Ex-CPF Deputy CEO Reveals His Retirement Strategy, CPF, SRS and More. [Chills 227 ft Chin Heng Soh]

Jul 30, 2025

Chin Heng Soh, former Deputy CEO of CPF, shares his extensive experience in financial planning and retirement strategies. He discusses the complexities of the CPF system and warns how it can be both a foundation and a trap. Soh reveals his 'boring-but-brilliant' investment approach that focuses on low-risk strategies rather than stocks. He highlights common healthcare gaps people overlook and emphasizes the importance of financial education. With his insights, he aims to help listeners simplify their finances and achieve true independence.

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ANECDOTE

Chin Heng's CPF Journey

Chin Heng Soh spent 18 years at CPF deeply involved in shaping policies that impact Singaporeans' finances.
He witnessed CPF evolving continuously, making the job fulfilling and meaningful for its role in retirement planning.

INSIGHT

CPF Complexity and User Groups

CPF is complicated, leading to three groups: confused, misguided, and well-informed users.
The best financial foundations arise when people truly understand and build on CPF's framework.

INSIGHT

CPF Life and MediShield Life Importance

CPF Life offers lifelong retirement payout addressing increased life expectancy fears.
MediShield Life ensures universal hospital insurance, covering even those uninsurable before, fostering collective societal healthcare support.

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CPF suffers from a universal problem: Complexity.

People either ignore it, misunderstand it, or build their 'financial house' on shaky ground..

Get a peek behind the curtain from someone who not only helped design the CPF system but also manages his own daily finances (and CPF money) within it.

Our guest is former Deputy CEO of CPF – Mr. Chin Heng Soh, who will share more on:

- Why CPF is both a powerful foundation and a double-edged sword for Singaporeans.

- The boring-but-brilliant investment strategy he swears by (hint: it’s not stocks!).

- Critical gaps in healthcare/insurance planning most people overlook.

- How to turn policy complexity into your advantage.

Mr. Soh isn’t just a policy insider—he’s a counselor, financial trainer, and self-proclaimed "boring investor" who’s survived market chaos. He’ll show you how to simplify your financial life and achieve true independence—no jargon, just real talk.

Tune in to find out if your money is working as hard as his!

04:37 - Why did you choose to stay so long in CPF instead of rotating?

09:18 - What drove CPF's shift to life policies, and are they still relevant?

14:01 - How are you and your wife approaching IP plans and rider choices?

18:18 - How do you plan your finances with CPF as part of the strategy?

21:25 - How do you approach CPF investing given the low average returns?

26:24 - How do you manage your mortgage, property, and OA together?

31:49 - How do you manage income that isn’t part of the CPF system?

33:37 - Why wouldn’t you fully invest your SRS funds for maximum returns?

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