The NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex is discontinued as is now the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex Pro.
NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex is a participating private annuity plan that allows you to accumulate savings over a period of time and will provide you with a regular income in the future.
Here we have a comprehensive overview of the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex to help you choose the best savings plan. Let us get started.
My Review of the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex
The NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex is a versatile retirement planning policy designed to provide financial security and flexibility for individuals looking to secure their future income needs.
This policy allows you to tailor your retirement and income payout periods, offering a blend of guaranteed and potential non-guaranteed returns.
Here are some pros & cons of the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex:
Pros
1. Flexible Premium Payment Options: The NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex offers a wide range of premium payment terms, from a single lump-sum payment to regular payments spread over 5 to 40 years. This flexibility allows you to choose a payment schedule that best fits your financial situation and goals.
2. Customisable Retirement and Payout Periods: You can select your preferred retirement age and decide on the duration of your income payout period, providing control over when and how you receive your retirement funds. This feature is particularly beneficial for planning long-term financial stability.
3. Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) Compatibility: The option to pay premiums using the SRS adds a tax-efficient way to save for retirement, making the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex an attractive option for maximising your SRS funds.
4. Appointment of Secondary Insured: This feature allows for the continuation of the policy beyond your lifetime, ensuring that the benefits can be passed on to your spouse or child. This adds an element of legacy planning to your retirement savings.
5. Good Performing Participating Funds: NTUC Income’s participating funds have the second-best performance when compared to other insurers. This gives you peace of mind, knowing that your savings are well-managed and that you’ll have a growing nest egg for when you retire.
Cons
1. Long-Term Commitment Required: As with most retirement plans, the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex requires a long-term commitment, especially for those opting for longer premium payment terms. This may not be suitable for individuals looking for short-term investment opportunities or those uncertain about their long-term financial capacity.
2. Complexity in Understanding Policy Features: The wide range of options and features, while beneficial, can also make the policy complex to understand. You need to carefully consider your options to ensure you are making informed decisions that align with your retirement goals.
The NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex offers a comprehensive and flexible solution for retirement planning, with features designed to provide financial security and peace of mind.
However, its suitability depends on individual financial goals, risk tolerance, and the ability to commit to long-term financial planning.
Nevertheless, the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex was rated as one of the best retirement plans in Singapore in our previous renditions of the post.
Fortunately, the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex Pro (newer version) is also considered one of the best retirement plans, winning 3 categories.
So, if you’re looking for a new retirement plan, read our review of the Gro Retire Flex Pro.
But if you’ve already purchased this policy and are looking for a second opinion on whether you should keep it or are looking for ways to optimise your spending on insurance policies, we partner with unbiased financial advisors who can help you with this.
Criteria
Because NTUC Income’s Gro Retire Flex is a policy that helps you plan for your retirement, you can choose the retirement period, income payout period, and guaranteed monthly income period.
Whereas the minimum entry age starts from 20 years old for policyholders, the maximum entry age is 70 years.
You can also choose regular premiums and if you have the ability, you can opt for a one-time single premium payment.
The table below illustrates the premium term as a single lump-sum payment or regular payment.
| Premium Payment Term | Minimum Entry Age (Last Birthday) | Maximum Entry Age (Last Birthday) |
| Single Premium | 20 | 70 |
| 5 years | 65 | |
| 10 years | 55 | |
| 15 years | 50 | |
| 20 years | 45 | |
| 25 years | 40 | |
| 30 years | 35 | |
| 35 years | 30 | |
| 40 years | 25 |
Features
Premium Payment Options
Other than paying your monthly premiums in cash, you can also choose to pay with the Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) in the case of a single premium.
You must pay the premiums up to 5 years before the end of the accumulation period.
For regular premiums, you have the option of paying monthly, quarterly, biannual, or yearly.
The regular payment terms are set at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years – whichever is a better option for you.
Payout Options
With NTUC Income’s Gro Retire Flex, you can choose between the below payout options based on your premium payment option.
| Premium payment options | Accumulation period | Payout |
| Single premium | 5 to 50 years | 10, 20 years, or up to 100 years old. |
| Regular premiums | 10 to 50 years |
Once you reach your preferred retirement age, you will receive your payouts on a monthly basis. Any amounts you owe the policy will be deducted first, before the payouts begin.
However, there are some things you need to keep in mind;.
