The SRS is part of the Singapore government's multi-pronged strategy to address the financial needs of a greying population, which were highlighted in the Report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the Ageing Population, released in November 1999.

The SRS complements the Central Provident Fund (CPF). CPF savings are meant to provide for housing and medical needs and for basic living needs after retirement. Unlike the CPF scheme, participation in SRS is voluntary. Participants can contribute a varying amount to SRS (subject to a cap) at their own discretion. The contributions may be used to purchase various investment instruments.

With the SRS, the government hopes to encourage Singaporeans to save more for their old age, by means of voluntary contributions to their SRS accounts. The SRS will be effective from 1st April 2001. It will be operated by the private sector.

The SRS offers attractive tax benefits. Contributions to SRS are eligible for tax relief, investment returns are accumulated tax-free (with the exception of Singapore dividends), and only 50% of the withdrawals from SRS are taxable at retirement.

Source: Ministry of Finance

If you would like to find out more about SRS Scheme you can log on to the Ministry of Finance Website http://www.mof.gov.sg/ or contact any of the 3 SRS operators.

SRS Accounts are managed by three SRS operators. You can open an SRS account with one of these 3 SRS operators:

• DBS Group Holdings Ltd
• Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) Ltd
• United Overseas Bank (UOB) Ltd

Please note that you can only have one SRS account at any point in time.

All Singaporeans, Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs) and foreigners who

• are at least 18 years old;
• are not undischarged bankrupts; and
• are not of unsound mind

is eligible to open an SRS account.

An SRS account can only be opened with one of the three local banks. After your SRS account with one of the three SRS operators has been successfully opened, you can update your SRS account details in your FSM Global account and start transacting in SRS-approved funds.

After you have opened your SRS account, you need to update your FSM Global investment account by adding the following details:

• Name of your SRS operator, and
• Your SRS account number.

You may update your SRS account details at Account Settings > Link SRS Account
After such details are updated, the option for SRS payment method will be available when you place a buy order into a fund which is included under SRS investment scheme.

We have a wide range of funds available for purchase under the SRS, CPF-OA, CPF-SA scheme. Please refer to our website and go to Funds > Fund Selector > Payment method to filter out the list of eligible funds.

All sell/redemption proceeds must be returned to the SRS account; the proceeds will be credited into your SRS account directly.