David Isaiah Angway, RFP, CWA, CTEP, on Follow the Money with Robert Tan, Billionaire News Channel

0:00 Welcome to Follow the Money

1:25 July inflation eases to 6.2%, but here's the catch

2:43 Why food and electricity are really running at 8.2%

5:32 Where does your money still hold value?

6:45 How much purchasing power cash is losing right now

7:32 Gold, real estate, or dollars: which hedge actually works

9:46 Advice for real estate investors falling behind on payments

10:23 Why relying on one income stream is the real risk

12:45 The "smart" financial move that hurts you long term

15:25 How to know when it's time to exit an investment

18:02 Should you take out a loan or buy a home right now?

19:25 Buy now or wait: consumer electronics during inflation

22:06 When to refinance or pay off debt more aggressively

23:34 Getting past the shame of asking for financial help

27:01 Rapid fire round

29:15 Closing thoughts

Philippine Inflation Eased to 6.2% (But Feels Like 8%). Here's Why and How to Protect Your Money.
Philippine inflation eased to 6.2% in July, but for many families feeling the sting of rising food and electricity costs, the real rate feels closer to 8%. In this interview with Robert Tan on Billionaire News Channel's Follow the Money, David Isaiah Angway, RFP, CWA, CTEP, explains the gap and offers actionable advice for navigating these challenging economic times.

Key Takeaways from David Isaiah Angway:

• Real Inflation Is Higher: The headline 6.2% figure is an average; the inflation rate for essentials like food and electricity is closer to 8.2%. This isn't a personal spending problem; it's systemic.

• Create a Second Source of Income: Instead of cutting back further, focus on creative ways to generate a second income stream to combat the real impact of inflation.

• Protect Your Cash: Savings accounts with low interest rates are losing purchasing power against inflation. Consider inflation hedges like the US dollar and gold. Real estate, particularly foreclosed properties (pasalo deals), can also be an opportunity.

• Avoid the Single-Income-Stream Mistake: Don't rely solely on one income source, even if you're wealthy. Focus on sequencing—mastering one stream before scaling or funding the next.

• Diversify Your Portfolio: Avoid betting everything on a single asset class. Regularly reassess your investments and be prepared to cut losses when necessary.

• Use Debt Strategically: Take out loans only if the potential return on investment significantly outweighs the cost of borrowing. Avoid debt for hobby expenses.

• Monitor Your Debt Ratio: Maintain a healthy debt ratio (around 30%) and take action if it exceeds 35% by paying down debt or selling underperforming assets.

• Seek Professional Advice: Don't let shame or guilt prevent you from seeking financial guidance. Talking to a professional is a proactive step towards financial stability.

• Don't Neglect Estate Planning: Protect your family's long-term wealth by creating a clear and comprehensive estate plan.

Actionable Advice for Your Finances:

• Calculate Your Real Inflation Rate: Track your family's spending on essentials to understand the true impact of inflation on your budget.

• Explore Second Income Opportunities: Identify skills or hobbies that could generate additional income.

• Diversify Your Investments: Review your portfolio and consider spreading your investments across different asset classes.

• Set Exit Triggers: Before making any investment, determine your exit points in advance to avoid making emotional decisions.

• Evaluate Debt Carefully: Assess the potential risks and rewards before taking out any loans.

• Consult a Financial Advisor: Get professional advice to help you navigate these complex financial challenges.

• Create an Estate Plan: Protect your family's future by ensuring a smooth wealth transfer.

Philippine inflation slowed to 6.2% in July, the third straight month of decline. On paper, that reads as relief. In practice, most of my clients tell me they feel nothing has changed. I sat down with Robert Tan on Follow the Money to explain the gap, and after 13 years advising families through every kind of market cycle, here is what I actually tell people to do about it.

Why the Headline Number Doesn't Match What You Feel

The 6.2% figure is an average of the basket of goods the typical Filipino buys. It is not lying. It is just incomplete. When I isolate food and electricity, the number I see is closer to 8.2%. That is the real inflation rate for a family of four paying rent, buying rice, and covering the electric bill every month.

