retirement investment: Best 17 ILPs from FA Channel

Let’s explore how Investment-Linked Policies (ILPs) can empower future Singaporean retirees to achieve their dream golden years as a key component of their retirement investment strategy.

Understanding ILPs: The Basics for Your retirement investment

So, what exactly is an ILP? In simple terms, an Investment-Linked Policy is a product that handily combines life insurance with investment opportunities, offering you both financial protection and the potential for your money to grow. Understanding how these versatile plans can be tailored to your specific retirement goals is key, so let’s explore the different types available.

Tailoring ILPs for Your Specific retirement investment Needs

With ILPs offering so much variety, your success hinges on picking the one perfectly aligned with your specific retirement investment goals.

ILP Feature Quick View

To give you a quick overview of how ILPs can align with common retirement goals, here’s a summary table. We’ll explore these features in detail next: (scroll to see the full table)

With that summary in mind, let’s explore these categories in more detail, starting with how specific ILPs can help you build a steady stream of retirement income.

A. Built for Immediate Dividend Income

Most Investment-Linked Policies (ILPs) today are structured to pay out dividends the following month. However, these often come with significant costs. For instance, if your fund’s value drops, the cost of insurance increases, meaning that receiving dividends instead of reinvesting them may not be the most effective reason to invest in an ILP. That said, using an ILP as a dividend-paying tool can be a strategic way to pass on wealth to the next generation while also monetizing your hard-earned savings. Here are some notable ones

1. Manulife InvestReady (III)

For instance, Manulife Invest Ready III is Ideal and the pioneer of ILP for customers who value control over their dividends and the flexibility to withdraw any accumulated, reinvested dividends from dividend-paying funds at any time without incurring charges. Enjoy up to 45% additional welcome bonus units in the first policy year.

2. Income Invest Flex Vantage

Enjoy potential income from the 1st policy year with dividend-paying funds, plus investment perks like up to 105% of premiums allocated to units and a 55% first-year bonus. Benefit from charge-free withdrawals during key life events, up to 120 months of premium holiday flexibility, and a 0.5% annual loyalty bonus starting from year 10 or the end of your minimum investment period.

3. Etiqa Invest SP

This plan offers a range of benefits to grow and protect your wealth, including power-up bonuses every 3 years of up to 1.20%, no cost of insurance for the basic plan, and no health check-up required to start. You’ll have access to exclusive, professionally managed funds from as low as S$10,000, the flexibility to change the life insured, and free fund switching at any time. Additionally, enjoy death coverage of the higher of 101% of net premiums or your account value, with no charges for switching funds or taking action on key policy features.

4. Tokio Marine #goElite

#goElite and #goElite Secure offer protection against market downturns with a high watermark locked-in policy value, along with death and accidental death benefits, dividend-paying potential, and flexible options like multi-currency choices, top-ups, and changes to the life assured. With the ability to enrol up to four life assureds, pay using cash or SRS, and apply with no medical underwriting, this plan provides both security and convenience.

5. HSBC Life Wealth Invest

Invest using cash, SRS, CPF-OA, or CPF-SA monies and choose from a broad selection of professionally managed funds aligned to your risk profile, with nearly 60 options available for cash/SRS investors. Enjoy flexibility with free fund switches, withdrawals, top-ups, and recurring premiums plus hassle-free application with no medical exams and lifetime coverage for death or terminal illness.

B. Prioritising Wealth Accumulation Purpose for Your Financial Needs

Perhaps your main retirement investment strategy is to grow a substantial nest egg over the long term. If so, certain ILPs are geared towards maximising your investment returns.

1. Manulife Smart Retire V

This plan provides death protection and waiver of premium benefits for Total and Permanent Disability, with a welcome bonus and annual loyalty bonuses to boost your investment during accumulation and retirement. Enjoy flexible withdrawals of reinvested dividends, protection that increases to meet your total target retirement goal, and a refund of cost of insurance charges if protection benefits aren’t used, all supported by a variety of flexible payment options.

