Retirement planning blog and knowledge base
Educational articles on retirement planning, MPF, annuities, retirement healthcare and later-life legacy, written answer-first.
The three planning documents
Hong Kong's 'three treasures' usually mean a will, an enduring power of attorney and an advance medical directive. This explains each one's purpose, differences and requirements so you can plan early for yourself and your family.
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JoyYou Card $2 fare concession
The JoyYou Card is a personalised Octopus that gives Hong Kong residents aged 60+ the $2 public-transport fare concession. This covers 2026 eligibility, how to apply, the new '$2-or-20%' arrangement, and how it differs from the Senior Citizen Card.
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Peace of mind in retirement
Many assume retirement security comes from saving harder, yet feel more anxious the more they scrimp. Real security comes from sustainable cash flow and a complete plan — not a single lump-sum number.
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Elderly CSSA
CSSA is the government's safety net for elderly people in financial need, with a strict means test. This article covers the 2026 amount, eligibility, and how CSSA differs from the OALA and fruit money.
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Old Age Allowance
The Old Age Allowance (‘fruit money’) is a monthly allowance for Hong Kong residents aged 70+, with no means test. This article covers the 2026 amount, eligibility and how it differs from the OALA.
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FIRE in Hong Kong
In a retirement context, ‘lying flat’ is close to FIRE — Financial Independence, Retire Early: passive income covering your living costs so you no longer depend on employment. Here is how it works and how to start in Hong Kong.
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Cost of a comfortable retirement
A ‘comfortable’ retirement in Hong Kong costs well above basic. Per the HSBC Retirement Monitor, a comfortable lifestyle for a retired couple is about HK$30,740 a month. Here is what comfortable means and how to reach it.
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Participating insurance non-guaranteed returns
Participating insurance returns split into guaranteed and non-guaranteed parts, and the non-guaranteed part is not certain to materialise. A clear look at projected returns, the fulfilment ratio, and factors to weigh.
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DIY annuity / pension
A DIY annuity (self-made pension) means using annuities, savings and investments to design your own stable monthly retirement income for life. Here is the thinking, the tools and the cautions.
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