🕊️ Financial Planning

The EPF (KWSP): contributions, accounts and how much you get

The EPF is a savings pot, not a lifelong pension. How the 11% and 12-13% contributions work, the three-account structure since 2024, the annual dividend, and why you withdraw at 55.

Emergency fund: how much do you need?

An emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses protects you from unexpected costs without expensive debt. The EIS Job Search Allowance helps if you are retrenched, but only partly. How to work out your figure and build it.

Financial independence: how to calculate your number

Financial independence means your investment returns cover your spending. How to use the 4% rule, how much your savings rate matters, and how to account for tax, inflation and the EPF in Malaysia.

How income tax and PCB work in Malaysia

The graduated resident tax bands from 0% to 30%, the monthly PCB deduction, and the EPF, SOCSO and EIS contributions — an overview of what comes out of your pay and the reliefs you can claim.

Stamp duty and buying a home in Malaysia

Stamp duty on the transfer, 0.5% on the loan agreement, the first-home exemption, legal fees, the EPF Akaun Sejahtera withdrawal and RPGT on selling. The real cost of buying a home, and how the pieces fit.

What happens if you lose your job in Malaysia

The Employment Insurance System pays a temporary Job Search Allowance if you are retrenched. What you get, what termination benefits you are owed, and why an emergency fund still matters.