Hi ,

Hope you enjoyed the retirement planning ebook guide!

Quick question: If I asked you right now how much money you need for retirement in Singapore, what would you say?

"My CPF should cover it lah."

That's what most Singaporeans tell me. But here's the uncomfortable truth: CPF is designed to keep you alive, not help you live well.

Think of retirement planning like upgrading from a 3-room HDB flat. CPF gets you the basic flat. But what about the renovation, furniture, and lifestyle that makes it feel like home?

Let me show you what I mean with the 6 levels of retirement living in Singapore:

Level 1: Clear your debts first Pay off your housing loan, credit cards, personal loans. Like getting your finances squeaky clean before you retire.

Level 2: Basic survival Utilities, conservancy charges, basic groceries from NTUC, public transport. This is roughly what CPF Life covers - about $1,300-1,800/month. Enough to survive, but that's about it.

Level 3: Actually enjoy Singapore Eating at hawker centers (not just cooking at home), occasional restaurant meals, taking Grab when it's raining, buying fresh fruits from the wet market. The difference between surviving and living comfortably in Singapore.

Level 4: Sleep soundly 6 months of expenses in your savings account for when the aircon breaks down or you need unexpected medical treatment. Even with Medisave, hospital bills can be shocking.

Level 5: Take care of family Help your kids with their BTO down payment (you know how expensive property is now), ang bao for weddings, maybe sponsor the grandkids' enrichment classes. Being the generous parent/grandparent.

Level 6: Enjoy your golden years That Japan cherry blossom trip you've been postponing, upgrading to premium economy, maybe a nice watch or gadget. The "I've worked 40 years, I deserve this" purchases.

Reality check: CPF mainly covers Level 2. Maybe bits of Level 3 if you're lucky.

But look at your current lifestyle - which level are you living at now? Level 3? Level 4?

That's the gap nobody talks about.

Try this: Look at your current monthly spending (check your bank statements). Now imagine living on just CPF Life payments. See the difference?

That gap? That's what you need to plan for on top of CPF.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed? You're not alone. Most Singaporeans realize they haven't thought this through properly.

If you're wondering, "So what do I do about this gap?" or "How much should I really be saving?" I would be happy to chat.

I offer a complimentary 20-minute discovery call where we can look at your specific situation and figure out which level you're currently on track for (and what it would take to get to where you want to be).

No sales pitch, no pressure, just a straightforward conversation about your retirement reality.

Interested? Just reply with "DISCOVERY CALL" and I'll send you the link to book a time that works for you.

Cheers,

Zest Chia

Executive Wealth Manager

Infinity Platinum

P.S. Next week I'll share the biggest mistake Singaporeans make with their CPF Top-ups. (Hint: timing matters more than you think.)