2. Income Invest Flex & Invest Flex Trivantage

Invest Flex Vantage and Invest Flex TriVantage are flexible investment-linked plans designed to help you grow your wealth with features like up to 105% of regular premiums allocated to units, charge-free partial withdrawals during specified life events, and premium holidays. Invest Flex Vantage allows investment from as low as S$200 per month and offers an investment bonus of up to 55% in the first policy year, while Invest Flex TriVantage targets long-term investors with a minimum 10-year investment period and a 15% first-year investment bonus. Both plans provide death and terminal illness coverage, a 0.5% annual loyalty bonus starting from the 10th policy anniversary, and require no medical check-up for application, making them convenient options for growing and protecting your wealth.

3. Etiqa Invest flex pro & Etiqa Invest Builder

Etiqa’s Investment-Linked Plan (ILP) helps you grow your wealth through a range of professionally managed funds with flexible premium terms and multiple bonus opportunities. It offers the convenience of no medical underwriting, free fund switching, and options for premium holidays or partial withdrawals during life events. With built-in protection benefits including death coverage, the plan aims to provide both investment growth and financial security tailored to your needs.

4. Singlife Savvy Invest II

Singlife Savvy Invest II is a whole life investment-linked plan that combines wealth growth through up to 105% of premiums invested in a variety of funds including dividend-paying options with protection against death and terminal illness. It offers bonuses, penalty-free withdrawals at key life milestones, flexible top-ups, and legacy planning features, all designed to help you invest confidently while securing your family’s future.

5. Tokio Marine ILPs (TM Wealth Pro and Wealth@Future)

Tokio Marine’s Wealth Pro and Wealth@Future are whole life investment-linked plans offering flexible investment in curated funds with optional protection riders. Wealth Pro focuses on medium to long-term wealth accumulation with multiple bonuses and added protection features, while Wealth@Future targets long-term investors seeking growth with minimal insurance coverage and lower policy charges after the minimum investment period.

6. FWD Invest Flexi Elite & Invest First summit

FWD Invest Flexi Elite and Invest First Summit are regular premium investment-linked plans offering flexible access to curated funds, premium holidays, and partial withdrawals during specified life events, with attractive bonuses to grow your investment. The key difference is that Invest Flexi Elite features a shorter premium commitment of 3 to 5 years with zero policy charges after year 10, while Invest First Summit offers longer premium terms of 5 to 25 years with capped charges throughout the policy term.

7. HSBC Life ILPs (Wealth Voyage, Wealth Life Abundance)

HSBC Life Wealth Voyage and Wealth Abundance are regular premium investment-linked plans (ILPs) that offer flexible investment options, access to a wide range of world-class funds, and various bonuses to enhance wealth accumulation. Wealth Voyage caters to investors seeking long-term growth with a minimum investment period (MIP) of 15 to 25 years, providing higher start-up and loyalty bonuses, as well as complimentary coverage against death and terminal illness up to age 99. In contrast, Wealth Abundance is designed for those preferring a shorter MIP of 10 years, offering a lower account maintenance fee and the flexibility to make two free partial withdrawals during the MIP, along with the option for premium holidays from the 37th month onwards

c. Accredited Investor Funds

Accredited Investor Funds are investment funds that are typically available only to high-net-worth individuals or institutional investors who meet certain financial criteria (like minimum income or net worth). These funds often invest in exclusive or alternative assets such as private equity, hedge funds, real estate, or venture capital, which are not accessible to the general public.

Access through ILPs: Most of the listed Investment-Linked Policies in our selection offer sub-funds that include accredited investor funds or feeder funds, allowing clients to invest in these exclusive opportunities through their insurance policies without directly meeting the accredited investor criteria themselves.

Benefits of accessing through ILPs vs. direct investment:

• Through ILPs:
  • Easier access to accredited funds without needing to meet accreditation requirements individually.
  • Added insurance protection and tax benefits that come with ILPs.
  • Professional fund management bundled with life coverage.
  • Potentially smaller minimum investment amounts compared to direct investment.
  • Flexibility with premium payments, withdrawals, and switching between funds.
• Direct Investment:
  • Often lower fees and no insurance-related costs.
  • More direct control over the investment decisions.
  • Access to a wider range of accredited funds beyond what ILPs may offer.
  • Typically requires higher minimum investments and accreditation status.

