Planning one’s finances, especially if they have an impact on one’s dependents, may be a challenging task. Those who are financially reliant on you are called “dependents,” and they can be either your children or your parents. You’re part of the sandwich generation if you provide financially for both your own children and your own parents.
The pressure to please both generations can feel overwhelming, but there are methods to lighten your load. The purpose of this article is to provide helpful information that will make it easier for you to assist your parents in their retirement years.
Before we go on, let’s consider these scenarios:
1) You’re an only child (which means everything rests on your shoulders).
2) Your parents are home owners.
3) Your parents’ retirement depends on you.
Knowing what kind of retirement they want
We recommend consulting your parents before diving into the specifics of the budget. Find out what they consider to be a comfortable retirement lifestyle. If they are happy with a modest way of life, then it will be less complicated for them to make preparations. And if they want a more comfortable retirement, it could be wise for them to lower their standards. You could begin by asking questions, “What do you want to do after you retire?”
Obtain the statistics
It’s important to put a monthly price on the perfect retirement lifestyle when you’ve achieved it. Don’t worry too much about being precise; the goal here is just to provide a benchmark against which future progress may be assessed and prevent aimless number-chasing.
After completing all of these things, let’s say that $2,000 is put aside per year for your parents’ ideal retirement lifestyle.
Finding the void
Analysis of the Money Coming In
You have the ideal numbers in mind, therefore the next step is to learn where you fell short. In retirement, cash flow is more crucial than assets (unless your parents are rich). So, at this point, it’s important that you figure out how much money your parents can withdraw from their CPF. Find out when and how much they will receive from any annuity plans they may have purchased.
Make a timeline
In a perfect world, the sum total of their CPF life would be enough to fund their entire retirement. If your parents fall into this category, their main financial issue is the gap between when their CPF payout begins and when they reach retirement age.
Making use of present resources
Now that you have a better picture of the situation, you should talk to your parents about ways to make the most of the money and resources they already have.
The following are examples of possible resources your parents may have:
1) CPP OA and SA
2) Real Estate
3) Insurance coverage with a financial value
Optimization of CPF Life payout
We think very highly of CPF, and with good reason. When it comes to retirement savings, longevity is one of the biggest unknowns. With CPF life, you don’t have to worry about your parents’ financial security because they will receive a regular payment for as long as they live. Therefore, CPF life should serve as a core component of your retirement preparations.
You and your parents can benefit from a wide variety of retirement plans. Some examples of this are as follows:
1) Move OA funds to a higher-interest savings account
- Assuming they have no outstanding home debt and are still relatively young, you may choose to assist your parents in making the switch from OA to SA. This will raise their CPF payout thanks to the greater interest rate in your favor.
- A matching gift of up to $600 will be given for any additional contributions to the RA.
- Get up to $16,000 in tax relief
3) Special Account
- This isn’t the official CPF plan, but it’s a great way to make your parents’ money go further.
- Your parents can access the funds above their chosen retirement sum after they reach age 55.
- Since SA offers a 4% p.a. Since OA is only 2.5% per year, it makes more sense to keep any surplus in the SA.
Property
Due to the sentimental value our parents place on their home, this topic can be touchy, but it will ultimately be invaluable to them as they prepare for retirement.
Some examples of how property could be used for retirement savings are as follows:
1) Lease-buying agreements
To sum it, you can “sell” a portion of your lease back to the government in exchange for a financial incentive.
2) Moving into a smaller home
It’s possible to downgrade a home in terms of both location and size.
Your parents’ ideal retirement lifestyle shouldn’t rely on their being in a decent place if at all possible.
3) Renting out a space in the house
This may not be acceptable to many parents, but it does provide a reliable source of money.
Cash-value insurance
Cash value is a typical feature of insurance policies. Learn the ins and outs of your parents’ health coverage. We have found that many parents purchase life insurance policies with cash value for their children. That means customers would get a refund if they decided to surrender the plan. However, please consult your parent’s financial advisor before taking any action as this varies greatly depending on the individual and the plan.
Savings
It’s wonderful if your parents have sufficient savings. Now all you need to do is figure out how to make your money go further. If your parents are getting close to retirement age, it’s not a good idea to put their money in a risky investment. However, in retirement, it is advantageous to have investments that pay out on a regular basis, such as dividends or coupon-paying insurance. One type of investment that could be beneficial to investigate and would be simple to initiate is REITs.
You, as the retirement plan
Whether you like it or not, you’re your parents’ last, best hope for a comfortable retirement. There is still a solution to deal with this other than getting many part-time jobs and generally being miserable in life, and that is to invest in real estate. You can enter the rental market if you own some real estate. It’s not advised for everyone, and there are risks involved with doing this. However, if executed properly, it can greatly improve cash flow.
Good for you if you’ve found a steady partner. Consider buying a larger HDB (within your budget) and either having your parents move in with you or renting out a spare room. By taking out a HDB loan, you can use your CPF as the only source of financing, reducing your cash outflow (a priority) while also generating income (rent).
If you’ve already tried these things and are still having trouble, your parents’ retirement expectations may need to be lowered. Consider starting a side business to pursue a passion or to supplement your income. There is no simple solution to this problem, but things will become less difficult as you establish a routine around it.