Board of APFinSA (2019-2021)
The Board of APFinSA is elected by the Council of nine member countries for a two-year term. The Board consists of fivevoting members. The ICSB Chairman is a non-voting member. The Board’s role is to set the strategic direction for APFinSA, to nurture and promote the role of the financial advisor profession in improving the financial well-being of consumers, and to enhance the reputation of Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioners.
Chairman
Mr. Banyong Witayaweerasak
Thailand
Mr Banyong Witayaweerasak
Mr Banyong Witayaweerasak has a wealth of experience in the financial industry and has worked in the insurance field for 33 years. He is actively involved in many social activities and projects serving the community in Thailand. After graduating from the faculty of Pharmacy, Mr. Banyong Witayaweerasak worked as a volunteer in public health for a year before joining AIA in 1986.
Mr Banyong was in the Committee of a public company, Community Pharmacy Public Company Limited, for more than 10 years. He has been invited to serve in Education working groups from both the office of Insurance Commission and Thai Life Assurance Association. Mr Banyong is a business columnist for a leading business newspaper in Thailand. He has written many articles about financial and business issues for the past 20 years and he is the author of a pocket book named “Financial Fraud”.
He was the President of Thai Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (THAIFA) from 2009 to 2011. During his term, he revitalized the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) course which is now very popular among Thai insurance agents. Currently, Mr Banyong is the Advisor to THAIFA Board. He also serves as a committee member of the International Certification and Standard Board (also referred to as the ICSB) which is a key standing committee of APFinSA, governing the FChFP curriculum.
Mr Banyong holds 2 designations, FChFP and RFC. He was the founder of “ThaiFinancialAdvisor.com” which is the very first financial planning web site in Thailand. He has worked in Insurance field for more than 31 years. At present, Mr Banyong is a District Manager in AIA (Thailand).
Mr Banyong Witayaweerasak has served in the Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) as its Hon Treasurer from 2015 to 2019. He has been elected as Chairman for term 2019-2021.
Honorary Secretary
Mr. Matthew Kang
Singapore
Mr. Matthew Kang
Mr Matthew Kang is a Senior Director of Financial Services at Manulife (Singapore) Pte Ltd, leading an agency of highly productive Financial Planners, Managers and Senior Managers. He has been with Manulife for three decades. Mr Matthew Kang served as the National President of the Insurance & Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS) for two terms from 1999 to 2001.
Apart from the financial industry, Mr Matthew Kang is also very active in the community in Singapore. He is a Senior Grassroot Leader and serves as the Chairman of Ci Yuan CCMC (Community Club Management Committee) in Ang Mo Kio GRC, a member of Ang Mo Kio – Hougang CCC (Citizen Consultative Committee) and a Town Councillor at Ang Mo Kio Town. Mr Kang was once the Chairman of one of Singapore’s most successful professional football club. Until recently, Mr Matthew Kang was Chairman of the more than 30,000-strong congregation of the New Creation Church, the largest church in Singapore. He now still sit on the Church Board, taking on an Advisory Role. Mr Matthew Kang holds a MBA in Strategic Wealth Management, the Chartered Wealth Management from AAFM, USA and the Certificate in Law (Estate Planning).
His involvement with APFinSA started from day one of the birth of the association in 1991 and the followings are the records of his involvement:
Member of Task Force at the 1st APLIC Congress, 1991
Hon. Secretary of APFinSA (2001-2003)
Chairman, CEO Panel at 11th APLIC Congress in Macau
Chairman, APFinSA Board of Inquiry (BOI) – 2011-2013
Hon. Secretary of APFinSA (2013-2017)
Vice Chairman of APFinSA (2017-2019)
Mr Matthew Kang has been re-elected once again into the APFinSA Board and will now be serving as its Honorary Secretary for this current term 2019-2021.
Honorary Treasurer
Mr. James Bong
Malaysia
Mr. James Bong
Mr James Bong joined the life insurance industry in 1983 as agent. He progressed to the top as Group Agency Manager within a short span of 7 years. He is currently the Chief Agency Manager of Zurich Insurance Malaysia Berhad.
He achieved numerous industrial awards including the prestigious MDRT; AKARD and the Supreme Agency Builder Award with a record of 73 direct new recruits in one year and an all-time record breaker of 27 direct new agents in one month.
