Are you on track for the retirement you want?

Everything is in today's dollars. Your income growth, CPF interest, and investment return are all nominal (before inflation) rates. If we projected with them directly, decades of compounding would produce huge future dollar figures that don't mean anything next to a spending target set in today's money. So we net every rate against an assumed 2.5% p.a. inflation (Singapore's long-run average) and run the whole projection in real terms — the number you see is what your projected balance could buy at today's prices, not an inflated future number.

CPF projection. We use the CPF Board's official contribution and allocation rates effective 1 January 2026, applied to your monthly income (capped at the $8,000 Ordinary Wage ceiling, in today's dollars) every month from now until you turn 65, using the contribution rate for your age at the time. CPF's nominal base rates — 2.5% p.a. (Ordinary Account), 4% p.a. (Special/Retirement Account and MediSave) — are each converted to a real rate before compounding monthly.

Income growth. Your income grows 4% p.a. nominal — the 10-year historical growth rate of Singapore's median income — up to age 55, then holds flat, reflecting typical wage patterns for older workers. Net of inflation, that's a real increase of about 1.5% p.a.

Cash & investments. Each month's savings (take-home pay minus expenses, both in today's dollars) is added to your current cash & investments and grown at your stated average annual return, net of inflation.

Required nest egg. We calculate the lump sum needed at 65 to fund your chosen monthly lifestyle (in today's dollars) for a planning horizon of age 85 (male) or 90 (female) — common assumptions in Singapore retirement planning — assuming it continues to earn your stated return, net of inflation, while drawn down.

CPF caps. MediSave can't grow beyond the Basic Healthcare Sum ($79,000 in 2026). Contributions above it flow to your Special Account (or Retirement Account from 55) until that reaches the Full Retirement Sum ($220,400 for members turning 55 in 2026), and then to your Ordinary Account. At 55, your Special Account closes and your Retirement Account is formed up to the Full Retirement Sum from your Special Account first, then your Ordinary Account. We assume the Basic Healthcare Sum grows 4.5% p.a. and the Full Retirement Sum 3.5% p.a. (nominal), in line with recent increases.

What's excluded. MediSave is shown separately and not counted toward your spendable nest egg, since it's earmarked for healthcare. Retirement Account savings are counted as part of your nest egg, although in practice they're paid out monthly through CPF LIFE rather than available as a lump sum. We don't model CPF's extra interest, CPF LIFE payouts, OA withdrawals at 55, housing usage, or bonuses (Additional Wages). This keeps the projection transparent, at the cost of some precision.

This is an illustrative estimate for educational purposes, not financial advice, and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the CPF Board. Your actual position will differ. For a plan built around your full financial picture, book a Financial Clarity Session.