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    How much is enough for retirement in Singapore?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Money Matters
    1.8k Posts 133 Posters 364.1k Views 2 Watching
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    • starlight1968sgS Offline
      starlight1968sg
      last edited by

      MP

      My top priority is to ensure my retirement is settled so as not to burden my daughter etc. Of cse the money I can't finish using would be hers. I won't think for her kids unless I hv a lot extra 🙂

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • sharonkhooS Offline
        sharonkhoo
        last edited by

        tyeogh\" post_id=\"1938114\" time=\"1569598210\" user_id=\"94399:

        lee_yl\" post_id=\"1938082\" time=\"1569590938\" user_id=\"17023:


        For those with 2 or more children, if I can cough out the money to send 1 child overseas, then I must be fair to the other child, so need to prepare to cough out the same amount to support the sibling(s).
        Else, all stay put in local Uni !

        4 children kind how? Any advice???

        The \"fairness\" issue is tricky, and depends on how your family defines fairness, and the aspirations of the 4 kids. I only have 2, and they have very different personalities and aspirations. In a way, it's good that I have only 1 who was eager to go overseas. My other girl is not willing to venture far - not even willing to stay in hostel or go on an exchange programme, let alone go overseas for 3-4 years! Saves a lot of money for us now. We know that, given her needs, we will probably need to help her more and longer financially in the future, so I guess you can say that's \"fair\", but thankfully the sisters don't measure fairness to the exact dollar. I guess if both had wanted to go overseas and we couldn't fund both, then they would have to get scholarships or both stay local. As I told my younger girl when we were debating go/no go, there's always the possibility of exchange programmes or a Master's programme (on scholarship or personal savings) down the road. Anyway, the comparison is not just local vs overseas - the cost of a local Med degree is not necessarily less than the cost of a 3-yr degree overseas!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • MyPillowM Offline
          MyPillow
          last edited by

          starlight1968sg\" post_id=\"1938134\" time=\"1569629919\" user_id=\"14025:

          MP
          My top priority is to ensure my retirement is settled so as not to burden my daughter etc. Of cse the money I can't finish using would be hers. I won't think for her kids unless I hv a lot extra 🙂
          Yep agree too . Some more I have two - scarli many grandkids - how to plan for so many ...
          A boy n girl are v different needs , diff cost.
          Do u have a gd / ok GE agent To introduce?
          I bought small ge product fr OCBC before but no follow up - I know sometimes ge runs promo - I dun mind considering

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • IluvmygalsI Offline
            Iluvmygals
            last edited by

            499,800 with a 4.75% return gives u 23,740/annum which is 1,978/mth. With the policy, it only gives 1,470/mth. The missing bits is probably the management fee paid.


            A direct investment into DBS, UOB also gives a dividend yield of 4.8%, with no management fee needed and shares are deposited into CDP account and can be inherited by children. Would that not be a better choice?

            No doubt there will be argument about share price fluctuations. If focus is on monthly income, then price fluctuation shouldn’t matter…not to forget there could be price upside too…

            Just sharing an alternative view…

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • starlight1968sgS Offline
              starlight1968sg
              last edited by

              There is no one size fits all financial pdt for retirement bec each financial situation is unique. Just go with the one you are comfortable with and diversity your pdts and sources.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • tyeoghT Offline
                tyeogh
                last edited by

                slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1938136\" time=\"1569632322\" user_id=\"28674:

                tyeogh\" post_id=\"1938114\" time=\"1569598210\" user_id=\"94399:

                [quote=lee_yl post_id=1938082 time=1569590938 user_id=17023]
                For those with 2 or more children, if I can cough out the money to send 1 child overseas, then I must be fair to the other child, so need to prepare to cough out the same amount to support the sibling(s).
                Else, all stay put in local Uni !

                4 children kind how? Any advice???

