kiyosaki, who really supported me in my journey.

Things started getting better.

I knew I was doing the right job cos my clients started to recommend me and my business grew.

Did I make money?

Yes.

Was I successful?

Yes. Success can vary in definition. In my case I was much more happier. That's success for me.

But yes It took a lot of hard work.

Over the years my income grew multifold, but guess what –

So did my lifestyle expenses.

I had money (was earning more), but not enough to be called wealthy, (My savings and bank account wouldn't last long if I stopped working and earning).

Back home I have a pension from my service in the Navy. I knew that wouldn't be enough for us to live in retirement.

Second year in UAE I got us (my wife and me) a good “whole of life insurance plan”. That was and is my security to take the risks I did later on.

I met a lot of people who know much more than me when it comes to investment. Many told me they can manage their finances better.

You see, there is a reason why even ‘Tiger Woods’, has a golf coach. He doesn’t play better than Tiger Woods, but he can see his swing from the outside and find areas of improvement.

That's the value of a coach – or a consultant.

People are busy with their jobs and life. Most don't really have the time.

I realized that the best way to go ahead would be to help people understand and educate them that

While you are working hard to earn more, the money that you already have must work too. The right investments etc.

And while they are trying to build the real wealth, have a backup – Virtual wealth which is Life and Critical Illness Insurance – Ready money when you need it most.

I worked with individuals, families, business owners and today I can say with pride and confidence that I help a lot of people sleep peacefully.

HERE'S WHAT I WILL HELP YOU WITH - SPECIFICALLY

My main focus is to help you to be ready to live long.

I will look at your current situation – which is really a fancy way of saying, "I will work with the young Mr Joe today, with all his commitments, liabilities etc 

And prepare him to be the Gentleman Joe tomorrow. No worries of money.

I do this by helping you plan your today for your better tomorrow.

…. Most of it (common sense) can be done by you.

For the rest, (the important stuff), I am here for you.

HERE'S MY FIRST SALES PITCH TO YOU:

Go to my home page, click – get in touch,  ONLY if you wish to act on your future goals.

                                            If you are not ready to act yet, but need some info, still connect and we can have a good chat.

                                                                                 Pretty simple, right?

                                                                Thanks for reading this page and now get back to work!

Sijo C Mathews