Q: How do I model a career break or sabbatical?

Use "Salary Change" events to model periods of no income: **Step-by-Step:** 1. **Add First Event (Start of Break):** - Click "Add Life Event" → "Salary Change" - Set event date to the month your break starts (e.g., Jan 2027) - Enter **$0** as new salary - Recurring: No 2. **Add Second Event (Resume Work):** - Click "Add Life Event" → "Salary Change" - Set event date to when you resume work (e.g., Jan 2028) - Enter your resumed salary (e.g., $5,000) - Recurring: No **During the break:** - No CPF contributions are made - Interest continues accruing on existing balances - Housing mortgage (if any) continues deducting from OA **Alternative: Part-Time During Break** If you're doing freelance/consulting: - First event: Salary change to reduced amount (e.g., $2,000) - Second event: Salary change back to full salary when resumed **Example Scenario (1-Year Sabbatical):** - Current: $6,000/month - Jan 2027: Salary change to $0 (sabbatical starts) - Jan 2028: Salary change to $6,000 (return to work) - Impact: Miss ~$27,000 in CPF contributions for that year

Q: Can I simulate selling my property and buying a new one?

Yes, use two events to model property transactions: **Step 1: Property Sale** 1. Click "Add Life Event" → "Property Sale" 2. Set date to sale completion month (e.g., Jun 2030) 3. Enter OA refund amount(e.g., $260,000) 4. This refunds your OA with: - Principal used for property - Accrued interest at 2.5% p.a. - Housing grants received (if any) - Interest on grants **Step 2: Property Purchase** (can be same month or later) 1. Click "Add Life Event" → "Property Purchase" 2. Set date to purchase month (e.g., Jun 2030 or later) 3. Enter OA amount used for new property (e.g., $300,000) 4. Enter monthly mortgage from CPF (e.g., $1,200) 5. Enter mortgage end date (optional) 6. Enter housing grant if applicable **Important Notes:** **Same Month Transaction:** - Events are processed in order added - Add "Property Sale" first, then "Property Purchase" - Refunded OA will be available for new purchase **Viewing Impact:** - Check "Housing Refund Chart" to see liability reset - Compare OA balance before/after transaction - Verify FRS achievement age changes **Example (Upgrade at Age 40):** - Sell 4-room HDB: $600K (refunds $150K P+I to OA) - Buy 5-room HDB: $800K (use $200K from OA) - Net OA impact: -$50K (used $200K, got $150K back) - New mortgage: $1,500/month for 25 years

Q: How do I set up recurring annual salary increments?

Use the "Salary Change" event with recurring enabled: **Step-by-Step Setup:** 1. **Create First Increment:** - Click "Add Life Event" → "Salary Change" - Set date to first increment (e.g., Jan 2027) - Select **"Percentage"** mode - Enter 2.5 (for 2.5% increase) - Current salary $6,000 → New salary $6,150 2. **Enable Recurring:** - Toggle "Recurring" ON - Frequency: **Annual** - Set end date to your retirement age (e.g., Dec 2054 if retiring at 65) - Recurrence month: **1** (January) **What Happens:** - Every January from 2027 to 2054, salary increases by 2.5% - 2027: $6,000 → $6,150 - 2028: $6,150 → $6,304 - 2029: $6,304 → $6,462 - And so on... **Alternative: Fixed Dollar Increment** - Instead of percentage, use absolute value - E.g., "$200 increment every year" - 2027: $6,000 → $6,200 - 2028: $6,200 → $6,400 **Smart Defaults:** The calculator auto-create salary increments: - Increment rates of 2.5% annually(2.5%) - You can change the increment rate to your own

Q: Should I use the property pledge option?

The property pledge option lets you set aside **BRS instead of FRS** in your RA at age 55, giving you more cash withdrawal but lower retirement income. **How It Works:** **Without Property Pledge (Standard):** - RA filled to FRS (~$220K in 2026) - Withdrawable amount: OA + SA excess above FRS - CPF LIFE payout at 65: ~$1,800/month **With Property Pledge:** - RA filled to BRS only (~$110K in 2026, which is FRS/2) - Withdrawable amount: Higher (FRS - BRS = ~$110K more cash) - CPF LIFE payout at 65: ~$900/month (lower payout) **Requirements:** - Must own property (HDB or private) - Property lease must last until age 95 **When to Use:** **Good Scenarios:** - You need liquidity at 55 for business, children's education, or other goals - You have other retirement income sources (rental, investments, pension) - You plan to monetize property via Lease Buyback Scheme later - You're confident you can manage cash without overspending **Avoid If:** - You have no other retirement income - You're concerned about outliving your money - You prefer guaranteed monthly income over lump sum access - You're bad at budgeting and may spend the extra cash **Trade-Off Analysis:** - Extra withdrawal: ~$110K cash - Lifetime cost (assuming 25 years of CPF LIFE from 65-90): - Lost payout: $900/month × 12 months × 25 years = $270K - Break-even: Need to invest the $110K at ~4.5% annual returns to match **Default Recommendation:** Most people should NOT use property pledge unless they have specific liquidity needs and strong financial discipline. The guaranteed CPF LIFE income provides peace of mind in old age.