INSURER Eligible to invest into Accredited Investor Funds

Singlife, Etiqa, FWD, Income, Tokio Marine and HSBC Life ILP allows investor to access Accredited Investor Funds

D. Invest Using SRS

Do you know you can get access to AI Funds via SRS too? Yes! You can invest into ILP, here are some ILP that you can invest using your SRS

1. TM #goElite

TM GoElite allows clients to invest using their Supplementary Retirement Scheme funds, which is beneficial for two main reasons:

1. Tax Benefits: Contributions to SRS are eligible for tax relief, helping clients reduce their taxable income in the year of contribution.
2. Retirement Planning: Using SRS to invest in GoElite allows clients to grow their retirement savings through professionally managed funds, while still enjoying insurance protection.

GoElite Secure adds value by offering a “Locked-in High Watermark” feature, which helps preserve wealth by securing the highest account value achieved (subject to terms), even during market downturns. This ensures peace of mind and greater retirement stability, especially for conservative investors who want downside protection without giving up growth potential.

2. HSBC Life Wealth Invest

HSBC Life Wealth Invest provides flexible payment options, explicitly including the use of cash, SRS, or CPF funds for investment.

Using these national schemes can offer tax advantages and consolidate your retirement planning effectively.

E. ILP with High Flexibility

While your main goal may be to fund your own retirement, some ILPs also offer valuable features such as flexible top-ups, premium holidays without additional charges (subject to terms and conditions), and the ability to tailor the plan according to your evolving financial goals

1. Manulife InvestReady III

Offers flexible top-ups and premium holidays, with premium terms of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 years or up to age 99, allowing customization based on financial goals.

2. Income Invest Flex Vantage

Allows premium holidays, top-ups, and withdrawals, with premium terms of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years, giving long-term planning flexibility.

3. Income Invest Tri Vantage

Offers recurring single premiums, top-ups, and partial withdrawals, with premium terms of 5, 10, or 15 years to suit short- to medium-term horizons.

4. Etiqa Invest Builder

Supports top-ups, recurring premiums, and flexible premium payment with premium terms of 3, 5 10 or 20 years, starting from as low as S$200/month.

5. Etiqa Invest SP

A single premium ILP plan with optional top-ups and no fixed term, ideal for lump sum investors seeking fund access and flexibility.

6. Singlife Savvy Invest II

Provides flexible premium holidays, ad-hoc top-ups, and partial withdrawals, with premium terms of 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 years.

7. Tokio Marine GoElite

Offers flexible top-ups, premium holidays, and currency changes, Single Premium and allow partial withdrawal of investment on up to 90% without any penalty at any time from day 1.

8. FWD Invest Flexi Elite

Allows recurring top-ups and short premium commitment of 3 or 5 years, with policy charges waived after 10 years for long-term efficiency.

9. HSBC Life Wealth Invest

Offers top-ups and flexible withdrawals with no charges from any point of time, from day 1

No Cost of Insurance with Capital Protection Upon Death

An ILP with no Cost of Insurance (COI) but provides capital protection upon death is beneficial because it allows the client’s full premium to be invested for maximum growth potential, without ongoing deductions for insurance charges, while still ensuring that their loved ones receive at least the original capital if they pass away. This offers a balance of wealth accumulation and basic protection, making it ideal for clients focused on long-term investment with peace of min

Here’s a summary of the ILPs you listed that do not incur Cost of Insurance (COI) yet offer principal guarantee upon death:

1. HSBC Life Wealth Voyage – Charges no COI and ensures beneficiaries receive the higher of 105% of net premiums or account value in the event of death.
2. Etiqa Invest SP – A single premium ILP with no COI and provides a guaranteed death benefit of at least 101% of net premiums or the account value, whichever is higher.
3. HSBC Life Wealth Invest – Offers no COI with 105% of net premiums or account value paid upon death, giving peace of mind without eroding investment value.
4. HSBC Life Wealth Abundance – Also has no COI and provides a death benefit equal to the higher of 105% of net premiums or account value.

Have ILP Questions for Your Retirement?

Ask via contact form or Singpass. It’s 100% free & no obligation!