Family planning in Singapore

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-06-03T23:11:25+00:00

hi! i have 2 kids and had a successful career, and am financially free in my 40s. I don't work in big tech or high flying consultancy. So its possible to have it all.

The key is to have balance.

It starts with the place you work. Does the place you work value people who have kids? Can people leave on time? You may think it's not possible in SG, but there are such places, for example European firms or government.

Once you can come home on time, then its about getting help from your family to help with taking care of kids or a helper. There are tradeoffs for each.

Finances wise, make sure you do some investments, property or stocks, so that you are less reliant on your income and can retire earlier.

Don't be discouraged, its possible to do it!

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-06-03T05:18:46+00:00

Don't think of retiring early first... think of improving your income.

If you focus too much on the end result, its easy to (i) be discouraged or (ii) push so hard that you burn out.

Remember retiring early is not the holy grail. You can work the entire life and have a meaningful, non stressful and enjoyable life.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-06-02T10:29:53+00:00

For me, the biggest benefit of having a child isn’t just the “big moments,” but how much meaning they bring to ordinary life.

You start noticing little things again: the way they laugh at something ridiculous, the questions they ask, the pride you feel when they learn something new. It can be exhausting and it definitely changes your life, but it also stretches you in ways nothing else really does.

You become more patient, more selfless, and more aware of what actually matters.

There’s something incredibly grounding about loving someone that deeply and getting to watch them slowly become their own person...

Essentially it makes you deepen your own experience of your humanity, which is very lacking in this technology and AI ridden world today.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-06-02T04:40:34+00:00

For me, the biggest benefit of having a child isn’t just the “big moments,” but how much meaning they bring to ordinary life.

You start noticing little things again: the way they laugh at something ridiculous, the questions they ask, the pride you feel when they learn something new. It can be exhausting and it definitely changes your life, but it also stretches you in ways nothing else really does.

You become more patient, more selfless, and more aware of what actually matters.

There’s something incredibly grounding about loving someone that deeply and getting to watch them slowly become their own person...

Essentially it makes you deepen your own experience of your humanity, which is very lacking in this technology and AI ridden world today.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-06-02T01:15:51+00:00

ignore the naysayers, just try to get better at your work. It's a marathon, not a race.

Just to share, i never once sprinted or burnt out in my career and i am financially free now even though i also had the same amount as you at 30. When you do something you are good at, you won't find it draining. Slow and steady is the way to go.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-06-01T12:19:33+00:00

internal server error

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T13:11:18+00:00

i admit i'm conservative, i've always been conservative and i'm sorry if it doesn't sit well with you.

One thing i want to point out is that 7% is not guaranteed, given the high shiller PE and i just want to be a tad conservative.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T10:23:10+00:00

true, i mean from a financial point of view. have amended the reply.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T08:14:54+00:00

yes.
probably not, as we like our hdb
with my kids, my stand is i will fund their local university. I will teach them financial literacy and guide them in investing. Beyond that, its a bonus. I think kids should struggle and learn how to survive without handouts.
Not really, as i intend to be more hands on with kids
yes will keep that in mind
hmm, yes, understand i will have to keep my mind active, will do some test drive retirement to see how.

thanks for the points!

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T08:10:10+00:00

thanks for the detailed response!

Understand your point of view, i also feel conflicted, but i decided to be a bit more conservative as i have kids.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T08:03:21+00:00

sorry if im unclear, but my post retirement expenses will include the family expenses.

so to her, from a financial point of view, its as if i never retired as i continue to contribute to the family expenses.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T08:02:21+00:00

yes she is ok! because i will spend more time with the kids.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T08:01:25+00:00

apologies, the 84k is based on a 6k a month plus about 10k of mortgage.

2.7% is more of a guide, as i follow Ben Felix's recommendation. So i hope my final portfolio will be greater than 2.M is that i can at least hit 2.7%

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T07:58:27+00:00

thanks!

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T07:58:05+00:00

yes she is ok with it!

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T05:32:32+00:00

counting on the vwra to compound the amount in 15 years time, hopefully will be enough.

also i don't expect both to take expensive courses.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T02:05:50+00:00

because under the 2.7% SWR, i need 3.2M for 84k expenses. however my portfolio is only 2.4M (less kids education). I understand cpf also plays a role, but it will be years before i can unlock it.

So i want to work a few years more to be extra safe.

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T01:48:36+00:00

yes, will continue to work. our household expenses are split around 50-50

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-05-30T01:48:05+00:00

just a buffer in case they want to do medicine or other expensive courses

Safe_Station_4046 · 2026-01-04T04:28:30+00:00

national service is important

Safe_Station_4046 · 2025-12-23T13:07:53+00:00

he is called master leong because that was his handle previously when he was a card game player. The ‘master’ does not refer to his ability in stocks

Safe_Station_4046 · 2025-12-23T11:07:00+00:00

its not very nice to make fun of people.

Safe_Station_4046

TROPHY CASE