Question 1

How accurate is this calculator compared to my actual CPF statement?

Accepted Answer

Our engine attempts to model official CPF policies with month-by-month precision. However, accuracy depends on:

- **Correct input of current balances** - Check your latest CPF statement for exact OA, SA, and MA amounts
- **Accurate salary and bonus projections** - Future income changes will affect actual vs projected balances
- **Timely policy updates** - We update when CPF Board announces changes, but there may be a brief lag
- **Policy alignment** - We attempt to model official CPF policies but there may be discrepancies due to implementation errors, ordering differences, or CPF Board's changes.

We recommend comparing the first year's projection with your actual statement to validate accuracy. Our test suite covers 201 scenarios to ensure policy compliance, including edge cases like MA overflow, RA dynamics, and age 55 transformations.

In addition, we try to update the list of policies and their edge cases to inform you of what has been modeled. If you spot new policies that we should model, please let us know.

**Validation tip**: Run the calculator with your current data, then compare December's projected balance with your actual year-end CPF statement.

Question 2

Why can't I forecast beyond age 55 by default?

Accepted Answer

Post-55 calculations involve experimental features due to increased policy complexity (and honestly, it's our first stab at that range too):

**Why age 55 is critical:**
- **SA Closure** - Your Special Account permanently closes at 55 (Jan 2025 policy)
- **RA Creation** - A new Retirement Account is created, combining SA and potentially OA balances
- **Contribution Dynamics** - Future contributions go to RA instead of SA, with different overflow rules

**Post-55 uncertainties:**
- RA contribution dynamics (overflow to OA when FRS met) are complex
- Policy changes beyond 2026 cannot be predicted with certainty
- CPF LIFE integration (payouts starting age 65) is not fully implemented yet
- Withdrawal patterns and strategies vary by individual

**To forecast to age 56-90**: Enable "Experimental Mode" in advanced settings, with the understanding that accuracy decreases after 55 due to policy projection uncertainties and individual variability in retirement strategies.

If you spot any inaccuracies, please let us know.

Question 3

What's the difference between this and the previous CPF Forecast tool on geek.sg?

Accepted Answer

The remake includes major improvements to handle 2023-2026 policy changes:

**Policy Updates:**
- **SA Closure at 55** (Jan 2025) - Automatic transfer to RA, permanent SA closure
- **OW Ceiling Increases** - $6.3K (Sep 2023) → $8K (Jan 2026) progression implemented
- **ERS Expansion** - Enhanced Retirement Sum changed from 3×BRS to 4×BRS (2025)
- **Senior Worker Rates** - Gradual increase to 37% for ages 55-65 by 2026

**New Features:**
- **Life Event Simulation** - 9 event types (property, salary, bonuses, top-ups) vs none in legacy
- **Housing Refund Tracking** - P+I liability chart with accrued interest visualization
- **Milestone Detection** - Automatic BRS/FRS/ERS achievement tracking with exact dates
- **Precise Overflow Logic** - Correct MA→SA/RA and RA→OA routing when limits are hit

**Technical Improvements:**
- **201 Automated Tests** - Comprehensive coverage vs minimal testing in legacy
- **Month-by-Month Simulation** - More accurate than legacy's annual estimates
- **Transparent Audit Trail** - Detailed breakdown of every calculation

The legacy tool is accurate for basic scenarios pre-2025 but cannot model complex life planning or recent policy changes. For planning property transactions, career breaks, or FIRE scenarios, use the remake.

Question 4

Why does my SA balance become $0 at age 55?

Accepted Answer

As of January 2025, CPF closes the Special Account (SA) for all members aged 55 and above. This is **not a calculator error** - it's an official CPF Board policy change.

