Lifetime Boost (Great Eastern Life): A Participating Endowment With Yearly Payouts

Lifetime Boost is a regular-premium participating endowment from Great Eastern Life (rated AA- by Standard & Poor's). You commit to a limited premium payment term of five years, and the policy runs for a term of 100 years. From the end of the third policy year, it pays a yearly payout made up of a guaranteed survival benefit (3.80% of the standard annual premium for premiums below S$20,000, or 4.00% at S$20,000 and above) plus any non-guaranteed cash bonus declared. It also covers death and terminal illness, and offers a Universal Wealth Transfer Option to move ownership and life-assured status across generations. Because it is quoted by premium, the buyer chooses the annual outlay and the payout follows — there is no sum assured to normalise against.

How it compares

All figures below are at a common basis of $10,000 annual premium (CompareFIRST criteria bands; ages differ by product, as shown).

Against China Life Prosperous Retirement, Lifetime Boost shows a lower guaranteed year-20 surrender value ($50,050 vs $51,976) but a higher 5-year net return (2.47% vs 2.36%) and a much lower 5-year TER (1.50% vs 3.31%). Against TM KidStart (II), Lifetime Boost's 5-year net return is higher (2.47% vs 1.64%) and its 10-year return slightly higher (4.33% vs 4.16%), but its TER is markedly higher (1.50% vs 0.58%). Manulife Spring (II) has a higher TER (1.83%) than Lifetime Boost but no return or surrender figures were provided for comparison.

On the savings side, at a $10,000 annual premium the illustrated maturity value is $50,450 guaranteed, up to $55,662 projected, with a projected yield to maturity of 1.96%–2.90% p.a. Illustrated surrender values are $50,000 (yr10), $50,050 (yr20) and $50,100 (yr30), rising to $50,005 / $50,300 / $50,850 on a projected basis. The par-fund net investment return was 6.47% / 2.47% / 4.33% over 3/5/10 years, with a TER of 1.28% / 1.50% / 1.55%. Distribution cost is $2,065 at this premium. On protection, the death benefit is 101% of total standard annual premiums paid plus bonuses — modest relative to the savings emphasis.

Pros

• Guaranteed yearly survival benefit from year 3, plus potential cash bonuses.
• Limited five-year premium term.
• Death and terminal illness cover included.
• Universal Wealth Transfer Option for legacy planning.
• Lower 5-year TER than China Life Prosperous Retirement and Manulife Spring (II).

Cons

• Guaranteed surrender values grow only marginally across years 10–30.
• Projected yield (1.96%–2.90%) is modest and partly non-guaranteed.
• Higher TER than TM KidStart (II).
• Death benefit (101% of premiums plus bonuses) is low as protection.
• No underwriting-free entry, and SRS/CPFIS payment not allowed.

Who it may suit

Savers who want a limited-premium plan with steady yearly payouts and a legacy-transfer feature, and who already hold adequate protection elsewhere. Those prioritising pure protection or lower-cost accumulation may find the trade-offs less attractive.

This is general information based on CompareFIRST.sg data, not financial advice. Premiums and features can change; please verify with the insurer or a MAS-licensed financial adviser before making any decision.