--- title: What it takes to be a Board Member? Retirement? Here’s the ladder [Ft Su-Yen Wong & Terence Quek] description: Ever wondered what it really takes to sit on a company's board of directors? Is it the cushy retirement gig many imagine it to be, or something far more complex? We pull back the curtain on the world of directorship image: https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hubfs/IMG_0036.png --- [Skip to content](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/chillswithtfc-210#main-content) [![Full_COlour](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Full_COlour.png?width=456&height=80&name=Full_COlour.png)](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/) - [Retirement Marketspace](https://retirementmarketspace.thefinancialcoconut.com/) - [Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) Show submenu for Events - [For Investors](https://tfcmysterymeetup.com/) - [For Business Owners & Creators](https://ipcreatorunite.peatix.com/) - [For Salaried Workers](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/thought-leadership-series) - [TFC Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) - [Shows](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-shows) Show submenu for Shows - [Wise and Shine](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/wise-and-shine) - [The Business Show](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-business-show) - [Chills with TFC](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/chills-with-tfc) - [Blog](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [Work Smart](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/worksmart) - [Invest](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/invest) - [Retire Well](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/retire-well) - [Business](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/business) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Retirement Marketspace](https://retirementmarketspace.thefinancialcoconut.com/) - [Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) Show submenu for Events - [For Investors](https://tfcmysterymeetup.com/) - [For Business Owners & Creators](https://ipcreatorunite.peatix.com/) - [For Salaried Workers](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/thought-leadership-series) - [TFC Events](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/events) - [Shows](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-shows) Show submenu for Shows - [Wise and Shine](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/wise-and-shine) - [The Business Show](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/tfc-business-show) - [Chills with TFC](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/chills-with-tfc) - [Blog](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [Work Smart](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/worksmart) - [Invest](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/invest) - [Retire Well](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/retire-well) - [Business](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/business) - [Contact us](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/contact-us) [Contact us](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/contact-us) Mar 20, 2025, 10:08:02 AM # What it takes to be a Board Member? Retirement? Here’s the ladder \[Ft Su-Yen Wong & Terence Quek\] ![Picture of The Financial Coconut](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Square%20(2)-3.png?width=50&name=Square%20(2)-3.png) [The Financial Coconut](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/author/the-financial-coconut) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/chillswithtfc-210) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/chillswithtfc-210) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/chillswithtfc-210) [Share this page](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/chillswithtfc-210) [![Follow The Financial Coconut](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/46975693/interactive-182431637553.png)](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/web-interactives/public/v1/track/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLL2CjCe42iR2RH2MpVX0Ej%2BKJQ%2F3A0Z7pXnUs35To%2Bo6nbKcpBVq9I98X5NUungVEwfs5YCKuM%2FaP97VxIITkTlihT57%2F%2F4XDW9rT3VR4MatSLDi%2BMU5mbQqihfX3LRRz83ij8K19OiD8UXy8sdct4t0Q%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=182431637553&portalId=46975693)   Ever wondered what it really takes to sit on a company's board of directors? Is it the cushy retirement gig many imagine it to be, or something far more complex? Join experienced CEO, and board chair serving on multiple prestigious boards, to pull back the curtain on the world of directorship - Su-Yen Wong, Past Chair, [Singapore Institute of Directors](https://www.sid.org.sg/) - Terence Quek, CEO, Singapore Institute of Directors Explore: - What board directors actually do (hint: it's not just approving budgets!) - The surprising pathways to joining your first board - Why directorship is evolving into a serious profession requiring specific skills - Whether the compensation is worth the responsibility (including potential legal liability!) Plus, get insider perspectives on boardroom dynamics during company crises, and discover if your background might make you a valuable board candidate. Whether you're plotting your post-executive career or simply curious about how corporate governance really works, this episode offers rare insights into a role that shapes organisations but remains mysterious to most. Tune in to discover if joining a board could be your viable retirement plan—or if you might want to think twice! **What We Discuss:** - [01:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCEryKePjw&t=95s) - What does SID do, and what role does it play? - [04:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCEryKePjw&t=275s) - How does the board of directors decide to remove management, and what does that process involve? - [10:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCEryKePjw&t=615s) - Do board members earn a lot, and is it worth their time? - [25:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCEryKePjw&t=1520s) - What are the pathways to becoming a board member? - [27:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCEryKePjw&t=1669s) - How is a board structured, and what are its common roles? - [30:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCEryKePjw&t=1820s) - What does it take to approve people, budgets, and decisions on a board? - [35:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCEryKePjw&t=2146s) - How do you join a board, and who selects the members and chairman? **Episode Resources:** - [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wFk0SQqdqn0cBvoaasN3r?si=-1wAoNL-SuCbExov6rmRzA) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frCEryKePjw) - [Apple podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/what-it-takes-to-be-a-board-member-retirement-heres/id1487004505?i=1000700011851) New Episodes every [Thursday](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/tag/chills-with-tfc) Share us your thoughts on this episode and let us know what do you want to hear next. You can now be our community contributor and make a [pitch ](https://thefinancialcoconut.com/contact/)to have your favourite personality be on our show. Join our [community group](https://linkin.bio/thefinancialcoconut/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY2-JSYItZawSUnNP4YhAicLp0H2wXwx8EBmQgbzOJrjA6YRiPWXtFDSH4_aem_t1DMRY5jrSAapreaSX9ntw) and drop us your insights on this topic.   ### Stay ahead in your financial journey! 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