                The \"fairness\" issue is tricky, and depends on how your family defines fairness, and the aspirations of the 4 kids. I only have 2, and they have very different personalities and aspirations. In a way, it's good that I have only 1 who was eager to go overseas. My other girl is not willing to venture far - not even willing to stay in hostel or go on an exchange programme, let alone go overseas for 3-4 years! Saves a lot of money for us now. We know that, given her needs, we will probably need to help her more and longer financially in the future, so I guess you can say that's \"fair\", but thankfully the sisters don't measure fairness to the exact dollar. I guess if both had wanted to go overseas and we couldn't fund both, then they would have to get scholarships or both stay local. As I told my younger girl when we were debating go/no go, there's always the possibility of exchange programmes or a Master's programme (on scholarship or personal savings) down the road. Anyway, the comparison is not just local vs overseas - the cost of a local Med degree is not necessarily less than the cost of a 3-yr degree overseas![/quote]This topic headache ah. Should parents treat each child fairly?

                When I had 2, the answer is Yes. When the 4th came, the answer is less clear.

                Every child is different. It is hard to execute. Eg my eldest is bright. I gave her 2 tuition at PSLE. Chinese bec we dont speak it at home. Maths, to challenge her. She was happy.

                When No.2's turn came, she had 4 tuition bec not so bright. Eldest complained not fair. Said she lost out doing well in Sci bec of the lack of tuition.

                I changed tact to be fair. For no.3, I continued 4 tuition. Fair, right?

                Then found him to be strong in English, Maths & Sci. He complained why must go tuition when he is scoring >80 for all. He hated it. Good point tho. I scratched my head.

                How to be fair??? What is fair?

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • MyPillowM Offline
                  MyPillow
                  last edited by

                  All the savings related policy like to illustrate 3-75, 4 , 4.75% etc

                  I think since I worked till now, the policy insurance forecast din hit high of near 4 % , I may have seen abt 3-25% in the annual letter fr my PRU plans -
                  Dunno I forget le, coz not impactful delicious int rate at all.
                  Thus , must bear in mind, the monthly passive income is based on insurance company projected income at near 4 % - which in reality is always at least 30% lower (?) …

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • starlight1968sgS Offline
                    starlight1968sg
                    last edited by

                    Take projected values in Benefit Illustrations as a pinch of salt. I look only at Guaranteed Values. Even so, if the insurers kaput, the Guaranteed Values also worthless

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • MrsKiasuM Offline
                      MrsKiasu
                      last edited by

                      tyeogh\" post_id=\"1938169\" time=\"1569639505\" user_id=\"94399:

                      slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1938136\" time=\"1569632322\" user_id=\"28674:

                      [quote=tyeogh post_id=1938114 time=1569598210 user_id=94399]

                      4 children kind how? Any advice???

                      The \"fairness\" issue is tricky, and depends on how your family defines fairness, and the aspirations of the 4 kids. I only have 2, and they have very different personalities and aspirations. In a way, it's good that I have only 1 who was eager to go overseas. My other girl is not willing to venture far - not even willing to stay in hostel or go on an exchange programme, let alone go overseas for 3-4 years! Saves a lot of money for us now. We know that, given her needs, we will probably need to help her more and longer financially in the future, so I guess you can say that's \"fair\", but thankfully the sisters don't measure fairness to the exact dollar. I guess if both had wanted to go overseas and we couldn't fund both, then they would have to get scholarships or both stay local. As I told my younger girl when we were debating go/no go, there's always the possibility of exchange programmes or a Master's programme (on scholarship or personal savings) down the road. Anyway, the comparison is not just local vs overseas - the cost of a local Med degree is not necessarily less than the cost of a 3-yr degree overseas!

                      This topic headache ah. Should parents treat each child fairly?

                      When I had 2, the answer is Yes. When the 4th came, the answer is less clear.

                      Every child is different. It is hard to execute. Eg my eldest is bright. I gave her 2 tuition at PSLE. Chinese bec we dont speak it at home. Maths, to challenge her. She was happy.

                      When No.2's turn came, she had 4 tuition bec not so bright. Eldest complained not fair. Said she lost out doing well in Sci bec of the lack of tuition.

                      I changed tact to be fair. For no.3, I continued 4 tuition. Fair, right?

                      Then found him to be strong in English, Maths & Sci. He complained why must go tuition when he is scoring >80 for all. He hated it. Good point tho. I scratched my head.

