Singapore Personal Finance Starter Kit 2026: Key Facts
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A plain-English starting point on CPF, government securities, robo-adviser fees, insurance types and tax reliefs in Singapore, with links to the official sources. It doesn’t tell you what to do with your money. That depends on your circumstances.
This is general information, not financial advice. It doesn’t take your personal circumstances, objectives or financial situation into account. Consider seeking advice from a licensed financial adviser before making any financial decision.
1. CPF interest rates (1 Oct – 31 Dec 2026)
| Account | Interest rate (per CPF Board) |
|---|---|
| Ordinary Account (OA) | 2.5% p.a. (legislated minimum of 2.5%) |
| Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts | 4% p.a. (4% floor rate extended to 31 Dec 2027) |
| Extra interest | Paid on the first S$60,000 of combined balances (OA portion capped at S$20,000). The extra interest earned on OA savings goes into the SA or RA. |
CPF rates are reviewed quarterly. Check the CPF Board’s interest rates page for the current quarter, and the CPF Board’s rules before moving money between accounts.
2. Singapore Government Securities: T-bills and Savings Bonds
| Treasury bills (T-bills) | Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | Short-term government securities, issued at a discount to face value; you get the face value at maturity | Government bonds for individuals, with interest that steps up over time |
| Tenors | 6-month and 1-year | Up to 10 years |
| Minimum | S$1,000, in multiples of S$1,000 | S$500 |
| Early exit | Can be sold on the secondary market (see MAS) | Redeem in any month before maturity, with no penalty |
| Rates | Set at each auction | Announced for each issue |
Sources: MAS T-bills · MAS Savings Bonds
3. Robo-adviser fees side by side (as of 17 Oct 2026)
Some people invest through ETFs or robo-advisers. Costs and risks vary, and investments can go down as well as up.
Robo-advisers manage portfolios for a yearly fee, usually a percentage of the amount invested. The table lists the published platform fees for each provider’s main managed portfolios, from their official Singapore pricing pages. Fund or ETF expense ratios are charged on top, and investments can go down as well as up.
| Provider | Published annual fee (main managed portfolios) | Fund / ETF costs | Minimum to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syfe (Managed Portfolios) | 0.65% (Blue, no minimum) · 0.55% (Black, S$50K+) · 0.45% (Gold, S$250K+) · 0.35% (Platinum, S$1M+) · 0.25% (Diamond, S$5M+). Tiers based on total assets with Syfe. Subject to prevailing GST. | Check Syfe’s product pages | No minimum (Blue tier) |
| StashAway (General Investing) | 0.8% on the first S$25,000; 0.7% up to S$50,000; 0.6% up to S$100,000; 0.5% up to S$250,000; 0.4% up to S$500,000; 0.3% up to S$1,000,000; 0.2% above S$1,000,000 (excl. GST). | ETF expense ratio approx. 0.2% p.a. (Income Portfolio approx. 0.4%), per StashAway | Not stated on the pricing page; check StashAway |
| Endowus (cash, advised portfolios) | 0.60% (below S$200K) · 0.50% (S$200K–| Fund-level fees of 0.05%–1% are charged by the fund managers. Endowus says it gives back 100% of trailer fees. |
S$1,000 minimum initial investment |
|
Sources: endowus.com/pricing, stashaway.sg/pricing, syfe.com/pricing (all checked 17 Oct 2026). Endowus’s page states two different rates for its S$1M–<S$5M tier, so that tier is left out. Check it with Endowus.
This isn’t a recommendation of any provider or product. We don’t have affiliate links with, or earn commission from, any robo-adviser or investment platform named here.
ETFs: listed funds that track an index. You buy them through a brokerage account, so compare trading fees, minimums, and whether shares are held in your own CDP account or by the broker as custodian. Check that any provider is licensed on the MAS Financial Institutions Directory.
What to compare
- Total cost: the platform fee plus fund/ETF expense ratios, GST, and any currency conversion costs.
- How fees are tiered: by total assets, by portfolio, or by account type (cash vs CPF/SRS).
- Account types: whether CPF or SRS money can be invested, and at what fee.
- Minimums and withdrawals: the minimum to start, and any withdrawal fees or lock-ups.
- Regulatory status: check the provider’s MAS licence on the MAS Financial Institutions Directory.
- Risk: investments aren’t capital guaranteed. Read the product’s documents and risk disclosures.
4. Bank accounts and credit cards: what to compare
Rates and rewards change often, so we haven’t listed them. Check the bank’s own page for current terms.
Savings accounts
- The base and bonus interest rates, and the conditions for bonus interest (salary credit, card spend, GIRO).
- Balance caps for bonus interest.
- Whether the account is covered by SDIC deposit insurance, and the coverage limit.
Credit cards
- The reward type (cashback, miles or points), minimum spend, caps and excluded categories.
- The annual fee and waiver terms.
- The interest rate and late fees if you don’t pay the full balance.
Compare credit cards on SingSaver →
5. Insurance: common product types
These are definitions only, not suggestions about what to buy. Health and life insurance needs depend on your circumstances.
- MediShield Life: the basic national health insurance plan for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.
- Integrated Shield Plans: private plans that add cover on top of MediShield Life, with optional riders.
- Term life: pays a sum if the insured dies during a fixed term (many plans also cover total and permanent disability). Usually no cash value.
- Whole life and investment-linked policies (ILPs): lifelong cover (whole life) or cover combined with investment in sub-funds (ILPs). These usually build a cash or surrender value, and their costs, charges and surrender values are set out in the policy documents.
- Critical illness and disability income: pay out on diagnosis of covered illnesses, or replace income if you can’t work.
To compare life and health policies, use compareFIRST and read MoneySense guides. For advice, speak to a licensed financial adviser.
6. Tax reliefs (from IRAS)
- CPF cash top-up relief: up to S$16,000 a year (maximum S$8,000 for yourself, and S$8,000 for family members) for eligible top-ups. Conditions apply.
- SRS contributions: qualify for tax relief, subject to IRAS caps. Withdrawals are partly taxable.
- Course fees and donations: relief and deductions are available, subject to IRAS conditions.
Check the IRAS tax reliefs pages for current amounts and the overall relief cap.
7. Budgeting basics
- A simple split: some people use a 50/30/20 split of take-home pay (needs / wants / savings). Adjust it to your situation.
- Track your spending for a month to see where money goes.
- Automate transfers on payday if that helps you save.
- Sinking funds: set aside money monthly for annual bills (insurance, tax, travel).
📄 Download the Full Finance Kit as PDF
A printable 7-section kit: CPF interest rates, T-bills and Singapore Savings Bonds, published robo-adviser fees, what to compare in bank accounts and credit cards, common insurance types, tax reliefs and budgeting basics.