This rising wealth ambition is matched by an accelerated timeline: where retirement in the 50s was the norm just a year ago, today’s benchmark has moved into the 40s. Gen Z is pushing boundaries even further, envisioning financial freedom in their 30s, or in some cases, their 20s.
Financial independence is taking on a new meaning as Singapore residents raise both their wealth ambitions and their timelines, according to a joint study by CIMB Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.
According to the second edition of the “Attitudes and Beliefs towards Financial Independence Report”, independence is now increasingly quantified, with 56.3% aspiring to accumulate over $1 million, up from 52.3% in 2025, with 35.8% identifying $1-2.5 million as the “sweet spot” for financial independence.
