WBS Connect is a special lunch initiative where we will invite 3 members each time to personally find out more about their business needs and wants. This gives a deeper insight into each of our member’s businesses and enables us to connect them better with what they’re looking for, within WBS or outside of WBS.
Name: Doreen Tan
Company name: Rubywealth Solutions & Consultancy
Type of business: insurance & retirement planning
How did you get started in this biz?
In 2008, I started with Prudential.
It was a new chapter in my life as my sister had passed on from cancer that year. I decided to quit my job as a finance manager in the factory area of FTZ and do something different. I wasn’t happy with my job.
When I was working in the factory, I had to take leave – sometimes without much advance notice – if my sister needed to be admitted to the hospital. It was very stressful juggling work and taking care of, and worrying about my sister’s condition.
Prior to being a factory finance manager for 5 years, I was in Penang Skills Development Centre for 10 years where I helped them start their finance department from scratch.
When I quit my job, it was a big decision but it was still within the financial area where I’ve had good experience in. I started with Prudential in 2008 and moved on to commercial insurance and retirement planning. Then I started my own company, Rubywealth, in 2010.
What do you love about your biz?
I love helping people plan their life goals. It makes me happy to see my clients happy when they are free from financial worries. I also love the flexibility of my business where I have time to care for my college-going niece (my deceased sister’s only child).
What are your key products or services?
- Unit trust and Private Retirement Scheme for individuals.
- SME or commercial insurance for F&B, retail shops, factories and corporate companies.
I would like to get more chain stores or franchises as commercial clients. My future plan is to conduct workshops on financial planning once I get my CFP. (Update: Doreen has cleared Module 4 of the CFP, so she is a certified member of FPAM. Her membership will commence in January 2016.)
What is your USP?
Financial awareness workshops e.g. retirement planning, education planning or MY Networth are in the pipeline.
How can WBS help you?
I like how WBS connects biz people with each other. I’ve partnered with Jeanette (Human Nature Malaysia) and Jerrica (Soap Cart) to offer their products when my clients buy my products and services. I’d like to partner more with WBS members. I would like to connect with more product-based businesses as they are potential clients for product liability insurance.
How can you contribute to help WBS improve or grow?
In my email signature, I link to the WBS website. I also tell friends about this group and bring friends to meetings. I also love the idea of EMP (Exclusive Merchant Programme) because this helps WBS get noticed.
Any ethical issues faced in biz?
Dishonesty in dealing with clients is sometimes an issue. If one is not honest, one gets found out as the Penang market is very small. Some insurance people will not inform you what’s excluded in a policy. I always make it a point to highlight the exclusion first to my clients.
Contact details:
doreen@rubywealth.com.my or 012-4829150