From Call Centre to Financial Freedom: Dubai Expat Coach Targets Early Retirement at 55 with Index Funds
In Dubai’s vibrant expat community, Jay Adrian Tolentino exemplifies disciplined financial planning for early retirement. This 38-year-old Filipino financial coach aims to achieve financial independence by age 55—or sooner—through consistent investments in low-cost, globally diversified index funds, while building a thriving coaching business for fellow expats.
Residing modestly in Discovery Gardens with his wife and young son, Tolentino also supports his parents in the Philippines. A registered financial planner with a decade in the UAE, he holds a nursing degree but shifted to finance in 2018.
From Humble Beginnings to Dubai Expat Life
His career started modestly: seven years as a call centre agent in the Philippines, beginning at 6,000 pesos ($100) monthly and rising to 30,000 pesos. Upon arriving in Dubai in 2015, he earned Dh3,700 ($1,007) monthly at Sharaf DG.
Building Free Before Sixty Coaching
Now, through Free Before Sixty Coaching, Tolentino assists high-earning expats—mainly Filipinos globally—in streamlining fragmented finances and crafting roadmaps for early retirement in UAE. Clients often succeed professionally but lack unified strategies for retiring in their 50s.
His pivot to coaching followed dissatisfaction as an independent financial adviser, where high-fee products conflicted with his principles. Inspired by Andrew Hallam’s The Millionaire Expat in 2020, he launched the Pera & Purpose podcast and made coaching his primary income this year.
Investment Strategy: Simplicity with Vanguard Index Funds
At the core of his approach lies simplicity and long-term commitment. He primarily invests in Ireland-domiciled Vanguard LifeStrategy funds (80% stocks, 20% bonds) via Interactive Brokers, supplemented by a Philippine retirement lot costing Dh370,000 (under mortgage).
Lessons from Past Mistakes
Early missteps with cryptocurrency, local condos, single stocks, and rental properties highlighted risks like illiquidity. Now, he advocates broad index fund investing: avoid timing the market, tune out noise, and stay invested. His coaching business, meanwhile, delivers the highest returns of any asset.
Investing began in 2014 with Philippine stocks; books like Tony Robbins’ Unshakeable sparked diversification interest, fully realised through Hallam’s expat-focused insights and the SimplyFI community.
Household Finances and Disciplined Spending
Household finances emphasise discipline: pooled incomes, modest allowances (his Dh2,000 for essentials, software, and insurance), and robust savings. Reserves cushioned his wife’s recent job loss seamlessly. Key expenses include rent, food, childcare, mortgage, and remittances.
Debts remain minimal—a Philippine mortgage and UAE car loan—with credit cards avoided to foster deliberate spending. A family health crisis a decade ago reinforced insurance and emergency planning; their fund covers nine months (targeting 12 amid Dubai’s high costs).
Managing Money Worries and Rising Costs
Occasional slow months cause concern, but savings buffer them. Influenced by The Purpose Driven Life, Tolentino prioritises value-aligned spending, recently cancelling even grocery credit cards and minimising car expenses via home-based work.
To combat rising costs, he evaluates opportunity costs and balances expense cuts with income growth through skills.
Future Goals and Vision of Financial Freedom
Future goals: stabilise at $10,000 monthly next year, join $30,000+ coaching networks; within three years, semi-retire his wife, build a team, and operate while travelling. Long-term: fund education, retirement, and Philippine financial literacy NGOs.
Ultimately, financial freedom means passive income enabling passion-driven work a few hours daily, with full family presence—anywhere, anytime. Tolentino’s story inspires UAE expats seeking early retirement through index funds and intentional planning.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.