The latest OCBC Financial Wellness Index reveals a concerning trend: the percentage of Singaporeans actively planning for retirement has dropped from 60% to 54%. This means that nearly half (46%) of respondents have not begun preparing for their retirement.
Alarmingly, one in four Singaporeans only plans to start—or has just started—retirement planning in their 50s or later.
This delay in planning could have significant consequences for financial security during retirement. Starting early provides more time to grow savings, benefit from compounding interest, and navigate unexpected life events without derailing retirement goals.
Retirement planning should begin as soon as you receive your first paycheck. Establishing good financial habits early ensures a more comfortable and stress-free retirement. Below, I share my thoughts on why it is important to start early.
For those interested, here is the full OCBC survey.
It is about compounding. It’s essential to start saving and investing as early as possible to maximize the benefits of compounding. The compound effect is a powerful financial principle where small, consistent contributions grow exponentially over time. Over the years, this creates a snowball effect, with your money growing faster as time progresses. Using the rule of 72, at a 7% return, your money will double every 10.28 years.
It is about having options. In the past year, we read about staff being laid off in waves and for individuals without a solid financial safety net, the uncertainty and anxiety can be overwhelming, especially for those with school-going children. Now, imagine facing a layoff at 50. Many of us understand how challenging it can be to secure another job at that stage of life. However, having built a strong retirement fund by then provides you with the financial security and as well as options to explore other alternatives —whether that’s taking time to reskill, starting a business, or pursuing personal interests.
One can achieve this return through using a combination of stock and bond allocation. And readers know that I prefer using index fund.
This is not a financial advice.
No comments:
Post a Comment