As an expat in Singapore, your financial life is more global, more complex, and frankly, more full of blind spots, than you realise. The end of the year is the perfect time to take stock, optimise taxes, review investments, and tighten up the loose ends most people ignore until it’s too late.

Here are the key year-end money moves every expat should make before 31 December.


1. Maximise Your SRS Contribution Before the Deadline

The Supplementary Retirement Scheme is one of Singapore’s most underrated tax planning tools.

Why it matters:
• Contributions made before 31 December count towards this year’s tax relief.
• High-income earners gain the biggest advantage.
• It’s one of the few tax optimisation tools available for non-PR, non-citizen expats.

To review now:
How much have you contributed this year?
Should you top up further to reduce your taxable income?
Is your SRS money invested, or sitting idle in cash?


2. Audit Your Investment Portfolio

Year end is the perfect time to tighten your portfolio:
• Rebalance after market volatility
• Consider adding to your investments
• Reallocate based on new income, currencies or life changes
• Check if your risk profile has shifted

Most expats don’t rebalance, they simply “add and forget”. That’s where returns quietly slip away.

3. Review Global Assets and Cross-Border Exposure

Your life isn’t contained in one country, your money shouldn’t be either.

Year end is the time to review:
• UK pensions
• UK property or AU property
• Offshore accounts
• Existing insurance policies
• FX exposure between SGD, GBP, USD and EUR
• Future moves or repatriation plans

A global review helps ensure nothing clashes; tax, currency, retirement timelines, and liquidity all need to be aligned.



4. Clean Up FX Leakage

If you send money home frequently, year end is a good moment to:
• Compare FX providers
• Reduce unnecessary transfers
• Consolidate currencies
• Align assets with future goals (e.g., don’t hoard GBP unless you need GBP)

Many expats lose thousands a year in poor FX decisions without realising it.

5. Review Your Insurance and Health Cover

Especially critical if you changed jobs or incomes this year.

Do you still have adequate hospitalisation cover?
Is your coverage tied to an employer who could cut it suddenly?
Are your personal policies still fit for purpose?

6. Run a Lifestyle & Spending Review

Not glamorous… but a massively effective wealth-builder.
• Cut dead subscriptions
• Review spending categories
• Map expected 2026 major expenses
• Set realistic savings goals


7. Book a Professional Year-End Review

This is the ideal time to speak with a financial planner – especially one who understands cross-border planning and expat complexities.



The end of the year is when small tweaks make the biggest difference. These are the money moves that ensure you’re not just earning well…you’re building something meaningful.