**What happens at age 55:**

1. **SA Closure** - Your SA account is permanently closed (set to $0)
2. **Transfer to RA** - SA balance transfers to your Retirement Account (RA) up to your Full Retirement Sum (FRS) or Basic Retirement Sum (BRS if using property pledge)
3. **Excess to OA** - Any SA balance above FRS goes to your Ordinary Account (OA)
4. **Future Contributions** - What would have gone to SA now goes directly to RA

**Example:**
- Your SA at 55: $180,000
- FRS (2026): $220,400
- Your SA ($180K) transfers entirely to RA
- RA needs additional $40,400 from OA to reach FRS
- SA balance after transformation: **$0** (permanently closed)

**Why this change?**
CPF Board consolidated retirement accounts to simplify member experience and prepare for CPF LIFE enrollment at age 65. Having RA as the single retirement account streamlines payout calculations and account management.

Question 5

How does the extra interest routing work?

Accepted Answer

Extra interest on your Ordinary Account (OA) is **NOT** credited to your OA. Instead, it's routed to retirement accounts for higher growth:

**Pre-Age 55:**
- OA extra interest → **Special Account (SA)**
- Rationale: Maximize retirement savings by moving extra returns to higher-yielding SA

**Age 55 and Above:**
- OA extra interest → **Retirement Account (RA)**
- Rationale: SA is closed, so extra interest goes to RA instead

**Your OA only receives:**
- Base interest: 2.5% per annum
- No extra interest stays in OA

**Extra Interest Tiers:**

**Under 55:**
- First $60,000 combined: +1% extra
- OA capped at $20,000 for extra interest calculation

**Age 55+:**
- First $30,000: +2% extra
- Next $30,000: +1% extra
- OA capped at $20,000 for extra interest calculation

**Example (Age 40):**
- OA: $50,000 (only first $20K gets +1%)
- SA: $80,000 (full $80K gets +1%, but limited by $60K combined cap)
- OA extra interest: $20,000 × 1% ÷ 12 = $16.67/month → Routed to SA
- SA extra interest: $40,000 × 1% ÷ 12 = $33.33/month → Credited to SA
- Net result: OA grows at 2.5%, SA grows at ~4.5% (4% base + extra from both accounts)

This ensures retirement savings grow faster while maintaining housing liquidity in OA at base 2.5%.

Question 6

What happens when my MA hits the BHS limit?

Accepted Answer

When your MediSave Account (MA) reaches the Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS), excess contributions overflow to retirement accounts:

**Pre-Age 55:**
- Excess MA contributions → **Special Account (SA)**
- This accelerates your retirement savings

**Age 55 and Above:**
- Excess MA contributions → **Retirement Account (RA)** (if RA < FRS)
- OR → **Ordinary Account (OA)** (if RA ≥ FRS)

**2026 BHS: $79,000** (locks at age 65 for life)

**Example (Age 45, MA at $78,500):**

Monthly contribution to MA: $540
- **Fits in MA**: $79,000 - $78,500 = $500
- **Overflow to SA**: $540 - $500 = $40

After contribution:
- MA: $79,000 (at BHS limit)
- SA: Receives original SA allocation + $40 overflow
- Net effect: More retirement savings, MA capped for healthcare needs

**Why overflow to SA/RA?**
Once you've saved enough for healthcare (BHS), CPF channels excess contributions to retirement for better utilization. This is automatic - you don't need to do anything.

**Impact on retirement:**
Reaching BHS early (e.g., age 35-40) means more years of MA overflow boosting SA/RA, potentially achieving FRS earlier.

Question 7

How do I model a career break or sabbatical?

Accepted Answer

Use "Salary Change" events to model periods of no income:

**Step-by-Step:**

1. **Add First Event (Start of Break):**
   - Click "Add Life Event" → "Salary Change"
   - Set event date to the month your break starts (e.g., Jan 2027)
   - Enter **$0** as new salary
   - Recurring: No

2. **Add Second Event (Resume Work):**
   - Click "Add Life Event" → "Salary Change"
   - Set event date to when you resume work (e.g., Jan 2028)
   - Enter your resumed salary (e.g., $5,000)
   - Recurring: No

**During the break:**
- No CPF contributions are made
- Interest continues accruing on existing balances
- Housing mortgage (if any) continues deducting from OA

**Alternative: Part-Time During Break**
If you're doing freelance/consulting:
- First event: Salary change to reduced amount (e.g., $2,000)
- Second event: Salary change back to full salary when resumed

**Example Scenario (1-Year Sabbatical):**
- Current: $6,000/month
- Jan 2027: Salary change to $0 (sabbatical starts)
- Jan 2028: Salary change to $6,000 (return to work)
- Impact: Miss ~$27,000 in CPF contributions for that year

Question 8

Can I simulate selling my property and buying a new one?

