CPF is not a retirement plan, it's a forced savings plan that is actually an asset depletion scheme. It's a major taxation which sinkies don't know about. When they take your CPF and pay you 4.5% but then invests it and makes 10%, the 5,5% difference is a tax. This is an ongoing monthly tax. The big capital one time tax is HDB. Where they build the flat for $100K or less and sell to you for $600K. The $500K is one time upfront capital tax.