Mr James Bong has served the insurance fraternity extensively in various portfolios. He was the President of Zurich Life Insurance Association (ZULIA) for 4 years (2 terms); Organizing Chairman of Mega Convention 2005; Founding Chairman of National Mandarin Life Insurance & Financial Planning Summit (ManLIFPS); Chairman of Financial & Life Practitioners Council (FLPC) for 2 terms; Speaker of Mega Convention in 2003/2006/2009.
He also contributed back to society, serving as Chairman of PTA SMK Arang (Secondary school) in Kuching for 8 years. He was conferred the “ANAK SARAWAK” Award by Sarawak Government in 2007 for his contributions towards Convention Bureau.
Mr James Bong is a certified trainer/lecturer in many programs including the Award winning Registered Financial Planner (RFP) on financial planning; Fellow Certified Life Practitioner (FCLP) on life insurance specialization. A certified Business Coach; a much sought after motivational speaker in both English & Mandarin, having spoken in Indonesia, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Philippines, USA.
Currently he serves as the Immediate Past President of NAMLIFA; Chairman of Convention & Speakers Standard Board (CSSB) and National Council member of Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC).
Mr James Bong has been elected Hon. Treasurer of APFinSA for the term 2019-2021.
Assistant Honorary Secretary
Ms. Lily Wong
Hong Kong
Ms. Lily Wong
Ms. Lily Wong is a highly accomplished and self-motivated person with over 25 years of experience in leadership expertise and financial advisory services. She leads a team of professional financial agents in achieving the company’s top targets. She is a District Director of AIA (International) Limited and Panel Member of Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Appeal Board, Hong Kong SAR Government. She is also the Immediate Past President of The Life Underwriters Association of Hong Kong (LUAHK).
Ms Wong believes in sharing and giving. She is an international speaker. Her speeches cover a wide range of financial topics including wealth protection planning and financial management advisory. She has motivated the audience to challenge their pre-conceived beliefs and open their mind to innovative solutions to both business/ personal opportunities and challenges. She is invited to be a speaker in the 2019 MDRT Annual Meeting in Miami and was a speaker at IDA and ConneXion Zone of the MDRT 2013. She also serves as a mentor for university students and is an organizer for many charity events.
Ms Lily Wong has vast experience and knowledge in facilitating aggressive financial plans and advising on personal wealth management plans. Being a Trainer for AIA Sales Force and New Product Think Tank Member of AIA (International) Limited, she has an outstanding ability to develop and lead professional financial planning teams with enhanced skills and excellent profitability.
Ms Lily Wong has been elected to serve in APFinSA as Assistant Hon. Secretary for the term 2019-2021.
Immediate Past Chairman & ICSB Chairman
Mr. SK Samy
Malaysia
Mr. S. Kolandasamy
Hailing from across the causeway, Mr S. Kolandasamy has an extensive list of awards under his name within the insurance industry. Despite graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, he has taken a different career path and has not looked back since. Known as Mr SK Samy in the industry, he has 40 years of experience as a financial practitioner which has yielded an agency with an immensely high retention rate of 95 percent.
Mr SK Samy holds various designations such as MII.LUTCF. USA, FCLP, ChLP, FChFP, RFP and is a Million Dollar Producers Club Qualifier, and Million Dollar Round Table U.S.A Qualifier, Million Dollar Agency Qualifier, and Supremacy Awards Qualifier.
The Past President of National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance and Family Takaful Advisors (NAMLIFA), Mr SK Samy has also attained numerous accolades such as qualifying for the Million Dollar Producers Club on four occasions, qualifying for the MDRT (USA) twice and achieving the Million Dollar Agency award 16 times. Mr SK Samy’s track record includes :
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- Senior Group Sales Manager of Great Eastern Assurance & Life Takaful
- Past President of National Association of Life Insurance Field Force and Advisers
- Past President of Education, Welfare and Research Foundation of Malaysia
- AMTC Moderator for Malaysia Insurance Institute
- Associates Trainer for Great Eastern Assurance Life
- Lecturer of Malaysia Financial Planning Council
- Founder Chairman of Progressive Planners
- Speaker for Asia Pacific Life Insurance Council (APLIC)
Mr SK Samy has served in Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) in the following positions:
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- Hon Secretary of APFinSA (2009-2013)
- Vice Chairman of APFinSA (2013-2015)
- Chairman of APFinSA (2015-2017)
- Chairman of APFinSA (2017-2019)
Mr SK Samy continues as Immediate Past Chairman of APFinSA for the 2019-2021. He has been nominated as the ICSB Chairman for APFinSA for 2019-2021.