                      How to be fair??? What is fair?[/quote]maybe tell them go by 'needs'?

                      your kids are so ON, like to go for tuition..mine nego not to go for tuition..We (esp dh) quite fair to them when come to buying 'toys' for them.. in fact dh is the who always remind me need buy for the other kid when buy for this kid.. else I will go by buy what they need/desire.. clothes/shoes, if ask them, everything no need to buy.. fair/not fair to them if they were to speak out is usually about the adults' attention and affection on them..still young quite simple minded now.. But I do hear from friends who have more grown up kids, mentioned that eg if let the younger one go for higher education worry the elder one not happy etc.. but to me still go by what they desire ba..

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • H Offline
                        hercules
                        last edited by

                        Iluvmygals\" post_id=\"1938156\" time=\"1569637285\" user_id=\"26453:

                        499,800 with a 4.75% return gives u 23,740/annum which is 1,978/mth. With the policy, it only gives 1,470/mth. The missing bits is probably the management fee paid.

                        A direct investment into DBS, UOB also gives a dividend yield of 4.8%, with no management fee needed and shares are deposited into CDP account and can be inherited by children. Would that not be a better choice?

                        No doubt there will be argument about share price fluctuations. If focus is on monthly income, then price fluctuation shouldn't matter...not to forget there could be price upside too....

                        Just sharing an alternative view....
                        When buying any insurance product, think the consensus must be that it is not meant to give one high returns (high returns have to go to equities to try). Most products are for long term with majority of them will see more meaningful returns of 3+% after 20 years.

                        I have several (maybe 8 incl my hubby's and kids’) policies, excl my annuities, that are more than 20 years. All currently can give above 3% p.a. return (averaged across the 20+ years), with two giving above 6% p.a. (very happy with these two). I am still holding on to all these gems coz like every $1 premium I pay into each of these will give me a return of $2+ annually (and the amount will just grow and grow with free insurance cover in a way).

                        I see in the market many younger people (usually late 20s or early 30s), anyhow after some ‘research’ then go and surrender their policies, thinking that they can get better returns by doing investments on own. In my estimate, maybe 10% of them can make it (beat the 3+% long term return) and the rest just lose themselves half way and end up poorer than what they would be if they have stuck on to see their policies grow in strength over the years (lacking patience and ‘faith’). Strict discipline is just more difficult to exercise during their ‘formative’ years.

                        A word of caution: not every insurer is equal and so important to do this due diligence.

                        Higher dividend paying stocks like DBS and REITs can be an alternative flow of passive income. At my age, I buy more into bank/coporate bonds with lower yield than bank stock dividends but ‘more stable’ (I also holding some REITs and bank stock but I trade more on them with my allocated spare cash, meaning I don’t rely on them really for my passive income). Want even more stable will be Bond ETFs – more stable means have to take in lower yield than direct bond purchase.

                        High yield always comes with a price and vice versa. Market is very interesting to fill with different products to meet different risk appetite. Assess your risk appetite and then be contented with the returns (now I am contented if my passive income can give me about 4% returns. Anything higher actually can scare me.)

                        PS:
                        One mummy said about hedging kids’ overseas education by going to poly. This is a smart move esp now poly courses are more interesting.

                        Another way of hedging maybe to store currencies in the country of interest (US? UK? Auz?). I am waiting for Auz to drop below 92 cents or the pounds to drop to 1.60 then I will stock some up in batches to prepare for my nephew’s overseas education (he is O level this year and shows signs of interest in going to the poly for aerospace engineering. Yet to be confirmed as he still changes his mind now and then.).

                        My personal idea is to change a sum into the desired foreign currency then buy some blue chips stock of that country, to wait for another 5 years hopefully the stock price will rise then can sell yearly (part of part) to fund his education (if really want to, then I have to continue researching for the picks).

                        All these currency conversion and buying stocks to hold etc entail risks. 5 years actually is too short for a punt in equities but I may just punt since I can afford to lose part of this sum (see, when have some spare cash in hands, one may be willing to take on higher risks).

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