As Gen Z continues to transform the modern workplace—demanding purpose, flexibility, and financial empowerment—the pressure is on for employers to rethink traditional benefits. It’s no longer just about free coffee or gym memberships. Today’s workforce wants security, and that means putting retirement front and center.
“Most people don’t realize how unprepared they are for retirement—until it’s too late,” said Aristides “Jong” Merida, Jr., a retirement readiness expert and personal finance coach.
Speaking at InLife’s client forum “Retire Without Worries” in Makati’s Fairmont Hotel, Merida urged companies to build a culture where retirement planning is not just encouraged, but embedded.
The wake-up call comes too late
Merida shared a striking experience: he once delivered a talk to employees just six months away from retirement. The atmosphere was festive—until he presented the financial reality of retirement. “The room went from a party to a funeral,” he recalled. “The silence after was deafening. People finally realized how little they’d prepared.”
Another sobering moment came when a 58-year-old doctor asked him how much money he’d need to sustain a ₱500,000 monthly lifestyle post-retirement. “I told him he’d need about ₱150 million invested to support that sustainably,” Merida said. “He was stunned. But that’s the cost of a ₱6 million-a-year lifestyle. You don’t realize how expensive it is until you try to replace your income without working.”
That’s where InLife’s Retire Assure comes in. As the country’s first true retirement insurance product, it’s designed not just to offer a lump sum or short-term cash, but to provide long-term financial stability. And that’s exactly what the new generation of workers is looking for.
“Retire Assure isn’t just another insurance plan—it’s a strategy for peace of mind,” said Jose Eduardo Ang, InLife’s Chief Product and Innovation Officer. “Many products give you a big amount at 65, but how do you make that last 35 years? Retire Assure solves that with guaranteed monthly payouts for life.”
What makes Retire Assure different?
Here’s what sets it apart:
- Guaranteed Monthly Income starting at age 60 or 65, lasting until age 100
- Flexible Payment Options: annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or monthly
- Payouts Sent Straight to Your Bank—no fuss, no confusion
- Potential to Grow with cash dividends
- Life Insurance Protection so your loved ones are covered too
- No Medical Check-Ups Needed—easy, hassle-free enrollment
Merida emphasized a powerful truth: “Wealth, financial independence, retiring with dignity—they’re all the same thing. And to achieve any of them, you need to move from labor income to passive income.”
That shift doesn’t happen by accident—it requires vision, planning, and support. Unfortunately, many people don’t think long term. “They see themselves as employees, not future retirees,” Merida noted. “Leaders need to help their teams think beyond the next payday.”
With rising inflation, longer life expectancies, and increasing pressure on Gen Z to provide for both their parents and their own future, retirement planning can no longer be postponed. It must become a core part of any employer’s value proposition.
Retire Assure offers more than a financial product—it offers a way for individuals and organizations to future-proof their lives. It helps build trust, boosts morale, and aligns company values with employee goals.
Retire with purpose—not panic
Retirement shouldn’t be a moment of dread—it should be a celebration of a life well lived and well planned. With Retire Assure, that vision is finally within reach.
To learn more about how Retire Assure can support your retirement journey, visit inlife.com.ph/retire-assure or talk to an InLife Advisor today.