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 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hi everyone.
I'm Regina, based here inCharlotte, north Carolina, and I
love to talk to local businessowners.
I'm the podcast host today,speaking with Felipe Arana.
He is a financial advisor withPrimerica.
Welcome, felipe.
Hey Regina, thanks for havingme.
Absolutely.

(00:23):
I've loved getting to know youover the last week or so as
we've been chatting and you areso bright, so passionate.
Tell us a little bit about youand what is Primerica.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, of course.
So, yeah, I used to work withsupply chain planning and I'm
originally from Brazil.
So you know, I got this greatjob offer to come to the US and
I had a great career, you know.
But I was looking for somethingdifferent and Primerica found
me.
So Primerica is one of thegreatest financial companies in

(01:01):
the US and we help a lot ofpeople get in line with their
finances, you know, becomefinancially dependent, prepare
for retirement, get out of debtand a lot of things like that.
So me, as a foreigner and aworker in a company, I had, like
, my retirement plan, the 401k,and you know you don't think

(01:23):
much about it, but that's notenough.
You know, if you're going toretire, that's really not enough
.
And if you especially after youhave kids, you know this these
things come out to your mind andyou're just thinking about is
that going to be enough, orshould I be doing something else
?
So you know, when I, when Ilearned about Primerica, I

(01:44):
thought, hey, that's actuallygreat.
You know, for people that, likemyself, are from outside of the
US, have a job, do have somemoney sometimes, you know to
invest or to set aside, but theyjust don't really know what to
do with it.
I think that's really great,you know, because sometimes you
might even know something aboutinvesting, something about
finances, but the US systemoptions and all that is very

(02:07):
specific, very particular.
So I think Primerica is veryvaluable in terms of helping
people do the right choices, youknow, do the right things with
the best information.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Well, I know one of your specialties is helping
foreign professionals navigatethe US financial system, so
that's wonderful.
You've got this absolutebackground and firsthand
knowledge, and so tell us what.
What does that mean?
Define who you're speaking toand what this really is.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, of course.
So families, you know, in age25 to 55 years old, ideally with
kids that's a big one and mayor may not be homeowners and
that are employed.
So that's basically our targetaudience, you know, because that

(03:10):
means you have enough financialresponsibility that you need
help with and you know the morethings that you need, the better
I can help you, because aprimary cause idea is to help
overall with everything withdebt, with financial
independence, retirement and allthat that is so cool.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
So when it comes to a foreign professional and
they're hearing this, what, whatdoes that look like?
What are the steps?

Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah.
So we will set up a meeting sothat I get to know you.
This business is veryrelational.
So, you know, I like to knowwhat 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 tovacation twice a year with the
kids, or you know something,things like that, or even like

(03:46):
especially when the kids are inthe picture like, hey, I want to
set up an investment so that mykids go to college, or
something.
You know, this is also somethingthat we can help.
So, you know, after I get tomeet you and to know you, then
we do a second meeting that wecall the FNA, the financial
needs analysis, and that'sbasically a data collection

(04:06):
meeting and we also like to callit the financial GPS, like a
regular GPS.
You know you want to gosomewhere, you went to the car
and the first thing you do isyou define where you're going,
right, so that's what I need toknow as your analyst, and then
I'll be your financial GPS andhelp you avoid tolls, accidents
or you know the best route.
That's basically the idea ofthe F&A.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
I love that analogy.
That is fun.
Well, since we're talking todayabout, you know, helping
foreign professionals navigatein the US, what are some of the
things you see over and overthat you are helping people with
?

Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah.
So, as I was saying myself,being, you know, exhibit A of
that when I was an employee withCorporate America, as I said,
first thing is retirement.
So 401k plans are great, theyare wonderful, and especially
the matching that the companyusually does for the employees.
That's great, you know.

(05:02):
But that's not nearly enoughfor you to actually retire.
So, you know, you could bespending part of that in a
separate retirement account andyou can have many, you know.
And then, so that way you'renot having all your eggs in a
basket in the same basket andyou're doing different things,
you know.
Another big part of it is alsolike the life insurance.

(05:23):
The what we call group lifeinsurance 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 theydon't want to know that, hey,
the life insurance that you haveis, like, really limited.
For example, it's very rarethat if you're on a vacation

(05:44):
outside you know, I know usforeigners like to travel around
If you're on vacation andsomething happens, you're not
covered, you know.
So that's a big example.
So some misconceptions you knowthat you're covered with life
insurance or the 401k is justenough, or things like that, or
maybe, maybe, oh, I need so muchmoney to invest and you know,

(06:05):
those are things that I'll helpyou clarify and be you know,
clear and make the rightdecision what I think I'm
hearing is you allow people thatreally don't know anything
about this world take those babysteps with you yes, correct,
perfect, yeah.
And then you, we're going totailor to your level of

(06:26):
knowledge or your conditions inthe moment.
So, like, the minimum to investwith 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 (06:38):
That's wonderful.
So what sets you apart If youlook at other financial advisors
and even within your owncompany?
Tell us about you.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah, yeah.
So just before my personallevel, primerica sets itself
apart by not charging clientsfor the advisor services, right?
So all the services that Iprovide on the client end are
free of charge.
But obviously we don't work forfree, so the companies that I

(07:11):
help you set up the serviceswith they pay me.
So that's a big difference fromother companies, right?
Yeah, so that's great.
And on a personal level, youknow, if you're, like myself, a
foreigner, you know and you'reworking.
I've been there, I've beenthere, I've done that.
I know how you feel, I knowwhat your anxieties are about

(07:33):
all that, and I like to takegood care of my clients, I like
to make them feel comfortable.
I don't know if there's crazynews that something economic is
happening, so I would call myclients like hey, hey, are you
good?
Do you need a hand or you needto vent or something you know,

(07:54):
because, really, the thingsabout finances that if you have
the knowledge, if you know whatyou're doing, you don't have to
panic.
So that that's basically itthat is so cool.

Speaker 1 (08:05):
I love.
I love your passion and yourknowledge and this company just
sounds amazing.
I didn't know you could have anadvisor and not pay them.
I just I didn't know.

Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, yeah, that's right, that's.
That's something special aboutPrimerica.

Speaker 1 (08:20):
And $50 a month, that is quite doable.
Yeah exactly, exactly so.
Tell our listeners how to findyou.

Speaker 2 (08:28):
Yeah, so I'm mostly on Instagram.
My handle is Primerica Felipe Aand 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 ofcontact, but you can also text

(08:48):
me or call me at 803-795-2156.

Speaker 1 (08:53):
And I know you serve primarily the Charlotte metro
area.
What other areas do you work?

Speaker 2 (09:00):
Yeah, so also this is neat about Primerica because I
can help people anywhere in thecountry, in the US, you know.
So I do have some friends,foreigners also, that are like
in Florida, in Texas, in NewMexico, and I help them set up
their investments in their lifeinsurance, things like that.

Speaker 1 (09:20):
Yeah, and then their family.
I mean you know we all.
That's the best connection inthe world once they connect with
you and you help them getstarted.
It has been a pleasure gettingto know you and talk about
Primerica today.
Thank you very much, Hulibé.
All right, Thank you, Reginahave a good one.