Crislany M. Arquillano, AFP®, is a financial professional whose journey with money is defined by patience, discipline, and a commitment to long-term security. Her Associate Financial Planner (AFP®) designation, earned through the IMG community where she has been a member since 2021, reflects her dedication to professional excellence in financial advisory. Her first memory of money—saving coins in a piggy bank for a toy—taught her the value of patience, a lesson that continues to guide her approach to finance today.
Arquillano’s financial philosophy is rooted in the belief that saving and investing are not about self-deprivation but about building peace of mind and long-term security. A pivotal turning point came when the fear of retiring broke motivated her to stop making excuses and take her finances seriously, shifting her perspective from short-term spending to intentional saving and investing. As both a saver and an investor, she exemplifies a disciplined, forward-thinking, and client-centered financial professional dedicated to empowering others to build lasting financial independence.
AFP® Certification Story
Investment Lessons and Risk Management
Have you ever made an investment that did not go as planned? What did you learn from it?
“Yes. It taught me a huge lesson: never put your money into something you do not fully understand.”
How do you balance risk and reward when making financial decisions?
“If an investment or financial decision is so risky that it is going to make me lose sleep, I do not do it. I always ask myself, ‘Can I afford to lose this money?’ If the answer is no, I walk away because I am just not a big risk-taker.”
What is a money goal you are currently working toward?
“My main money goal right now is to build a solid financial house, just to make sure I have total peace of mind when I reach my twilight years.”
AFP® Program and Financial Growth
What motivated you to join the AFP program, and how did it influence your approach to financial planning?
“I wanted to learn the proper way to save and invest for the long run. It completely changed my approach—it taught me how to manage risks carefully, stop making excuses, and truly focus on building my finances.”
How has becoming an AFP® helped you make better investment and wealth-building decisions?
“It completely changed how I look at money. Instead of throwing cash at small, random things or bad business ideas, I now know how to evaluate investments the right way. It gave me the confidence to build a solid financial house with minimal stress.”
What is the most valuable lesson you learned from the AFP program, and how have you applied it in your own financial journey?
“It taught me that good financial planning is about control, not restriction. I used to make excuses, but now I apply what I learned by tracking my spending carefully and making smart, calculated decisions that protect my future.”