18th APLIC 2021 Co-Chairman & Board Member
Mr. Edmund Wee
Singapore
Mr Edmund Wee
Mr Edmund Wee is a Senior Financial Consultant in the financial industry since 1987. Mr Edmund Wee is ever passionate and earnest in helping his clients find the best possible solutions to their financial needs. Mr Wee’s impressive industry track record similarly reflects his positive attitude to his line of work for the past 32 years. Besides being an MDRT member from 2000 to 2003, he also served as President of the Insurance Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS) for two terms, from 2002 to 2003 and the second time from 2006 to 2007. During his term as elected IFPAS President, Mr Edmund Wee managed to boost its membership by a significant 10 percent. Mr Wee continues to serve IFPAS today as an Advisor. Mr Edmund Wee had also been appointed by IFPAS as the Ambassador for the IFPAS-Medishield Life (MSL) Project for 2015-2016. Mr Edmund Wee holds LUTFC and FChFP designations.
Apart from the financial industry, Mr Edmund Wee is also very active in the community in Singapore. He is widely involved in grassroot activities and currently serves as the member of CCC in Toa Payoh West-Balestier CC. Currently, Mr Edmund Wee is also the Chairman of its Sports Club under Toa Payoh-West Balestier CC . Mr Edmund Wee was once the Vice Chairman of S. League Football Club, one of Singapore’s most successful professional football club. He also actively volunteered in the 1st Summer Youth Olympics held in 2010, as well as the 28th SEA Games in Singapore in 2015.
He has served in Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) in the following positions:
Vice Chairman of 13th Asia Pacific Life Insurance Congress (APLIC), Singapore, 2011
Hon Treasurer of APFinSA (2009-2011)
Vice Chairman of APFinSA (2011-2013)
Chairman of APFinSA (2013-2015)
Immediate Past Chairman of APFinSA (2015-2017)
Mr. Edmund Wee continues to serve APFinSA today as a Board Member for the term 2019-2021. He is also the Co-Chairman for the 18th APLIC (Asia Pacific Life Insurance Congress) 2021.
ICSB, International Certification & Standards Board (2019-2021)
The International Certification and Standards Board (ICSB) is a standing committee of APFinSA which governs the professional certifications and education pathways of the association.
ICSB Chairman
Mr. S.K. Samy
Malaysia
Mr. S. Kolandasamy
Hailing from across the causeway, Mr S. Kolandasamy has an extensive list of awards under his name within the insurance industry. Despite graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, he has taken a different career path and has not looked back since. Known as Mr SK Samy in the industry, he has 40 years of experience as a financial practitioner which has yielded an agency with an immensely high retention rate of 95 percent.
Mr SK Samy holds various designations such as MII.LUTCF. USA, FCLP, ChLP, FChFP, RFP and is a Million Dollar Producers Club Qualifier, and Million Dollar Round Table U.S.A Qualifier, Million Dollar Agency Qualifier, and Supremacy Awards Qualifier.
The Past President of National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance and Family Takaful Advisors (NAMLIFA), Mr SK Samy has also attained numerous accolades such as qualifying for the Million Dollar Producers Club on four occasions, qualifying for the MDRT (USA) twice and achieving the Million Dollar Agency award 16 times. Mr SK Samy’s track record includes :
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- Senior Group Sales Manager of Great Eastern Assurance & Life Takaful
- Past President of National Association of Life Insurance Field Force and Advisers
- Past President of Education, Welfare and Research Foundation of Malaysia
- AMTC Moderator for Malaysia Insurance Institute
- Associates Trainer for Great Eastern Assurance Life
- Lecturer of Malaysia Financial Planning Council
- Founder Chairman of Progressive Planners
- Speaker for Asia Pacific Life Insurance Council (APLIC)
Mr SK Samy has served in Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) in the following positions:
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- Hon Secretary of APFinSA (2009-2013)
- Vice Chairman of APFinSA (2013-2015)
- Chairman of APFinSA (2015-2017)
- Chairman of APFinSA (2017-2019)
Mr SK Samy currently serves as the Immediate Past Chairman of APFinSA for the term 2019-2021. He has been nominated as ICSB Chairman for the term 2019-2021.
ICSB Vice Chairman
Mr. Allen Lim
Singapore
Mr. Allen Lim
Mr Allen Lim is a licensed financial practitioner in Singapore since 1998. He is currently representing Manulife Financial Advisers Pte Ltd, where he is licensed to design financial planning solutions for clients using insurance, annuities, securities and collective investment schemes products. He preaches the importance of doing comprehensive financial planning with estate planning considerations and has educated many financial practitioners, lawyers and trust professionals in this area.
