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Guides and explainers from our verified advisors. Understand what you're buying — then ask our assistant about specific products.
Retirement income plans: turning a lump sum into a monthly payout
CPF LIFE is only one layer of retirement income. Here is how private annuities and retirement income plans convert savings into a monthly payout, and what to check before buying one.
Priya Nair
Long-term care costs in Singapore: nursing homes, home care and day care
Government subsidies cut long-term care costs sharply for eligible households, but the size of the cut depends heavily on income and the type of care chosen. Here is how the subsidy framework works.
Chitra
Short-term endowment plans: how they compare with fixed deposits and T-bills
Short-term endowments, fixed deposits and Singapore T-bills all promise to grow a lump sum safely. They work in different ways and are not interchangeable. Here is what to weigh up.
Ben
EQ TravelSafe explained: benefits, limits and the fine print
EQ TravelSafe merges EQ Insurance's two older travel plans into one, with COVID-19 cover sold as a priced add-on. Here is what the insurer's own material states.
Chitra
Activities of daily living: how disability is assessed for a claim
Long-term care payouts hinge on a formal test of six specific activities of daily living, not a general sense of frailty. Here is what the test measures and how the assessment actually runs.
Alice
Endowment plans explained: guaranteed and non-guaranteed maturity values
The number an endowment illustration shows you at maturity is usually two numbers wearing one coat. Here is how to tell what is promised from what depends on markets.
Priya
CareShield Life supplements: adding to the national payout
CareShield Life pays a modest monthly sum for life if you become severely disabled. A supplement from a private insurer tops that up. Here is how the two layers fit together and what to check before you add one.
Chitra
Are ILPs suitable for retirement income? What to check first
Investment-linked policies are often pitched as a retirement vehicle. They can play a role, but only if you understand the charges, the rising cost of insurance and the absence of guarantees. Here is what to check first.
Ben
ILP surrender charges: the schedule that catches early leavers
Investment-linked policies recover their upfront costs from anyone who leaves early. This guide explains where the charges sit, how the schedule typically tapers, and how to read the product summary before you commit.
Priya
Transferring or renewing maid insurance when a helper changes employer
A domestic helper's insurance does not automatically follow her to a new employer. Here is what a new employer needs to arrange, and how it relates to the security bond and work permit.
Daniel
Claiming on maid insurance when your helper is hospitalised
As an employer, you are usually the one who has to make the claim when your domestic helper is hospitalised. Here is what the process generally involves.
Chitra
Reading an ILP fund fact sheet
An investment-linked policy's fund fact sheet tells you where your premiums are actually invested and what it costs. Here is what to look for before you sign.
Ben
Maid insurance add-ons: wage compensation, repatriation and third-party liability
Beyond the medical insurance MOM requires for a domestic helper, most policies bundle several other benefits. Here is what they actually cover and why they matter.
Daniel
Switching funds inside an ILP: what it costs and when it makes sense
Investment-linked policies let you move your money between sub-funds. Here is how fund switching actually works, what it costs, and when it is worth doing.
Priya
Personal accident cover for domestic helpers: the SGD 60,000 minimum
Employers of a foreign domestic worker in Singapore must buy personal accident cover alongside medical insurance. Here is what the SGD 60,000 benchmark actually protects.
Chitra
Premium holidays and partial withdrawals on an ILP
An investment-linked policy can sometimes cover its own charges without a fresh premium, and its units can often be tapped early. Here is how both features actually work, and where they run out.
Ben
What "sustainability" of an ILP means and why cover can lapse when markets fall
An investment-linked policy can lose its life cover even while premiums are paid on time, if the sub-fund underperforms. Here is the mechanism, and how to check your own policy.
Priya
Maid medical insurance: the SGD 60,000 minimum and what it covers
Every employer of a foreign domestic worker in Singapore must buy medical insurance with at least $60,000 in annual cover. Here is how the payout is split, and what falls outside it.
Daniel
ILP vs term plus index fund: running the numbers honestly
An investment-linked policy bundles cover and investing into one premium. Separating them into term insurance and a low-cost fund is the usual alternative. Here is how to compare the two without fooling yourself.
Ben
The security bond and how insurance replaces the SGD 5,000 deposit
Employers of a foreign domestic worker are liable for a S$5,000 security bond to MOM. Here is how a bond guarantee from an insurer replaces putting up the cash yourself.
Chitra
How an investment-linked policy is priced: units, charges and the protection cost
An ILP turns your premium into fund units, then sells some of them back to pay for insurance and fees. Understanding that mechanism is the key to reading any ILP illustration.
Priya
Maid insurance in Singapore: MOM's mandatory requirements
Employers of foreign domestic workers must arrange specific insurance before a Work Permit is issued. Here is what the mandatory cover includes and where plans typically go further.
Daniel
Sports and PA insurance: marathons, cycling and martial arts
A personal accident policy that pays for a fall down the stairs does not automatically pay for a fall off a bike or a knockout in the ring. Here is what to check.
Daniel
Policy loans: borrowing against your own cash value
A whole life or endowment policy with cash value can double as a source of credit. Here is how a policy loan works, what it costs, and why it can quietly shrink the payout your family expects.
Priya