Many people’s ultimate goal in life is to retire early. It means having the option of continuing to work past the age of mandatory retirement. In Singapore, if you want to retire legally, you need to be at least 63 years old.
Planning ahead and being especially frugal and productive in your early years of work will help you save for an early retirement. If you haven’t given this some thought ahead of time, you may find that your retirement savings can’t keep up with these new expenses.
If you’re thinking of retiring early, keep these things in mind:
To what extent may you retire before normal age?
Singaporeans have a relatively high life expectancy, with a male average of 82 years and a female average of 86 years.
If you want to retire early, you’ll probably need a bigger nest egg to make up for the extra years you’ll spend out of work. Your retirement fund should also take into account your lifestyle, your intended monthly payouts, your retirement age, and the number of years you plan to receive those monthly payouts.
Retirement lump sum versus many streams of passive income
You may have heard that this method might give you a rough idea of how much money you’ll need to retire early.
Needed Retirement Fund = Annual Retirement Income Needed x Number of Years in Retirement.
($2,500 X 12) X (86 – 50) = $1,080,000
To retire at age 50 with a monthly retirement payout of $2,500 for 36 years (assuming you will live up to the age of 86), this means you will need to save around $1.1 million.
However, the aforementioned strategy is neither practical nor long-term. This is because it does not take into consideration real-world costs that retirees may incur, such as inflation, investment returns, and emergency needs.
Tip: We need to develop various passive income streams in order to reduce the danger of inflation and longevity. By listing down your needs and wants, it can help you pinpoint where your retirement savings are lacking and create a plan to fill those gaps.
Needs Vs. Wants
The term “needs” refers to those expenses that are essential to your survival and well-being but cannot be negotiated. Wants, on the other hand, are discretionary spending on pleasures and extras that aren’t requirements. The difference between a need and a want is a person’s way of living. So, you should prioritize meeting your basic necessities before thinking about or trying to satisfy your desires.
Tip: A good place to start is by making a list of all the things you want to accomplish once you retire. It is helpful to get an idea of how much money you will need for retirement in order to save effectively. Consider healthcare costs, those of your aging parents and spouse (if you are married), and the costs associated with sending your children to college.
How can the CPF Lifelong Income for the Elderly (LIFE) program help you in your golden years?
You can begin receiving your monthly payouts from CPF LIFE, a national longevity insurance annuity plan, at any time between the ages of 65 and 70. That way, even if you live to a ripe old age, your retirement money won’t run out before you do.
To ensure that you receive the monthly payouts you wish in retirement, the CPF Retirement Sums show how much of your CPF savings you should put aside. Basic Retirement Sum (BRS), Full Retirement Sum (FRS), and Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS) are the three types of CPF Retirement Sums.
*Based on people turning 55 in 2023.
In addition, you can pick from three different CPF LIFE plans based on your retirement goals and the amount of money you need or want each month.
Since CPF LIFE only begins paying out at age 65, it can’t be relied on for an early retirement. You can begin withdrawing from CPF LIFE at age 63, and other options like the Supplementary Retirement Scheme, retirement income insurance, and investments can help you live comfortably in retirement.
So what is FIRE, anyway?
FIRE stands for “Financial Independence, Retire Early.” It’s a way of life that emphasizes saving as much money as possible and investing it wisely so that one can retire early and comfortably. The basic tenet of FIRE is to amass a sizable nest egg during your working years so that you can retire early and live comfortably.
There are three ways to reach financial independence, retire early, depending on your current lifestyle and savings habits.
Achieving financial independence, retiring early (FIRE) requires careful preparation, financial discipline, and long-term investment. You need to increase your income, reduce your expenses, and/or invest so that you may retire with a comfortable nest egg.
Signs of Retiring Early
Pre-retirees and retirees confront a number of potential threats, regardless of their level of preparation. Longevity, inflation, expensive healthcare expenditures, and inadequate long-term market returns all fall into this category.
Unexpected Costs
Something unexpected could happen that would completely alter your life. For instance, if you or a loved one were to become really ill and incur high medical costs, your retirement plans could be jeopardized.
Longevity
As people are living longer because of medical advancements, it’s likely that they could outlive their retirement savings. It’s even worse if you discover this after you’ve already begun spending your savings. The last thing you want to do in your senior years is go job hunting after having been out of the workforce due to illness or retirement.
Inflation
You may have also underestimated the amount of money you’ll need for a comfortable retirement because inflation might outstrip your savings, lowering the purchasing power of your nest egg.
Changes in the market
Similarly, if your monthly passive income is dependent on dividends from stocks you own or rent from investment property, a downturn in the economy might significantly cut these sources of income.
If you don’t make your savings last as long as you should, you risk running out of money just when you need it because of inflation, unforeseen costs, and market volatility. Keep in mind that if you don’t have a regular paycheck from work, you’ll have to rely solely on your savings to get you through these tough times.
Go out on top when you're ready to retire
Not everyone can benefit from the FIRE strategy. One need not choose between working full-time and living off of savings in order to retire early.
Choose a part-time job or embark on a freelancing career to ease into retirement. It’s a win-win since you get to keep working while still having more time for fun, family, and travel. You may be able to put off using your savings for longer if you receive an unexpected windfall.
A little goes a long way; so the adage goes. Raise your income, cut back on unnecessary expenses, and put your extra cash to work in savings right away. This gives your savings more time to develop, which is useful for ensuring a comfortable retirement.
Get going, already!
For an analysis of your current financial situation and advice on how to improve your future planning, contact a financial advisor right away.