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FAMILY is the best investment. It’s more than just meeting daily needs, it’s about building a strong, lasting foundation rooted in love, values, and shared experiences.
What you give to your family today, whether it’s time, support, or guidance, becomes the emotional and moral structure that helps them grow with confidence and resilience.
This kind of investment goes beyond material wealth. It shapes character, strengthens bonds, and creates a sense of security that lasts through generations. Even when you’re no longer around, the care and principles you instilled will continue to guide your loved ones, becoming the legacy they carry forward in their own lives.
Singer and actor Alif Satar highlighted that he lives by the values instilled by his family—that his children and loved ones are his greatest investment.
"As a Muslim and as a father, you hold on to your faith about rizq, provision. At the same time, you put in the effort and use the means that God has given you to provide for your family.
"It's about ensuring that even after you're long gone, your family will be taken care of. That’s the legacy I hope to leave behind,” he said when met at Sun Life' s First Avenue building recently.
He said the legacy he wanted to leave behind was deeply connected to the work he did and the things he chose to protect. What he invested in at that time, he believed, would, InshaAllah, build the momentum that would support his family in the future.
To him, legacy was subjective and could take many forms. It could be a person’s name, his own name, or even his #GengSubuhMacamJumaat campaign.
He said that the legacy didn’t have to be something he alone owned—others could carry it forward, even for the next hundred years. Moments shared with family, the knowledge passed down to children, and experiences lived together were all part of a lasting legacy.
However, when it came to the subject of family and legacy, he firmly believed that his family was the best investment.
“As a husband and the leader, as the Qawwam of the provider of the family, of course every single time you step out of the house, you are motivated, know exactly why you're doing this for whom and you have a certain goal, mission that you want to achieve in life,” he added.
Alif stressed that this sense of responsibility didn’t just appear overnight. It wasn’t something that suddenly happened when someone decided to get married and simply went with the flow.
He believed people had to take control and be clear about the direction they were heading in. For him, that journey began early, he got married at 24, already working, though not yet as busy or successful as he was later.
Still, he knew what he was committing to, and to him, marriage wasn’t about settling down. He said many people believed that getting married meant settling down, but that was a complete misconception.
In reality, marriage was an upgrade, a brand new adventure and a new phase of life. It was about sharing and planning a future together, and eventually raising children who would go on to build lives of their own.
He highlighted that in everything he does, family is always at the forefront of his mind. Before taking on any job or making any decision, he reflected on whether it will benefit him and, most importantly, his family.
He said he does consider the impact of his absence, how long he’ll be away, if his family will be well taken care of, and if everything will be alright for them. His advice is to always involve your spouse and family in decision-making and seek their input.
Right now, he’s at a stage in life where he wants to stress to others the importance of starting early because no one knows what tomorrow holds.
“Nothing is promised to you. You could be walking today, but tomorrow something unexpected might happen. What then? How do you go to work? How do you make money? How do you ensure your family’s future?”
“If your wife is no longer working or something happens to you, will she have to go back to work? What will happen to your children’s future? Will they have to sacrifice their education? Every decision you make needs to be calculated,” he said.
He also pointed out that when it comes to financial planning, insurance, and coverage, many people have a negative perception, thinking it's unnecessary, until something unfortunate happens, and they realise they should have planned ahead.
Alif shared that he often hears young people say they’ll wait to take action, putting it off for a few years. However, from his perspective, delaying these important plans is risky because it’s not just about personal goals, it's about the life and future of your family.
Whenever he speaks with younger people, Alif makes it a point to have heart-to-heart conversations with them. He admitted that he doesn’t have all the answers, but he encouraged them to make thoughtful decisions now, so that their future selves and their families will be well taken care of, whether in old age, sickness, or even after they’re gone.
“As my parents taught me, and as I would tell them in return, you always have to take care of each other. Once you’ve cared for your family, then your neighbors, and ultimately, your community. It all starts with you,” he added.
Recognising his responsibility as a public figure, Alif sees it as his duty to spread messages of positivity, awareness, and togetherness, especially to the youth of Malaysia.
Whether it's about financial, personal, or family goals, he emphasised that everything begins with a solid plan.
A recent Sun Life Malaysia survey, “Insure or Unsure: Sun Life Insurance Literacy Survey 2025”, revealed that 85 per cent of Malaysians lack a financial legacy plan, posing serious risks to their families' future security.
While 65 per centacknowledge the importance of legacy planning, only 15 per cent have taken concrete steps—such as getting insurance/Takaful (71 per cent), setting up trust funds (53 per cent), or drafting wills (44 per cent). This gap between awareness and action highlighted widespread unpreparedness, leaving many families exposed to financial instability, future conflicts, and disrupted wealth transfer.
The survey, conducted with 1,040 respondents across income levels and regions, found that married individuals (60 per cent) are the most aware of the need for legacy planning, compared to singles (34 per cent) and others (6 per cent). Yet awareness alone doesn’t guarantee action.
Encouragingly, 54 per cent of those who have started legacy planning did so with professional advice, showing a growing reliance on expert guidance.
To address this gap, Sun Life Malaysia is expanding its InsureLit campaign in 2025, following the success of its 2024 initiatives. Plans include digital tools, explainer videos, youth literacy programs, roadshows, and more, aimed at empowering Malaysians to plan better, protect their families, and secure lasting legacies.
