Retirement Planning

How to Retire if You Start Planning in Your 40s

byElena Owyong
  • Sep 14, 2022
  • 3 mins

In your 40s but don’t have enough savings in your bank account to retire? You are not alone.

In fact, more than half of Singaporeans over 45 have not made sufficient provision for retirement, according to a survey from St James’s Place (SJP) Asia.

While late retirement planning means that you lose out on the accumulated interest earlier on, there are still some ways to make your money work for you. We will show you how in this article.

Assuming that you are 40 years old now and that you want to retire at 67 years old, you still have 27 years to catch up. However, you need to know exactly how much to prepare for retirement.

The Central Provident Fund (CPF) has a retirement calculator that helps you determine the amount of savings you need based on your expected retirement age and lifestyle. Alternatively, you can also use Income’s retirement calculator.

While you are planning, think of your health status as well. This is an often-neglected consideration which will determine if you need to buy additional health policies to supplement your existing one.

banner-ad

Given that your savings are insufficient, you need to increase them by investing in lower risk financial products that still provide reasonable returns, such as endowment plans.

An endowment plan is a type of insurance that provides basic insurance coverage, helps you to save over a specific period of time and possibly provide a lump sum benefit upon maturity of the policy.

Gro Cash Sure is an insurance savings plan that lets you choose your premium term of 5 or 10 years based on your lifestyle and financial goals, while having a capital guarantee1 upon the end of premium term. This gives you the assurance of getting back the total premiums paid1 in the form of guaranteed cash value.

Additionally, you can receive a lifetime of cash payouts up to 9.9%2 of the sum assured so you can continue to enjoy the things you love while you save. You may also have the option to choose between yearly or monthly cash benefits2, while remaining protected. It also provides guaranteed acceptance which means that your policy will be accepted regardless of your health condition.

Although it is tempting to make up for lost time by investing in products with higher returns, these products also come with a correspondingly high risk. Should the investment fail, you will may lose your capital and even incur a debt.

As you age and your children get married in the future, it may be tough to clean and maintain a large house. Thus, it may make sense to consider downsizing your house so that you can use the profits from the property sale for investment. An advantage of downsizing your house is that you pay lesser property tax and enjoy higher government rebates.

In Singapore, property tax is determined by the Annual Value (AV) of your property. You can use the following formula to calculate your property tax.

Annual Value (AV) X Property Tax Rate = Property Tax Payable

Annual Value  Effective 1 Jan 2023 Property Tax Payable
First $8000 0% $0
Next $22,000 4% $880
First $30,000 - $880
Next $10,000 5% $500
Next $40,000 - $1380
Next $15,000 7% $1050
First $55,000 - $2430
Next $15,000 10% $1500

Full table on IRAS website. Credit: IRAS

As shown from IRAS’ property tax details above, owners of smaller flats pay less property tax and this could lead to greater savings for your retirement years.

There are multiple benefits when you top up your Central Provident Fund (CPF). Firstly, if you use cash to top-up for yourself, you get to enjoy tax relief equivalent to the amount of your cash top-up, for up to $7,000 for each calendar year. Moreover, the savings in your Special Account and Retirement Account can earn an interest rate of up to 6% per annum. 

This may sound daunting if you are used to spending what you earn but you can start small by saving $100 every month. Every little bit counts. Your $100 savings per month will amount to $1,200 a year (or an additional $32,400 over 27 years till you reach your retirement age at 67 years old). You could be getting even more from accumulated interest if you put your money in an insurance savings plan or from the returns of an investment product.  

There is still hope even if you start retirement planning late. The key is to be discerning in selecting your financial products and save diligently. Start today by speaking to an Income advisor for advice on what insurance savings plans can best suit your needs.

Author(s):

Related Articles

psychological impact of retirement-image
Insurance for SeniorsMental WellnessRetirement Planning
Health & Well-being

The Psychological Impact of Retirement and How to Prepare

Navigate the psychological shifts of retirement in Singapore. Discover strategies for a fulfilling retirement and how Income's Gro Retire Flex Pro can help build financial security.
byVictor Yeo
  • Sep 18, 2024
  • 1 mins
Insurance for SeniorsMental Wellness
Matched Retirement Savings Scheme MRSS-image
CPFRetirement Planning
Finance Matters

Guide to Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS): How to top up and more

Find out all there is to know about the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS) and the top ups you can make.
bySherlyne Yong
  • Aug 20, 2024
  • 8 mins
CPFRetirement Planning
CPF LIFE for retirement-image
CPFRetirement Planning
Finance Matters

A Beginner’s Guide to CPF LIFE: Plans, Payouts & Minimum Sums Explained

What is CPF LIFE? Find out as we explain everything from CPF LIFE plans, payouts to minimum sum.
byJoanne Poh
  • May 09, 2024
  • 10 mins
CPFRetirement Planning
loading