Here is the distinction I want you to sit with. This is not a spending problem. I hear people blame their own budgeting when the honest answer is that this has become systemic and economic. My advice in that situation is never to squeeze harder on the same income. It is to get creative about a second source of income before the squeeze forces the decision on you.

Where I Tell Clients to Keep Their Money

Cash sitting in a standard savings account is losing ground every month. Most major banks pay under 1% interest. Against 6% to 8% inflation, that is a guaranteed negative return, and I say that plainly to clients who assume their money is "safe" just because it is in a bank. My baseline recommendation is saving 10% to 50% of income, but the harder question I push clients on is where that saved money actually sits.

When I rank the classic inflation hedges, the US dollar currently holds the most consistent value, with gold close behind as a relatively stable store. Real estate locally is slowing, and I tell people that is not automatically bad news. Foreclosed properties, what many call pasalo deals, can be genuine opportunities if you know how to evaluate a distressed unit, put a little capital into repositioning it, and resell at a fair price. I have guided clients through exactly this play.

The One-Income-Stream Mistake I See Destroy Wealth

I have personally known people lose 10 million pesos from a single decision: staying dependent on one income stream, even after they had already become millionaires. That is the mistake I warn every client against, regardless of how much they have already built.

My advice is not to chase seven income streams at once. It is sequencing. Get genuinely excellent at one income stream first, to the point where it can scale or fund the next one. I have seen the opposite play out too. Clients who built too many streams simultaneously ended up burned out and with no time left for their families, which defeats the entire point of building wealth in the first place.

The "Smart" Move That Actually Hurts You

If you ask me what looks smart during high inflation but quietly backfires, it is betting everything on a single asset class, whether that is real estate, gold, or one business line. Every economic season calls for reassessing your portfolio. What worked last quarter is not guaranteed to work this quarter, and I tell clients directly: know your numbers well enough to recognize when it is time to cut losses instead of holding on out of pride or sunk cost.

I use a personal framework for this. Before I enter any position, I set three exit triggers in advance. If a situation checks all three boxes, I exit without hesitation and without regret, because the decision was already made calmly, before emotion had a stake in it. I have applied this to my own real estate positions, and it is the same discipline I coach clients through when they ask me how to know it's time to sell.

Should You Take Out a Loan Right Now?

This comes down to math, not mood. My rule of thumb: if a loan at roughly 10% can fund a business or investment that realistically returns 15% to 30%, it is worth pursuing even during high inflation. If inflation is still climbing and the return is uncertain, I tell clients to pause. The same logic extends to big purchases like electronics. If it is a hobby expense, give yourself 30 days before buying. If it directly generates income for your business, buy now.

My Threshold for Debt and Refinancing

For business owners, the real question I ask is whether debt is funding expansion or masking a shortfall. I consider a debt ratio around 30% healthy. Once it crosses 35%, that is my personal trigger to pay down debt aggressively and start selling underperforming assets before the ratio becomes a real problem. I compare it to checking your blood sugar. You do not wait for the diagnosis to start paying attention.

Asking for Help Is Not a Weakness

In my years coaching clients through financial stress, shame and guilt are almost always tied together, and they are the biggest reason people avoid financial advisors altogether. My honest signal for clients: if you are already asking yourself whether you need someone to talk to about your finances, that question is your answer. Call your accountant, your financial advisor, or a trusted friend. It is far cheaper than the loan apps that bury their interest rates in fine print and charge as much as 5% every two weeks.

Protecting What You've Built for the Long Run

Everything above is about protecting today's cash flow. Estate planning is the discipline I practice with families to protect everything they build after inflation, taxes, and time have their say. If your family's wealth, property, or business does not yet have a clear plan for who inherits what and how, that gap can cost your family far more than any single bad investment ever will.

Book a one-on-one estate planning session with David Isaiah Angway, RFP, CWA, CTEP, to review your family's wealth transfer plan and close the gaps before they become expensive.

Visit davidangway.com to schedule your consultation.

© 2026 David Angway

Trust and Standards