Most people estimate their retirement needs based on their current expenses — then stop there. But retirement isn’t just ‘less income, same life.’ Healthcare costs rise with age, inflation quietly erodes your savings over 20-30 years, and CPF alone (even at full sums) rarely covers the lifestyle most people picture for themselves.

The real question isn’t ‘how much have I saved’ — it’s ‘how long will it last, and what happens if I live longer than I planned for.’ That’s the gap a proper retirement plan is built to close, and it’s the one most people never actually calculate until it’s too late to adjust.