Hi ,

I wanted to share a story that might resonate with you.

Last week, I met with a 66-year-old lady who was referred to me. She'd been let go at 60 and had been living off her pension savings ever since.

Here's the problem: poor investment choices had wiped out most of her funds. She was down to her last option—selling part of her HDB flat just to survive.

Her biggest fear? Living another 30 years with no money....

Both her parents lived into their 90s, she's in good health, and she's watching her medical insurance premiums climb every year. Sound familiar?

This reminded me why retirement planning isn't just about hitting a savings target. It's about sustaining your lifestyle for potentially 30+ years.

What is the HDB Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS)?

Since she was considering it, let me explain what it is:

The LBS lets seniors sell part of their flat's remaining lease back to HDB (keeping 30 years). In return, you get:

• A cash lump sum
• CPF LIFE top-up for monthly payouts
• A small bonus incentive

You keep living in your flat and can even rent out a room.

The reality most people don't know:

• The buyback price is significantly below market value
• You still pay for all maintenance and repairs
• The process takes about 6 months (I know because I helped my own auntie with this)
• It's really a last resort when other options are exhausted

My auntie chose LBS because she had no children and didn't want to move. It worked for her situation, but only after other possibilities were gone.

Here's what we did instead for this client:

Rather than jumping straight to LBS, we created a plan to stretch her remaining funds:

✓ Set up dividend-paying investments for regular cash flow

✓ Built multiple secured income streams so she's not dependent on market swings

✓ Planned for rising healthcare costs with proper safeguards

She left our meeting with hope—because even at 66, she still had better options.

The lesson for all of us:

Many people think "I'll figure it out when I get there." But by then, your choices are limited and often painful.

If you still have income, time, and savings, you are in the perfect position to build a retirement plan that preserves your dignity and lifestyle.

If you had to live comfortably for 30 years starting today with rising healthcare costs and no regular income, would your current plan actually work?

It's worth thinking about while you still have time to adjust.

Warm regards,

Zest Chia

Executive Wealth Consultant | Associate Estate Planning Practitioner |

Licensed General Insurance Advisory

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