- If the policy is still in force when the accumulation period expires, you may receive the cash benefit based on the cash value of the policy.
- If the cash value of the policy after deducting loans and interest is less than S$10,000, you are entitled to this benefit. After that, the policy will lapse.
- If the cash value is S$10,000 or more, the payout period begins and you will receive monthly cash benefits for up to 100 years, depending on the payout period you choose.
- If you change the ongoing premium or payout period, the policy will adjust the new monthly cash benefit.
- The first monthly cash benefit will be paid at the end of the accumulation period on the anniversary date of the policy. Once the cash benefit begins to be paid, you cannot change the payout period.
- If the policy is still in effect, it will end after the payout is complete.
Premium Allocation
Notably, your monthly premiums are net of other expenses such as fees or charges meaning 100% of the premium are used in purchasing participating fund units.
Appointment Of The Secondary Insured
The NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex lets you appoint a secondary insured, as long as you meet the following requirements:
- You pay the premiums in cash
- You have not named a beneficiary on this policy
- The ownership of the policy has not changed due to bankruptcy, trust, or assignment
Here is a table to illustrate the secondary insured requirements
| Individual | Age requirements |
| Policyholder | Before 65 years |
| Your spouse | Before 65 years |
| Your child | Before 18 years |
Protection
NTUC Income’s Gro Retire Flex aims to provide you with a guaranteed income in retirement. The table below summarises at a glance the benefits and what you can expect from this policy.
| Cash & Cash Withdrawal Benefits | |
| Cash Value | Available |
| Cash Withdrawal Benefits | Available |
| Health and Insurance Coverage | |
| Death Benefits | Available |
| Total Permanent Disability | Available |
| Terminal Illness | Available |
| Critical Illness | Not Available |
| Health & Insurance Coverage Multiplier | Not Available |
| Death/Total Permanent Disability/Terminal Illness/Critical Illness/Early Critical Illness | Not Available |
| Optional Riders | |
| Cancer Premium Waiver (GIO) | Available |
| Dread Disease Premium Waiver | Available |
| Enhanced Payor Premium Waiver | Available |
| Other Benefits | |
| Retrenchment Benefits | Available |
| Loans | Available |
| Non-guaranteed bonuses | Available |
Terminal Illness and Death Benefit
If you happen to contract a terminal illness or die during the accumulation or payout period, your family is entitled to a Terminal Illness and Death Benefit. Here is a breakdown of the benefit.
| Period | Benefit |
| If terminal illness or death occurs during the accumulation period | The benefit shall be 105% of the net premiums paid plus a 100% terminal bonus |
| If terminal illness or death occurs during the payout period | The benefit is 105% of the net premiums paid plus 100% of the final bonus less cash premiums paid and monthly cash benefits. However, this does not include the cash benefit paid under the Disability Care Benefit. |
You will also receive cumulative cash bonuses and cash benefits. In addition, any policy loan, including interest, will be deducted from the final amount. Once paid, the policy terminates and no further benefits are paid.
If there is a secondary insured person, that death benefit will not be paid. However, the policy continues as the secondary insured is now the insured.
Accidental Death Benefit
Another special feature of this policy is the Accidental Death Benefit. Here, the insured person receives up to 105% of net premiums paid if the accidental death occurs before the anniversary of the retirement policy and after attaining the age of 70.
Disability Care Benefit
The Disability Care Benefit is additional coverage that goes into effect when the following conditions are diagnosed due to an accident or illness;
- Impaired speech
- Loss of sight on one eye
- Impaired hearing
- Loss of the use of one hand or leg
The coverage depends on the illness diagnosed and applies to policies with regular premiums.
This benefit may be considered from 2 points of view, namely, the accumulation period and the payment phase.
If the disability occurs during the payout period, you will only receive the extra amount that is equivalent to the 50% monthly cash benefit.
Retrenchment Benefit
Every day people lose their jobs due to various factors.
The NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex offers you a severance payment if you lose your job and cannot find a new one for 3 months afterwards.
During this period, your premiums will be waived for 6 months and you will continue to enjoy the same level of cover.
If your unemployment lasts longer than 5 months, you can opt for a 6-month deferral of your premiums. Note that this benefit only applies to regular premiums.
Loan Benefit
You can take up a loan facility during the accumulation period. You will be notified of the term and interest rate before you take out the loan. Notably, it is not possible to take out a loan during the payout period.
