Lessons from Ba (Happy Fathers' Day!)

My father (Ba) was the sole breadwinner while my mother was a full-time homemaker. He didn't have much formal education—life had other plans when he became responsible for his siblings as the second eldest of nine children. As far back as I can remember, he spent his entire working life behind the wheel of a taxi, right up until retirement.

Yet growing up, we never felt financially stretched. We weren't told we needed part-time jobs to help with household expenses. Life was simple, but we were genuinely happy.

Looking back, Ba taught me more about the five pillars of retirement than any financial advisor or guru ever could:

Personal Finance: The Art of Living Below Your Means

Ba was a saver in the truest sense. On a taxi driver's income—which let's face it, isn't exactly executive-level pay in any society—he managed to put my sister and I through university without a single student loan. And my sister studied in Australia, where even the textbooks cost more than some people's monthly rent!

Today, as a retiree, he has more savings than someone I know who spent decades in senior management at a listed company. The contrast drives home Warren Buffett's wisdom: "It's not what you earn, but what you keep."

Ba never fell into the lifestyle inflation trap that catches so many of us. As his income grew over the years, his spending stayed disciplined. He understood the golden rule long before I learned it: always pay yourself first.

Investing and Trading: Simple Beats Sophisticated

Perhaps due to his limited formal education and hard-earned life lessons, Ba was never big on investing, and trading was completely off his radar. He was risk-averse and definitely not one to chase quick profits—probably the smartest approach for most of us.

His savings, however, must have caught the attention of bank relationship managers because he does have some investments in mutual funds and unit trusts. I suspect these were bank recommendations rather than his own research, but at least he took action.

Warren Buffett famously said most people would do well just investing in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund. Ba did well by investing some of his savings, though he might have done even better with Buffett's simple approach. The lesson? Basic investing isn't rocket science—it's learnable, and it's necessary.

Health: You Are What You Eat (And What You Don't Eat)

Ba deals with the common "three highs"—high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol—which means a daily pharmacy's worth of pills to keep everything in check. Despite this, he's been remarkably healthy overall.

He watches his diet carefully due to these conditions, eating simply most days. The exceptions? When we visit and he cooks up a storm (he's actually quite the chef!), or when we go out for family meals. His approach is practical: enjoy food, but don't let food control you.

The takeaway is timeless: you really are what you eat. Consistent, mindful eating beats crash diets and extreme restrictions every time.

Fitness: Use It or Lose It

At over 80, Ba is still mobile and active. His secret weapon? A daily trip to the market that clocks several thousand steps. I suspect the exercise is the real purpose—the groceries are just a convenient excuse.

He's never set foot in a gym or followed any "official" exercise program, but he intuitively understands the fundamental truth about aging: use it or lose it. Movement isn't optional as we get older; it's essential.

Lifestyle: Purpose Beyond the Paycheck

After retirement, Ba became more involved with his Clan Association, volunteering for activities and tours. These commitments keep his mind sharp while giving him something meaningful to wake up for each day.

This might be his most important lesson: active aging requires purpose. We all need something beyond our careers and bank accounts to give life meaning. Whether it's volunteering, hobbies, or community involvement, having a reason to get out of bed matters more than we realize.

Ba never read a single retirement planning book or attended a financial seminar, yet he nailed the fundamentals through common sense and discipline. Sometimes the best teachers are the ones who lead by example rather than lecture.

Happy Father's Day, Ba. Thank you for showing me that a successful retirement isn't about having the most money—it's about making the most of what you have.

What lessons have you learned from the older generation in your family? Sometimes the best financial advice comes from the people who lived it rather than studied it.

The Magic of Compound Interest (It's Actually Real Magic)

Albert Einstein allegedly called compound interest "the eighth wonder of the world." Whether he actually said it or not, the guy had a point—this stuff is genuinely mind-blowing once you see it in action.

Compound interest is when your money makes money, and then that money makes money too. It's like having a money-making machine that builds bigger money-making machines. Start with 1,000 earning 7% annually, and after 10 years you've got 1,967. Not bad. But wait 30 years? You're looking at $7,612. Same money, just more patience.

The secret sauce isn't the interest rate—it's time. A 25-year-old investing $200 monthly until retirement will likely end up with more money than a40−year−old investing $400 monthly for the same period. Time is literally money when compound interest is involved.

L-Plate Takeaway: Starting early with investing is like getting a head start in a marathon where the finish line keeps moving further away for everyone else. Even small amounts can grow into something substantial if you give them enough runway.