For many people, financial independence marks the end of a working life. For Bill Holland, it marked the point at which a very different career began.

Bill Holland, who led Canada's CI Financial for more than a decade, still rides public transit—a frugal mantra shared by Warren Buffett and Elon Musk.

For many people, financial independence marks the end of a working life. For Bill Holland, it marked the point at which a very different career began.