NTUC Income Film Shows the Importance of Putting Yourself First with an Unexpected Twist

It's common in Asian culture to put others before yourself, with generosity often feeling like an obligation. In many situations, choosing otherwise could potentially create uncomfortable situations.

However, in a study conducted by NTUC Income, 98% of Singaporeans agreed that there are times in life they would need to put themselves first, most commonly in the areas of personal health and finances. In the area of financial planning, many agreed that it’s financially responsible to prioritise one’s personal finances, and that small actions accumulate over time to create a big positive impact for their future. 93% of Singaporeans believe that putting their financial needs first enables them to start planning earlier and better for their retirement.  

This is why NTUC Income and BBH Singapore are encouraging Singaporeans to think ‘Me First’ in their new retirement planning campaign. 

Marcus Chew, CMO, Income, said: “We’ve often felt that Singaporeans are choosing to do what is popular or expected of them at a personal expense. We wanted to better understand how people felt about putting themselves first since it’s a philosophy that runs against the grain in our society. Adopting a ‘me first’ approach in our financial planning encourages one to first set aside enough for themselves before spending on other people and material things in life that are also important to them. This philosophy allows one to evaluate more carefully the reasons and motivation behind their current expenditure, and to assess if it can be better spent on securing a comfortable retirement in future.”

The campaign, led by a four-minute film, follows the story of Denise and Derek, a sibling duo who lead their lives differently, especially when it comes to financial planning. The tension between them escalates due Denise’s somewhat questionable and self-serving behaviour, pulling the family apart over time. However, an unexpected family event reveals a lesson in the importance of planning’s one’s future, even if that goes against one’s obligations. 

Janson Choo, group creative director, BBH Singapore, added: “We are all somewhat a version of Denise or Derek. While some of their actions might appear extreme at times, they are not completely out of place in a society like Singapore. There’s a real need to focus and rely only on oneself for the latter years in life, or in the case of Derek where one gets a bit too caught up with ‘living’ life. But the important lesson we wish to bring across here is that sometimes we have to look after ourselves first before looking after others.”