Can You Earn S$1 Million By 65? A Deep Dive Into Singapore’s 1M65 Movement

August 5, 2025

What does the Singaporean Dream mean to you? For many, it’s the ability to afford a home, raise a family, enjoy occasional holidays, and retire without financial stress. As Singapore celebrates 60 years of nationhood, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come, and what it means to build a future rooted in stability and aspiration.

One personal finance movement that encapsulates this ideal is 1M65, a simple but powerful strategy that shows how everyday Singaporeans can retire with S$1 million or more by age 65, even on average incomes.

In this SG60 edition, we explore what 1M65 is, how feasible it still is in 2025, and how you can work towards it using a mix of CPF and long-term investing.

What Is the 1M65 Movement?

The 1M65 movement, short for “$1 Million by 65”, was started by CPF advocate Loo Cheng Chuan, who demonstrated how Singaporeans could use their CPF to build substantial retirement savings.

The core idea? Maximise CPF contributions, avoid premature withdrawals, and let the power of compounding interest work over 30–35 years.

The logic is compelling:

CPF’s Special Account (SA) offers an interest rate of 4.0% p.a.
Your Ordinary Account (OA) also earns a stable base interest rate of 2.5%
Plus, for members under 55, the first S$60,000* earns an extra 1%

Over decades, this consistent compounding can result in a six-figure sum or more by retirement. But in today’s world of rising costs and changing careers, CPF alone may not be enough. That’s where investing comes in to supplement and accelerate the journey.

*First S$60,000 of combined CPF balances (capped at S$20,000 for OA)

Is 1M65 Still Feasible in 2025?

The answer is yes—if you start early and build smart habits. CPF remains one of the most reliable, low-risk foundations for retirement planning, thanks to its guaranteed returns and government backing. But modern challenges mean that relying solely on CPF is no longer ideal for most Singaporeans.

Why it’s still achievable:

CPF interest rates are stable and attractive compared to most savings accounts
Voluntary CPF top-ups offer tax relief and boost compounding
Younger professionals have a longer time horizon to invest and accumulate wealth

What’s different today:

Many Singaporeans use their CPF OA for housing, which slows growth
Rising housing and lifestyle costs limit excess cash flow for investing
Job transitions and career breaks can impact CPF contributions

That’s why the 2025 version of 1M65 requires a dual engine: CPF + investing. Let’s see how this works in practice.

Meet Jeremy, a 30-Year-Old Singaporean Professional

Jeremy is a 30-year-old marketing manager earning S$5,000/month. He owns a BTO flat, pays his mortgage with cash, and has no kids. He’s moderately risk-tolerant and wants to retire by 65 with at least S$1 million in savings.

Here’s how he can get there using a two-pronged strategy:

CPF Growth	Investment Growth
Jeremy has S$30,000 in his CPF today and contributes S$1,850/month through mandatory contributions. Assuming 2.5% interest and no CPF OA withdrawals, his projected CPF value at age 65 would be: S$30,000 compounded over 35 years ≈ S$71,000 S$1,850 monthly contributions compounded ≈ S$1,219,000	Jeremy also allocates S$500/month to invest in a diversified portfolio. With a modest long-term expected return of 4% p.a., his investment portfolio could grow to: S$500/month x 35 years (at 4% p.a.) ≈ S$441,000
Estimated total CPF at 65: ~S$1.29mil	If he increases his contributions with salary growth (e.g. S$1,000/month from age 40), his investment pot could hit S$705,000.

Can Jeremy reach S$1 million?

Source	Value at 65
CPF	~S$1,310,000
Investment	~S$441,000
Total	>S$1.73 million

Yes, he can. Through steady CPF growth and disciplined investing, Jeremy can realistically hit—and even exceed—the S$1M milestone.

How Syfe Can Help You Achieve Your 1M65 Dream

However, taking inflation into account, S$1M will likely only provide for a basic retirement. If you want to retire comfortably in 35 years, given an average annual inflation rate of 2.4%, it would require more than S$1M for you to retire.

At Syfe, we believe that building wealth shouldn’t be complicated. It should be accessible, diversified, and aligned to your goals. To learn more about goals-based investing, read this article.

Here’s how Syfe’s portfolios can fit into a modern 1M65 strategy.

Start with Syfe Core Portfolio for Long-Term Growth

Jeremy needs a growth engine outside CPF, and Syfe Core portfolios are designed exactly for this.

Core Equity100 and Core Growth offer diversified exposure to global equities, including US, tech, and emerging markets.
They are built for long-term compounding and suit those in their 30s–40s with higher risk tolerance.
Historical performance shows average returns between 8–10% p.a.

How it fits: Core portfolios can help you build your non-CPF nest egg consistently over 20–30 years. Invest monthly and stay invested through market cycles.

Add Income+ as You Get Closer to Retirement

As Jeremy reaches his late 50s or early 60s, he’ll want to de-risk his portfolio and focus on capital preservation and income.

Income+ Enhance and Income+ Preserve, powered by PIMCO, provide stable bond exposure with monthly payouts.
Enhance targets higher yield (5–6% p.a.) with some risk, while Preserve is more conservative.

How it fits: Shift a portion of your Core investments into Income+ 5–10 years before retirement to create a steady stream of income alongside CPF Life.

Use REIT+ for Mid-Term Passive Income

If you value passive income before age 65, Syfe REIT+ offers access to top Singapore REITs with ~6% dividend yields (as of H1 2025).

Tracks the iEdge S-REIT Leaders Index
Diversified across commercial, industrial, and retail REITs
Offers potential capital appreciation and income

How it fits: Use REIT+ as a mid-term yield play, particularly in your 40s–50s, to generate passive income and diversify away from equities.

Final Thoughts: Your Singapore Dream Is Within Reach

1M65 is more than just a retirement strategy. It represents the aspiration of financial security and freedom for all Singaporeans. And with consistent CPF contributions and smart investing, you don’t need to earn a six-figure salary to retire.

As we look ahead to the next 60 years, the best way to honour the Singaporean Dream is by taking control of your financial future today.

Ready to Start Your 1M65 Journey?

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to optimise your wealth strategy, Syfe has a portfolio that fits your goals. Automate your investing, grow your wealth, and retire on your terms. Start building your million-dollar future today.