AT THE experimental phase in life called “twentysomething”, most people would have just entered the working world, beginning their journey towards financial freedom.
For entrepreneur Merry Riana, being financially free was more than just a rite of passage, but one which drove her to learn the ropes early.
Wanting to break free from the constraints of her $40,000 student loan which funded her studies at Nanyang Technological University, she believed that the finance industry held the key to early financial freedom.
Merry’s journey began as a financial consultant with Prudential Assurance in 2003, toiling through 14-hour days selling wealth products and facing countless rejections. She earned much recognition in her short stint there, winning the coveted Top New Adviser Award. In 2005, she established Merry Riana Organisation (MRO),
a group of agency units of Prudential Singapore. Merry is still with Prudential Singapore.
It is through helming her pet project that she made her first million at the tender age of 26. Now 28, that pivotal decision to pursue finance instead of her background in electrical engineering has made Merry the successful role model that she is today.
“One of the biggest reasons why I decided to join this line is because I realised that it’s the best way for me to reach my goals at that time,” she says. “My goal then was to provide a better life for my parents.”
Despite being trained as an electrical engineer, paying off her student loans in 10 years was never an option. “It will be too late for me to start letting my parents enjoy life, as they will be too old for that,” Merry relates.
She was determined not to get sidetracked – so much so that she forwent any investment opportunities until her net worth hit a million. “The biggest challenge that I have faced in building my wealth is to maintain my focus,” she stresses. “I’m so blessed to be able to achieve this after four years of working on the business,” she adds.
By being proactive in her career path, she hopes to share this mantra with others who aspire to be like her. Merry is also a reputable trainer and motivational speaker – through her inspirational story of sheer hard work and an unwavering resolution, she hopes others will follow suit in creating their own success and ultimately returning the kindness to society.
Her go-getting attitude deserves some credit for her wealth, she feels. “Too many people think too much and act too little. To be successful, one of the most important things is for you to take action,” she highlights.
Take action!
“Some of your actions may give you positive results, some negative. But if you start taking actions early, you will have much time to learn from your mistakes and take action,” she says.
The current crisis may have set nerves flaring but Merry is unfazed. Instead she looks at it as a window of opportunity. During the 2003 recession and the SARS epidemic, she made a quarter of a million dollars in her first year as a Prudential financial consultant, she points out.
In fact, she intends to increase her net worth to $10 million in the next five years, primarily through expanding her business. As of now, a quarter of her wealth is invested in business and equities, while the rest are invested in local and overseas properties.
Home for Ms Riana is a modest HDB flat, which she shares with her husband and business partner. Her family life has always been her number one priority, says the new mom – she recently gave birth to a daughter in November last year. Striking the fine balance between her work and personal life, she has always believed in the importance of family.
“Since I’m very busy and time is a very scarce resource for me, I must ensure that I really spend quality time with my loved ones. My indulgences have always been spending time with my husband,” she gushes. “I also make it a commitment to visit my family back in Indonesia at least four times a year,” she says.
For more on Merry, you are invited to visit her website www.MerryRiana.com.sg
You may also send her an email (