23 Sep 2026

SOURCE: CPF Board

How do you envision yourself in your golden years?

Retirement planning isn’t always a straight path, and we know that.  This year, we asked every CPF member to share their goals, advice, and stories on their birthdays. Hear their tips and plans for the road ahead, along with the resources and tools that have helped them along the way. We hope their journeys can inspire yours.

In their own words: Singaporeans and their financial goals

One of my ultimate retirement goals is to transition my passion for baking from a home-based business into a thriving physical café, bringing joy to people through the baked goods they love, and eventually expanding to multiple outlets.

To achieve this journey securely, I have two major milestones in mind where CPF plays a vital role. First, my CPF Ordinary Account (OA) provides a reliable foundation to help finance and secure my future BTO flat, ensuring I can manage my home loans sustainably while keeping cash on hand for renovations.

Second, my goal is to consistently build a substantial sum in my CPF accounts early on. Knowing that my fundamental retirement and healthcare needs will be taken care of by CPF gives me the ultimate peace of mind. This financial safety net acts as a springboard, allowing me to confidently take the entrepreneurial risks necessary to grow my business without the constant worry of day-to-day retirement funding.

 – Ashley K, 21-29

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My financial goal is to build a secure future for my family while preparing for a comfortable retirement. I believe it is important to start planning early, save consistently and make responsible financial decisions.

CPF plays an important role in my journey by helping me build long-term savings for housing, healthcare and retirement. I see it as a strong foundation for my future financial security.

PLAN with CPF has helped me better understand my financial position, set realistic goals and think ahead about whether I am on track for retirement.

My advice to others is to start early, even with small amounts. Keep track of your spending, save regularly, avoid unnecessary debt and review your goals from time to time. Every small step today can make a meaningful difference in the future.

 – Parthiban Y, 30-39

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My retirement goal is closely linked to achieving financial security and owning a home. One of my important milestones is working towards buying a house for my family, using my CPF savings as part of the journey. CPF has helped me build savings consistently while supporting my long-term housing and retirement goals.

Going forward, I hope to continue planning carefully, grow my savings, and ensure that I can enjoy a comfortable and financially secure retirement. My advice to others is to start planning early, understand how CPF can support both your housing and retirement needs, and make use of tools such as PLAN with CPF to review your goals and stay on track.

– CS Mok, 40-49

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In my late 40s, I realised retirement is a life you design. At 51, my goal is to semi-retire at 55 while I still have the health to enjoy the world.

Having reached my 2030 Full Retirement Sum (FRS), I chose not to push for ERS. I didn't want to lock away every dollar, the years from 55 to 65 are precious for travel and personal passions.

To bridge the gap until CPF LIFE starts at 65, I built a balanced cushion using my CPF Ordinary Account (OA)/Special Account (SA), liquid investments, and a private annuity (a disciplined 10-year savings plan compounding till 65). The CPF [mobile app and tools] were instrumental, giving me exact payout projections and complete clarity over my OA, SA, and MediSave.

My advice: retirement isn't a competition. Whether you target BRS, FRS, or ERS depends on your own goals. Don't let external benchmarks dictate your path. Define your life needs, make your money work for your dream, and step into your next chapter with freedom and peace of mind.

– Jivarani G, 50-59

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Truly grateful for our nation’s CPF system, which gives us a solid foundation for retirement.

One of the best pieces of news in 2025 was the increase of the Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS) to 4x the Basic Retirement Sum (BRS). This gives me a better chance of achieving my target payout of around $3K/month under the Standard Plan, compared with my current monthly expenses of about $2.5K.

I don’t have the same long runway as those who are 55 today. They have more time to grow their retirement nest egg and potentially achieve even higher monthly payouts. Still, I’m excited that my target is within reach! If necessary, I can defer my CPF LIFE payout up to age 70 with an increase for each year of delay.

My advice: if you want a higher and stable retirement income, consider maximising your RA towards the ERS when you can.

To me, it’s hard to find another annuity scheme that matches CPF LIFE.

– Sim HK, 60-69

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Want more stories? Check back each month for refreshed stories from other Singaporeans! 

Our "Journey to Retirement" limited edition plushies

^{Introducing Nellie the Egg, Calvin the Calculator, Bella the Umbrella, Kenny the Key, and Tina the Tingkat}

In our journey to retirement, we might get derailed by distractions or bumps along the way, and that can be stressful for even the best of us. But you don’t have to go about it alone! Let Nellie the Nest Egg and her group of friends be your constant companions to encourage you along the way. 

To add a little cheer to your journey, stand a chance to win our limited edition plushie keychain! Keep an eye out for a message from us on your birthday and check back here to see if you're one of our 10 monthly winners.

We hope this little gift can be a good way to remind you to keep at our retirement goals, no matter what life brings. 

Thank you to all of you who have submitted tips and suggestions how we can all better plan for our retirement! Check out if you have won our limited edition plushie keychain in the list below and watch this space for winners each month! 

Birthday eDM contest winners

Our appointed vendor will reach out to the winners via email to facilitate the collection of prizes. If you'd like more information regarding the prize collection, you can write to us. 

Should a winner remain uncontactable or fail to collect their prize within the specified period, CPF Board reserves the right to award the prize to another participant or forfeit it entirely. Any misrepresentation of facts or particulars shall result in disqualification and/or the forfeiture, withholding, withdrawal, or reclaiming of any prizes won.
 

Please refer to the Terms & Conditions for more information.

Information in this article is accurate as at the date of publication.