Allen holds several professional designations and degrees:
- Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) – by APFinSA
- Chartered Life Underwriter / Singapore (CLU/S) – by Singapore College of Insurance (under license from The American College of Financial Services)
- Chartered Financial Consultant / Singapore (ChFC/S) – by Singapore College of Insurance (under license from The American College of Financial Services)
- Certificate in Law (Estate Planning) – by Singapore Accountancy Academy
- Bachelor of Science in Business and Management – by University of Bradford (UK)
- Master of Management – by Macquarie University (Australia)
Mr Lim is an active and EXCO member of the Insurance and Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS), serving in the Education and Training Department of IFPAS since 2016. He emphasizes the need for financial practitioners to develop into a subject matter expert and be relevant to the practitioners’ country’s societal, family, business and geopolitical trends. During his terms, he initiated the technical talk and master class series, and project writing to help broaden and deepen the practitioners’ professional knowledge and competence in the Technical, Behavioural, Legal and Ethical Aspects of insurance, Financial and Estate Planning. Mr Lim’s current research interest is in the developmental implications of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence on financial practitioners.
Mr Allen Lim is an adjunct lecturer for APFinSA for its FChFP course and IFPAS for its ChFC course. He has written numerous articles on the technical aspects of estate planning in Singapore and has served in the Republic of Singapore Air Force as an officer. He has a keen reading interest in history and geopolitical situations in South-East Asia.
Mr Allen Lim has been nominated to serve as ICSB Vice Chairman of APFinSA for the term 2019-2021.
ICSB Member
Mr. Mongkol Lusamlit
Thailand
Mr Mongkol Lusamlit
After graduating with a business degree in 1990, Mr. Mongkol Lusamlit joined AIA as a full-time insurance agent until today. Mr. Mongkol has accumulated over 29 years of experience in the finance and insurance industry. During his stint as an insurance agent, he has shown exemplary performance and achieved many awards and qualifications for instant MDRT, COT, Hall of Honour, Hall of Fame, Premier Agency and many more. Mr.Mongkol was also recognized for his leadership qualities and he was promoted to a Senior District Director in 2012.
Foreseeing the changes in Thailand insurance industry, Mr. Mongkol decided to slowly make a transition of his team from being just an insurance agent to becoming a financial advisor. Later, he founded WDC Group, a financial consulting company, which has grown to be recognized for its professional advisors and client-oriented services. Through his success, Mr.Mongkol brought changes to the Thailand insurance industry.
Mr. Mongkol holds 3 designations, Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP), ChLP and RFC. He was sought to be one of the course coordinator for FChFP in Thailand. He was also appointed as an Ambassador of AIA Linked, a President of AIA FA Ambassador and AIA Senior Agency Consultant (Thailand).
Mr.Mongkol is also the author of 2 best-selling Financial Planning books – “Whole Life Financial Planning” and “All Answer of Personal Financial Planning”. Mr. Mongkol who is known for his financial knowledge and experience, is often invited to be a guest speaker at many organizations, events and TV programs. He is actively engaging with the community, answering enquiries, providing suggestions and valuable insights regarding the financial industry. Mr. Mongkol has gain more attention as he recently released an online course called How To Be Financial Advisor.
Mr. Mongkol’s vision is to bring changes and improvements to the insurance and financial industry. He is determined to always be updated on the latest news and updates in the financial world. He will continue to embrace changes and implement new strategies and thoughts in the insurance and financial advisory industry in Thailand.
Mr. Mongkol has been nominated to serve as ICSB Member of APFinSA for the term 2019-2021.
ICSB Member
Mr. Teo Kok Chuan
Singapore
Mr. Teo Kok Chuan
Mr Teo Kok Chuan 张国全 is a currently a Director of Financial Services with Great Eastern Life Assurance Co Ltd, Singapore, from which he joined since 1979. With over 40 years of experience in Singapore life insurance, he has agency sales and management experience.
Mr Teo Kok Chuan is very much involved in Great Eastern, with the following credentials:
- Great Eastern Life Honours Club Life Member
- Great Eastern Life Honours Club Double Qualifier (Producer & Manager)
- Many years of Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Qualifying Member
- Appointed as a Consultant of Insurance and Financial Practitioners
- Association of Taiwan from 2003 – 2006
- Appointed Speaker at 7th and 11th Asia Pacific Life Insurance Congress.