Accepted Answer

Yes, use two events to model property transactions:

**Step 1: Property Sale**
1. Click "Add Life Event" → "Property Sale"
2. Set date to sale completion month (e.g., Jun 2030)
3. Enter OA refund amount(e.g., $260,000)
4. This refunds your OA with:
   - Principal used for property
   - Accrued interest at 2.5% p.a.
   - Housing grants received (if any)
   - Interest on grants

**Step 2: Property Purchase** (can be same month or later)
1. Click "Add Life Event" → "Property Purchase"
2. Set date to purchase month (e.g., Jun 2030 or later)
3. Enter OA amount used for new property (e.g., $300,000)
4. Enter monthly mortgage from CPF (e.g., $1,200)
5. Enter mortgage end date (optional)
6. Enter housing grant if applicable

**Important Notes:**

**Same Month Transaction:**
- Events are processed in order added
- Add "Property Sale" first, then "Property Purchase"
- Refunded OA will be available for new purchase

**Viewing Impact:**
- Check "Housing Refund Chart" to see liability reset
- Compare OA balance before/after transaction
- Verify FRS achievement age changes

**Example (Upgrade at Age 40):**
- Sell 4-room HDB: $600K (refunds $150K P+I to OA)
- Buy 5-room HDB: $800K (use $200K from OA)
- Net OA impact: -$50K (used $200K, got $150K back)
- New mortgage: $1,500/month for 25 years

Question 9

How do I set up recurring annual salary increments?

Accepted Answer

Use the "Salary Change" event with recurring enabled:

**Step-by-Step Setup:**

1. **Create First Increment:**
   - Click "Add Life Event" → "Salary Change"
   - Set date to first increment (e.g., Jan 2027)
   - Select **"Percentage"** mode
   - Enter 2.5 (for 2.5% increase)
   - Current salary $6,000 → New salary $6,150

2. **Enable Recurring:**
   - Toggle "Recurring" ON
   - Frequency: **Annual**
   - Set end date to your retirement age (e.g., Dec 2054 if retiring at 65)
   - Recurrence month: **1** (January)

**What Happens:**
- Every January from 2027 to 2054, salary increases by 2.5%
- 2027: $6,000 → $6,150
- 2028: $6,150 → $6,304
- 2029: $6,304 → $6,462
- And so on...

**Alternative: Fixed Dollar Increment**
- Instead of percentage, use absolute value
- E.g., "$200 increment every year"
- 2027: $6,000 → $6,200
- 2028: $6,200 → $6,400

**Smart Defaults:**
The calculator auto-create salary increments:
- Increment rates of 2.5% annually(2.5%)
- You can change the increment rate to your own

Question 10

Should I use the property pledge option?

Accepted Answer

The property pledge option lets you set aside **BRS instead of FRS** in your RA at age 55, giving you more cash withdrawal but lower retirement income.

**How It Works:**

**Without Property Pledge (Standard):**
- RA filled to FRS (~$220K in 2026)
- Withdrawable amount: OA + SA excess above FRS
- CPF LIFE payout at 65: ~$1,800/month

**With Property Pledge:**
- RA filled to BRS only (~$110K in 2026, which is FRS/2)
- Withdrawable amount: Higher (FRS - BRS = ~$110K more cash)
- CPF LIFE payout at 65: ~$900/month (lower payout)

**Requirements:**
- Must own property (HDB or private)
- Property lease must last until age 95

**When to Use:**

**Good Scenarios:**
- You need liquidity at 55 for business, children's education, or other goals
- You have other retirement income sources (rental, investments, pension)
- You plan to monetize property via Lease Buyback Scheme later
- You're confident you can manage cash without overspending

**Avoid If:**
- You have no other retirement income
- You're concerned about outliving your money
- You prefer guaranteed monthly income over lump sum access
- You're bad at budgeting and may spend the extra cash

**Trade-Off Analysis:**
- Extra withdrawal: ~$110K cash
- Lifetime cost (assuming 25 years of CPF LIFE from 65-90):
  - Lost payout: $900/month × 12 months × 25 years = $270K
  - Break-even: Need to invest the $110K at ~4.5% annual returns to match

**Default Recommendation:**
Most people should NOT use property pledge unless they have specific liquidity needs and strong financial discipline. The guaranteed CPF LIFE income provides peace of mind in old age.

Question 11

Who are you and what made you work on this?

