The 10-Year Rule: Why Every Professional Should Plan Life in Decades, Not Years

One thing I’ve realised after years of speaking with working professionals, business owners, and families in Singapore is this:

We plan our careers in decades… but we plan our money in months.

Salary, promotions, children’s milestones, retirement — all of these follow long cycles. Yet most financial decisions are made yearly, or sometimes even weekly.

This mismatch creates stress, uncertainty, and a constant feeling of “not doing enough.”

That’s why I often introduce clients to something simple but transformative:

The 10-Year Rule — a mindset shift that helps you design life with more clarity and less pressure.

Why 1-Year Planning Isn’t Enough Anymore

Singapore moves fast. In one year, so much can change:

• a new job

• new market environment

• new medical responsibilities

• new CPF or retirement policies

When planning is too short-term, people end up:

• rearranging money without direction

• reacting to life instead of designing it

• making decisions based on emotion

• juggling commitments without a big-picture map

1-year planning gives control. 10-year planning gives purpose.

Life Is Built in 10-Year Blocks — Whether You Plan It or Not

Think about your last decade:

2014 → 2024 A lot changed, right?

Careers often shift significantly every 7–10 years. Children grow through major stages every 8–10 years. Property cycles run about 8–10 years. Health patterns become clearer every 10 years. Retirement readiness is shaped by what we do (or don’t do) across each decade.

In other words:

Life naturally moves in 10-year cycles. But most people plan as if life is a 12-month subscription.

When we plan in decades, everything starts to make sense.

The 10-Year Rule Brings 3 Forms of Clarity

Clarity 1 — What actually matters

Some goals feel urgent… until you zoom out. Some goals feel far away… until you realise the runway is short.

Clarity 2 — The right pace

Not everything needs to be solved this year. But some things cannot wait another five.

Clarity 3 — The right structure

When you know your 10-year direction, your decisions around saving, investing, protecting, and spending become intentional — not emotional.

How to Use the 10-Year Rule?

Ask yourself these 3 questions:

• Years 1–3: Stability Window

What must I secure so life is stable no matter what happens? — income protection — emergency buffer — manageable commitments — basic liquidity

• Years 4–7: Growth Window

What should I build so future income and freedom increase? — strategic investments — career advancement — property planning — long-term compounding rhythm

• Years 8–10: Freedom Window

What do I want life to feel like at this stage? — early income streams — lower stress — flexible lifestyle options — retirement preparation — family or legacy goals

This is not about predicting every detail of life — that’s impossible. It’s about designing direction.

A Powerful Insight Before You Start Your Next 10-Year Plan

The “Freedom Window” becomes much easier when you already have an income engine that starts paying from the beginning, not only at retirement age.

Some people build this through diversified portfolios. Others prefer a capital-protected structure that starts distributing income from Month 1 while continuing to accumulate behind the scenes.

When your future income begins early — instead of 20–30 years later — the entire decade becomes clearer, calmer, and far more flexible.

If you're curious how this type of structure works, feel free to connect with me — I’m always happy to share more.

A Final Thought

Most people overestimate what they can achieve in one year… and underestimate what they can build in a decade.

You don’t need everything figured out today. You just need direction.

And when your next 10 years become clear, your decisions today suddenly carry more purpose, more peace, and more confidence.

If you’d like to design it in a way that feels secure, realistic, and empowering – I’m always here to support you.