- Founding President of Great Eastern Wan Cheng Hui.
- Founding Chairman of GE Alliance Agency Finergy Connect
With his vast knowledge, Mr Teo Kok Chuan is a qualified lecturer of FChFP and CFP (China). He is a much sought after motivational speaker for both local and overseas insurance associations in the region, like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand and Malaysia.
He is an active speaker in Taiwan, often invited to speak at mega conferences and congresses. Mr Teo was the appointed speaker at Taichung and Taipei International Life Insurance Congress, LUA (Taiwan) Sales Congress 2004 and Taiwan’s largest press company, China Times International Life Insurance Sales Congress in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He has lectured and provided training sessions at Taiwan Prudential, Cathay Life, Shinkong Life, Nanshan Life, Mass Mutual as well as ING.
Likewise in China, Mr Teo Kok Chuan has given talks at Citic-Prudential of Guangzhou and China Life. He conducted numerous insurance training programmes for Tai Kang Life, Beijing Life Insurance Association and China Finance Management Association.
Closer to home, he was a speaker for many major insurance companies in Malaysia, such as MAA Insurance, Hong Leong Life and Allianz Life. At the same time, he was a speaker in Thailand Prudential Annual Sales Congress 2005.
Mr Teo Kok Chuan is also active in community projects in Singapore, having participated at public seminars, educating and delivering the concept of Basic Financial Planning and Medical Protection Plan to the masses at community centres and Grassroot Club. He was also involved in IFPAS Medishield life project from 2016 -2016, and appointed as the Ambassador of Nee Soon GRC.
He possessed professional qualifications in Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP), CFP (China) as well as a Diploma in Life Insurance.
Mr Teo Kok Chuan has been nominated to serve APFinSA as a Member of ICSB for the term 2019-2021.
ICSB Member
Mr. Paul Chan
Singapore
Mr. Paul Chan
Mr Paul Chan is a Director of Financial Services at Great Eastern Life Assurance Co Ltd, Singapore, managing an agency of 30 associates. Mr Paul Chan has been in the financial services industry since the late 1980s and has achieved MDRT qualifications a number of times.
Mr Paul Chan has served in the Insurance Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS) since 1999, first as a sub-committee member, and then as a Vice President, and eventually elected as President of IFPAS from 2004-2005.
He holds the Chartered Life Underwriter CLU professional designation and is a Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner FChFP. He also holds an MBA qualification.
Since 2009, Mr Paul Chan has served as a committee member of the International Certification and Standard Board (ICSB) which is a key standing committee of APFinSA. He teaches extensively in the FChFP curriculum and other agency management programs in Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia.
Mr Paul Chan has been nominated to serve as a ICSB Member in APFinSA for the term 2019-2021.
ICSB Advisor
Mr. Banyong Witayaweerasak
Thailand
Mr Banyong Witayaweerasak
Mr Banyong Witayaweerasak has a wealth of experience in the financial industry and has worked in the insurance field for 33 years. He is actively involved in many social activities and projects serving the community in Thailand. After graduating from the faculty of Pharmacy, Mr. Banyong Witayaweerasak worked as a volunteer in public health for a year before joining AIA in 1986.
Mr Banyong was in the Committee of a public company, Community Pharmacy Public Company Limited, for more than 10 years. He has been invited to serve in Education working groups from both the office of Insurance Commission and Thai Life Assurance Association. Mr Banyong is a business columnist for a leading business newspaper in Thailand. He has written many articles about financial and business issues for the past 20 years and he is the author of a pocket book named “Financial Fraud”.
He was the President of Thai Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (THAIFA) from 2009 to 2011. During his term, he revitalized the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) course which is now very popular among Thai insurance agents. Currently, Mr Banyong is the Advisor to THAIFA Board. He also serves as a committee member of the International Certification and Standard Board (also referred to as the ICSB) which is a key standing committee of APFinSA, governing the FChFP curriculum.
Mr Banyong holds 2 designations, FChFP and RFC. He was the founder of “ThaiFinancialAdvisor.com” which is the very first financial planning web site in Thailand. He has worked in Insurance field for more than 31 years. At present, Mr Banyong is a District Manager in AIA (Thailand).
Mr Banyong Witayaweerasak has served in the Asia Pacific Financial Services Association (APFinSA) as its Hon Treasurer from 2015 to 2019. He has been elected as Chairman for term 2019-2021. He is also Advisor to APFinSA’s Board of ICSB.