24 Aug 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

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As I celebrate another birthday, my primary financial goal is to hit my Full Retirement Sum (FRS) ahead of schedule. A major milestone I recently achieved was finally balancing my short-term savings for housing with my long-term retirement needs. CPF plays a foundational role in this journey; the guaranteed interest rates in my Special Account (SA) give me incredible peace of mind during volatile market periods.

I regularly log into the PLAN with CPF tool to visualize my projected retirement payouts. Seeing the numbers grow gives me the motivation to stay disciplined. If I could pass on one tip to younger Singaporeans just starting out: don't underestimate the power of compound interest. If you have the means, consider making small, regular cash top-ups to your SA early in your career. Time is your biggest asset!

 – Yeo YY, 21-29

Retirement has always been about more than just reaching a certain age. To me, is about achieving financial security while also reaching important life milestones along the way. One of the biggest milestones I've achieved was purchasing my BTO home, and CPF played a significant role in making that possible. Using my CPF savings for the downpayment and monthly housing instalments gave me peace of mind and allowed me to own a home without placing excessive strain on my cash flow.

As I progressed through this milestone, I also became more aware of the importance of balancing my housing needs with my retirement savings. The PLAN with CPF tool helped me understand how my CPF decisions today could affect my future retirement income, allowing me to make more informed financial choices.

Looking ahead, my retirement goal is to enjoy a comfortable and worry-free retirement, spend quality time with my family, continue pursuing the things I enjoy. My advice to others is to start planning early.

 – Sylvia C, 30-39

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My retirement goal is to build a secure and sustainable income stream by voluntarily topping up my CPF Special Account to the Full Retirement Sum while working, allowing the 4% annual interest to compound over time. I aim to minimise debt by securing a BTO and clearing my HDB loan.

Upon retirement, I plan to monetise my HDB through downsizing or the Lease Buyback Scheme as secondary income, with CPF payouts as my primary income and fixed deposits or conservative insurance investments providing additional support.

– Leanne T, 40-49

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Turning 55 is more than just a birthday — it’s a reminder that every small decision over the years matters.

There were seasons of building a career, supporting my family, caring for loved ones, and facing unexpected health challenges. Through it all, I learned that retirement planning isn’t about becoming wealthy overnight. It’s about giving yourself peace of mind when life doesn’t go exactly as planned.

If I could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their CPF journey, it would be this: Start early, be consistent, and let time do the heavy lifting. Even small contributions today can become a strong foundation for tomorrow.

As I look ahead, my goal is simple — to enjoy life’s next chapter with good health, meaningful moments with my family, and the freedom to do the things I love without financial worry.

- Tan KK, 50-59

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Retirement once felt distant, but as I approach 65, I realised how quickly time has passed. Looking back, I am thankful I consistently saved throughout my working life, even during busy or financially tight periods. Those small, steady contributions have now built a foundation that gives me confidence and peace of mind — not wealth, but enough security for the years ahead.

CPF has been an important part of this journey, growing quietly while I focused on work and family. Knowing that CPF LIFE will provide monthly payouts helps me feel more assured about retirement. Tools like the PLAN with CPF calculator also helped me better visualise my retirement and make more informed decisions.

As I enter this new chapter, I look forward to spending more time with loved ones, travel at a slower pace, pursue hobbies, stay active and giving back in small ways. Retirement is not just about stopping work but about having the freedom to focus on what truly matters — family, health, purpose and peace of mind.

- Kwa LH, 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.