Bonuses
When you buy the policy, it becomes a part of the Life Participating Fund. Because of this, you will receive a share of any gains or losses from the funds. There are 2 bonus options available under this policy.
These include:
- Final bonus which is paid during the accumulation and payout period when you submit a claim or cash in the policy.
- The monthly bonus is paid during the payout period along with the monthly cash benefit.
Bonuses are not guaranteed payments and will only be paid upon approval by the Board.
Optional Riders
With the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex, you can increase your protection by choosing the optional riders.
Cancer Premium Waiver (GIO)
One of the key riders of NTUC Income’s Gro Retire Flex is the Cancer Premium Waiver or GIO, where your future premiums are waived in the event of a major cancer diagnosis during the term of the rider.
Enhanced Payor Premium Waiver
The Enhanced Payor Premium Waiver is applicable when the insured person is not the policyholder.
Under this rider, you will be exempt from future payments on your dependent’s policy in the event of death, total or permanent disability before age 70, or diagnosis of a dread disease.
However, this excludes angioplasty and invasive coronary artery treatments.
Dread Disease Premium Waiver
The Dread Disease Premium Waiver exempts you from paying future premiums in the event of a diagnosis of a dread disease, except for angioplasty and invasive coronary artery treatments.
Illustrations
Below is an example to help you understand the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex policy.
Suppose John chooses the Gro Retire Flex plan and opts for a monthly cash benefit of S$1,000 for a maximum period of 20 years. The benefit starts at a retirement age of 55. In this case, the annual premium is S$17,487 for 10 years.
Thus, the total premium paid over the ten years is S$170,487.
Scenario 1
John retires at age 55 and receives monthly cash payments of S$2,411, comprising a guaranteed cash benefit of S$1,000 plus a non-guaranteed cash bonus of S$1,411, assuming the participating fund earns 4.25% per annum.
At age 75, the policy matures and Mr. John will receive a cumulative payout of S$578,712 over the life of the policy. Of this total amount, S$240,000 is the total cash benefit and S$338,712 is the total non-guaranteed cash bonus.
Scenario 2
In the second scenario, suppose that John is involved in an accident after paying premiums for 8 years and loses his right arm. In this case, he is entitled to Disability Benefit and the next 2 years of premiums are waived. In this case, he will receive a lump sum of S$6,000.
Just as in the first scenario, John retires at age 55 and receives monthly cash payments of S$2,411, comprising a cash benefit plus a non-guaranteed cash bonus of S$1,411. In addition, Mr. Job will receive S$500 each month as part of the Disability Care Benefit.
At age 75, the policy matures and the total payout amount is S$704,712 over the whole policy.
Here is a breakdown of the payouts.
| Benefit | Total Payout |
| Cash benefit | S$240,000 |
| Non-guaranteed bonus | S$338,712 |
| Disability Care Benefit | S$6,000 |
| Additional Disability Care Benefit | $120,000 |
| Total | S$704,712 |
Premium calculations for 10 years
| Total premiums paid for 8 years | S$139,896 |
| Total waived amount for two years | S$34,974 |
Therefore, the total benefit received is $704,712 while the premiums paid by John is $139,896.
Take note that this number will differ for everyone based on your premium amount and the circumstances you face.
The non-guaranteed bonus is also, well, non-guaranteed. So you might want to consider removing that from the equation for a more conservative calculation.
Surrendering the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex
You can cash out part or all of your policy before it ends. If you cash it completely, the policy ends.
For single premium policies, you cannot cash in until you have paid the entire net premiums.
When it comes to regular premiums, you can cash in the policy after you have paid the premiums regularly for 2 years.
If you have not received disability benefits during the accumulation period, you can partially cash in the policy and retain the benefits that you didn’t cash in.
Key Highlights of the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex
Some of the key highlights of the NTUC Income Gro Retire Flex include;
- It’s a flexible policy where you can select your premium terms as a single premium or 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40.
- Death & Terminal Illness Benefit and Accidental Death Benefit of 105%, 100%, and 105% respectively.
- You can choose your payout term as 10 and 20 years, or up to when you become 100 years old.
- It has the highest yield
- It offers flexible retirement age
- Has an attractive Disability Benefit.
- Retrenchment Benefit
- Offers Guaranteed Acceptance for the main policy
- Single premium payment
- Cash benefits
- Payment by SRS
- Secondary life assured
