Two ways to buy a life annuity with your CPF

A CPF member is required to keep $90,000 in the CPF to be withdrawn in monthly installments. He can buy a life annuity with this sum.

Here are two ways to buy the life annuity:

- buy at age 55, and receive the monthly payment from 62 years.
- keep in CPF to earn 4% per annum, and to buy the annuity at age 62

Which is better?

If you buy the annuity at age 55, we pay you a guaranteed interest of 2.5% and bonus that depends on the earnings of our insurance fund. Based on our past record, we expect the bonus to vary from 1% to 3%, but this is not guaranteed.

If you keep in the CPF, you will get a guaranteed return of 4% per annum, which is quite attractive. You can invest in the life annuity after age 62. The amount that you can get depends on your age, gender and the amount invested.

Generally, our life annuity gives a guaranteed return of 2.5% plus a bonus that depends on the earnings of our insurance fund. We also give a higher payout, as the capital sum is consumed during your lifetime.

Many people find it quite attractive to buy an annuity at age 55. The guaranteed return of 2.5% plus the bonus (assuming 2% per annum) will be better than keeping the money in CPF.