Leonard Kok came from a humble background, with working parents, and thought he might be a policeman when he grew up. However, when he went into the Army for his national service, he read that the highest paid people were not doctors or lawyers, but traders.

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I wish I could share this news of my being named to the FIA Hall of Fame with my mother and father, but both have passed, my mother in 2022 and my father in 2003. Even though my father has been gone for nearly a generation, his light shines through me via his wisdom, tolerance, community service, faith and love of family. I always said that using both of my college degrees, one in finance, the other in journalism, made my mother happy. As a teacher, education was important to her. But my parents insisted the only thing they were going to give me besides love was an education and then I was on my own.

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The FIA sure knows how to say I love you on Valentine’s Day. Shortly after the newsletter was published yesterday, the FIA sent a press release announcing the names of the 2024 inductees into the Hall of Fame and my name was on the list. 

OK, I knew I was being named already because I was on the committee that picked the inductees. For the record, the committee did not hold a vote name by name, so I did not have to recuse myself on the vote. 

I was very pleased that two people I nominated were named to the Hall of Fame. This is not to say other people did not nominate these two also, but I nominated Leslie Sutphen and Wiliam J. Mallers, Sr. for the Hall of Fame. Mallers is a former employer of mine when I was at First American Discount, a firm he founded. 

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In an Open Outcry Traders History Project interview conducted in Singapore during the FIA ASIA week, Marcus Goi, managing director and CEO of Orient Futures International, shared his career journey and insights into the evolution of electronic trading. The interview took place at SGX’s offices, with Robert Lothian from John Lothian News conducting the interview..

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