More Than Politics: What Jeremy Tan and Darryl Lo Teach Us About Financial Freedom

When the news broke that two independent candidates, Jeremy Tan and Darryl Lo, would be contesting in this General Election, I found myself thinking about more than just their manifestos.

Yes, it takes courage to stand for election without the backing of a political party.

But it also takes something else that often goes unspoken. Financial freedom.

Because before you can fight for your dreams, you first need to be able to afford the fight.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think we need to achieve financial independence before we can pursue what we want, but we do need to achieve a certain level of financial freedom in order to do it.

Today, I want to discuss about what their journeys teach us, not just about politics, but about financial literacy, freedom, and life.

Who Are the Independent Candidates?

Jeremy Tan is contesting Mountbatten SMC. A former entrepreneur who sold his business in 2021, Jeremy is best known for being Singapore’s “first bitcoin candidate,” openly declaring his crypto holdings and calling for change in how we think about housing, inflation, and personal freedom.

Darryl Lo is running in Radin Mas SMC. A law graduate from SMU, he worked in the tech industry, including at OpenSea, before deciding to step away from employment a few months ago, to focus full-time on his campaign. He has been self-funding his journey, declining donations to stay completely independent.

Both of them made a conscious choice. That is, to step out of stable, conventional careers to pursue something they believe in. And to do that, they needed a financial foundation strong enough to carry them.

What They Are Fighting For

While their campaign themes differ, both focus on improving the lives of ordinary Singaporeans.

Jeremy Tan’s Proposals:

• Rethink how HDB flats are treated, moving away from the idea of homes as retirement assets.
• Highlight the dangers of inflation and propose alternatives to preserve purchasing power.
• Serve as a truly independent voice in Parliament, not beholden to party politics.

Check out his website to learn more.

Darryl Lo’s Proposals:

• Use technology to better serve residents, making engagement and services more efficient.
• Launch community-driven charity initiatives to support the vulnerable.
• Offer an alternative to traditional party options, grounded in personal accountability.

Check out his Instagram account to learn more.

At first glance, they may seem different. But dig deeper, and you will see a powerful commonality.

Both are examples of individuals who used their financial freedom to give them the time and resources to pursue something that is important to them.

The Financial Literacy Lessons We Can Learn

This is the part that struck me the most. When I reflected on their stories, I realised they embody some of the most important lessons in financial literacy.

Lessons that all of us, especially those working toward financial independence, can take to heart.

1. Build a Financial Base Before You Need It

Both Jeremy and Darryl took time, sometimes years, to build a financial cushion first. It is easy to talk about chasing dreams. It is much harder when bills, mortgages, and family responsibilities are staring you in the face.

Freedom is built during the quiet years, when no one is watching, but you are consistently saving, investing, and preparing.

3. Live Intentionally, Not Luxuriously

Neither candidate is running a flashy, million-dollar campaign. Instead, they are maximising impact with limited resources, prioritising essentials, and focusing on their mission.

Financial freedom is not about splurging. It is about being able to choose where your money and your life energy goes.

4. It Requires Sacrifice to Pursue What’s Important

Leaving stable jobs. Investing personal savings. Risking public failure. It is tempting to glorify chasing after our dreams, but it often demands sacrifices in comfort, certainty, and even reputation.

Financial literacy prepares you for this, giving you the resilience to weather uncertainty when others cannot.

Why This Matters Beyond Politics

Most of us are not going to run for Parliament. But all of us have dreams, whether it is retiring early, starting a business, taking a career break, or pursuing work that feels meaningful.

And the hard truth is, you need some financial freedom to truly have pursue what we want in life.

Without it, you are trapped.

With it, you have options.

Options give you the ability to choose, not just between jobs, but between different lives.

Jeremy and Darryl show us that financial preparation and personal courage go hand in hand.

And they remind us that it is not just the wealthy who can live with freedom. It is the prepared.

Final Thoughts

I am inspired by what they are doing, and I am reminded that financial literacy is not just about numbers in a spreadsheet.

It is about creating the ability to live on your own terms.

To fight for what matters to you.

To stand, even when you stand alone.

And it all starts today, with small, practical steps towards building your own financial resilience.

The future belongs to those who prepare for it.

Let us prepare well.