Alesana (Alex) Talopa’u, Founder & Director of ARBEZ, was born and raised in the island of Savaii (Samoa) where he remembers life being very simple and that everything he could possibly need would be available from either the land or from the sea. His humble beginnings taught him life lessons that moulded his character and would later define the man that he has become today.
Having been brought up in the islands where money was often very limited, he quickly realised that in order to get the things you desire, the answer lies within YOU and that there is always a way as long as you are resourceful.
At a very young age, a number of experiences brought life lessons that not only gave him what he desired, but it also built his belief system that you could have anything you want and that you could be anything you desire. He proved it and he lived it.
In his first year at Primary school, Alex found out that the top three kids in the class would receive a prize at the end of the year. The thought of receiving a prize, when his family had so little was a strong motivator for Alex and he set his sights on achieving first place. This motivation inspired him to tap into his potential and he succeeded in placing first in his class not only that year but throughout all his years in primary school. In addition to receiving a prize his family would be invited to a feast as part of the reward, so being able to treat them became a big part of his “why” and powered him towards achieving his goals.
Further drive to succeed was planted in his head when his aunt came to visit from NZ. She brought with her a total of four bags that all looked brand new, including a suitcase full of clothes! At the time Alex had two pairs of lavalavas and a couple of old shirts, he realised then that NZ must be a totally different world to the one in which he lived in. At this point, going to NZ became a new goal for Alex.
A scholarship to go to secondary school in NZ became Alex’s ticket to NZ. Alex left Samoa to attend secondary school in NZ in 1984 and then continued his academic success into Australia on another scholarship offered through his home island of Samoa.
Alex graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Commerce and then went on to work at a number of Chartered Accountancy Firms both in Samoa and NZ before he set up his own Accountancy firm in Auckland in 2005.
After falling in love with Mount Maunganui, Alex decided to sell his business and family home in Auckland and made the big move to Tauranga where he continues to operate as an Insurance and Kiwisaver Adviser. Alex has over 25 years experience as an Accountant and Financial Adviser and today, his people know him as the Pasifika Adviser for Pasifika People.
As a home owner, business owner and a property investor, Alex now wants to show his people, community and clients how they can all own their own homes or business simply by utilising the resources already available to them, just like he did. He wants to show others that where there is a will, there is always a way and that it’s not about how much you have but what you do with what you have. In addition, he believes success comes not by doing certain things, but by doing things in a certain way. It is this belief that lead to the birth of ARBEZ in May 2018.
The name – ARBEZ is simply zebra spelt backwards. It is the A to Z of a Resource Based Economy (RBE). ARBEZ is your one stop shop financial services group that starts with the end in mind, turning what is considered normal upside down, working from the inside out while keeping everything simple. Alex’s mission is to use his many years of experience and knowledge in finance to help as many people as he possibly can.
Alex was inspired by the story of the miracle of five loaves and two fish: “I truly believe we can do more with less and I want to share that with others. People are not poor because there isn’t enough to go around, they are poor because of the lack of knowledge to be able to make wise and informed decisions. ARBEZ allows everyone to access resources that they didn’t realise were already available to them. We aim to teach and show how money can serve us for the rest of our lives.”
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
~ Albert Einstein
If reading this has inspired you to take action to reach your true potential, just the way Alex has, then please sign up with ARBEZ today. Together we can help you achieve financial freedom and live the life you’ve always dreamed of.
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