There are many blogs and YouTube videos commenting on CPF Life, but so far I have not see anyone calculating the actual return of CPF Life. So let me try to do it here. And the number might surprise you.
Many people think that the return is guaranteed at 4%, because that is the return of our RA (Retirement Account).
But this is not true.
For a person who is 55 years old this year, the FRS is $205,800, and the projected (not guaranteed) payout from age 65 is $1650 (source: CPF Life Estimator).
Lets calculate the RA balance when the person reaches 65 years old, just before the payout start. PV=$205,800, n=10, i=4%,
FV = $304,634.27 (RA balance at age 65)
Projected payout is $19,800/year ($1650*12).
So we can now calculate the rate of return of CPF Life, assuming the person lives for another 20 years, to age 85, which is the life expectancy.
PV = 304,634.27, PMT = 19,800, FV = $0 (bequest at 85 is zero)
I = 2.95% , not 4%, and it’s not even guaranteed, since CPF Life payout is not guaranteed.
Are you surprised with this number?
If you live to 100, the rate of return will be 5.99%, a very attractive return, but I cannot bet I will live so long. Age 85 sounds like a more realistic estimation.
If you live to age 81, the return is only 0.53% !! So CPF Life is really good if you can live a very long life, not otherwise.
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