Accepted Answer

Hi! I'm Raymond Yeh, a founder and software engineer. This calculator is part of my blog [geek.sg](https://geek.sg) where I build tools that I personally need for financial planning.

**Why I Built This:**

The main reason I created this calculator was to do my own CPF planning. I didn't trust the accuracy of other tools and spreadsheets out there, and I was also concerned about what they might do with my financial data. So I decided to build something I could use myself — and thought, why not make it available for others too?

**Other Projects:**

Besides the CPF Forecast tool, I also built an [HDB Resale Price Calculator](https://sgpropinsider.com/) to help with property planning. These are passion projects that intersect with my interests in finance, policy, and software engineering.

**My Background:**

I run [Synscribe](https://synscribe.com/), a programmatic SEO startup that helps growth-stage companies scale and win on Google and ChatGPT. You can learn more about what I'm currently working on at my [Now page](/now) or read more [About me](/about).

**Important Note:**

This is not my full-time work — I don't work in financial advisory services and don't make any money from this calculator. I tend to revisit it once a year for major updates or fixes, so no promises on immediate updates!

Question 12

Why can't CPF Board just provide this service?

Accepted Answer

Great question! Many people have asked why the government or CPF Board hasn't stepped up to provide detailed CPF projections like this. Having worked in government before, I understand there are certain limitations to what they can or cannot do.

**The Government's Dilemma:**

The main challenge is **accountability and policy flexibility**. If CPF Board were to provide official projections of future values — like retirement sums (BRS/FRS/ERS) or policy changes — citizens might hold them accountable to those projections years later.

Imagine this scenario: CPF Board projects your retirement savings in 2026, but by 2030, they need to adjust policies due to economic conditions or demographic changes. Citizens could say, "But you told me this projection 5 years ago! Why are you changing the rules now?"

**Policy Changes Happen Frequently:**

As we've seen in recent years, CPF policies evolve regularly:
- Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS) changed from 3× to 4× BRS in 2025
- Contribution rates for senior workers gradually increased
- Ordinary Wage ceiling raised from $6K to $8K over 3 years
- Special Account closure at age 55 implemented in 2025

These changes are necessary to adapt to Singapore's needs, but they'd be harder to implement if the government had committed to long-term projections.

**This Calculator Fills the Gap:**

That's exactly why independent tools like this exist. I can make projections based on current and historical policies, clearly state the assumptions, and update them as policies change — without the political constraints that government agencies face.

**The Caveats:**

This calculator uses what we know from past trends and current policies to forecast ahead. You should expect policy changes to occur, which is why I include detailed assumptions and limitations. I try to keep this service up-to-date when I can, but since this isn't my full-time job, updates happen about once a year.

**Bottom Line:**

The government likely *wants* to provide this service, but the expectations and accountability that come with official projections make it politically risky. That's the gap I'm trying to fill here.

Question 13

How can I support this project?

Accepted Answer

I'm glad you find this tool useful! Since this is a free service with no ads or data collection, your support helps keep it running and motivates me to maintain and improve it.

**Buy Me a Coffee:**

If this calculator has helped you with your financial planning, you can [buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/geeksg) to show your appreciation. Every coffee helps cover hosting costs and encourages me to add new features and keep policies up-to-date.

**Other Ways to Support:**

- **Share it:** Tell your friends, family, or colleagues who might benefit from CPF planning
- **Feedback:** Let me know if you spot any bugs, policy updates I've missed, or features you'd like to see
- **Use my other tools:** Check out the [HDB Resale Price Calculator](https://sgpropinsider.com/) if you're planning property purchases
- **Check out my business:** I run an [SEO agency](https://synscribe.com/) to help high-growth startups (typically $1M+ revenue) get traffic from Google and ChatGPT. If you know a founder or business that needs help with organic growth, send them my way!

**No Pressure:**

This tool is and will always be free to use. I built it for myself first, and I'm happy to share it with others. Your support is appreciated but never expected!

Thank you for using the CPF Forecast Calculator! 🙏

GEEK.SG

Project Future CPF Balances with the CPF Forecast Calculator

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Life Events

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Why Use This Calculator?

Getting Started (3 Steps)

Ready to Plan Your CPF Future?

Input Parameters

Basic Information

Current CPF Balances

About This Calculator

Month-by-Month Simulation

1. Contribution Calculation

2. Interest Calculation & Routing

3. Age 55 Transformation Sequence

4. Housing Refund Liability Tracking

Test Coverage & Validation

Frequently Asked Questions

Calculator Accuracy & Features

Policy-Specific Questions

Using the Calculator

About the Project

About

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