Quick answer: HSBC Life leads with 3.90% p.a. guaranteed over three years, while Etiqa and AIA offer strong returns with lower minimums and extra flexibility. Income Insurance and AIA accept SRS funds, which matters if you are optimising for tax. Great Eastern and Singlife are your 2-year plays—convenient when you need the money back fast. Minimums start from S$5,000, and none require a medical exam.
A short-term endowment plan is one of the quiet ways money works harder while you get on with life. You put a lump sum down, let it sit for two or three years, and collect a guaranteed return at the end—no stock market drama, no watching screens. The seven plans below each bring something a little different to the table, so you can match one to how your own cash flows and what you want it to do next.
We put this list together ourselves – nobody paid to be on it. If you run something that belongs here, tell us about it.
Why a short-term endowment?
Think of it as a timed savings pocket. You are not locking money away for a decade. Two or three years is just enough to resist the urge to spend it, but near enough that you can already picture what the payout will cover—a renovation top-up, a sabbatical, the next car downpayment. The capital is guaranteed, and the small life cover (usually 101% to 110% of your premium) keeps things tidy for the people you care about.
If you are already hunting around for Finest Endowment Plans in Singapore or lining up your Premier Savings Accounts in Singapore for Affluent goals, a short-term plan can sit neatly in the middle—earning more than a fixed deposit while you decide on the bigger moves.
The Plans
Great Eastern
Great Eastern runs GREAT SP, a straightforward 2-year plan that gets your money back fast with a guaranteed 1.00% p.a.
The entry point is S$10,000 as a single premium, and there is no medical underwriting to slow things down. Your capital is guaranteed from the second year, and the plan layers on death and total permanent disability cover at 105% of what you put in. It is the shortest commitment on this list, so it suits someone who wants near-immediate liquidity without the cash just sitting idle in a current account.
One Pickering Street, #01-01 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659. Phone: 1800 248 2888. Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. greateasternlife.com
Etiqa
Etiqa’s Tiq 3-Year Endowment Plan brings one of the highest guaranteed rates here—up to 3.56% p.a.—and it does not ask a single health question. Guaranteed acceptance means no forms, no check-ups, no waiting. The minimum is a manageable S$5,000, death cover is 101%, and you can pick from a few policy options to tweak the shape of it. The whole journey lives in a digital app, which feels right for anyone who would rather tap through a screen than queue at a branch.
16 Raffles Quay, #01-04A Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581. Phone: +65 6336 0477. Monday to Friday, 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM. etiqa.com.sg
We put this list together ourselves – nobody paid to be on it. If you run something that belongs here, tell us about it.
HSBC Life
If you are chasing the highest headline rate, HSBC Life Online Endowment puts 3.90% p.a. guaranteed on the table over three years. Minimum entry is S$10,000, and you apply through SingPass—fast, paperless, done before your coffee cools. Death or terminal illness cover sits at 110% of your premium, which is a touch higher than most. Existing HSBC customers will find it slots into their banking dashboard naturally, but even if you bank elsewhere, the rate alone makes it worth a look.
10 Marina Boulevard, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Tower 2 #48-01, Singapore 018983. Phone: +65 6880 4888. Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. insurance.hsbc.com.sg
Income Insurance
Gro Capital Ease runs three years at 3.55% p.a. guaranteed, with a S$10,000 single premium. The real draw is that it is SRS-eligible—you can fund it with Supplementary Retirement Scheme money, which cuts your taxable income now while the plan grows. Death and TPD cover are at 105%. Everything is managed online, so it fits neatly into a year-end tax-planning conversation with yourself or your accountant.
75 Bras Basah Road, NTUC Income Centre, Singapore 189557. Phone: +65 6788 1777. Monday to Friday, 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM. income.com.sg
Manulife
Manulife Goal 2025 (III) gives you a choice: three years or four, with returns up to 1.80% p.a. The minimum is an accessible S$5,000, and nobody asks you to do a medical. Death benefit is 101%. If you want to dip your toes into an endowment without a big outlay, or you prefer a slightly longer runway that still feels short, this one keeps the door wide open. It is also a name that crops up regularly in consumer awards for endowment plans, which tells you people keep coming back.
8 Cross Street, #13-01, Manulife Tower, Singapore 048424. Phone: +65 6833 8188. Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. manulife.com.sg
For a different kind of treat, some of our readers pair a sensible savings move with something from Singapore’s Premier Korean Restaurants for Affluent Epicure—because reaching a savings goal deserves a good meal.
AIA
AIA Wealth Savvy comes in at 3.00% p.a. guaranteed over three years, with a S$5,000 minimum. Where it gets interesting is the bundled promotions that can push returns up to 4.25% p.a.—those are time-limited, so you would want to check what is running when you apply. It also throws in an extra 10% accidental death cover in the first year and accepts SRS funding, same as Income Insurance. If tax relief and a possible bonus rate sound like your kind of maths, this one rewards a closer read.
1 Finlayson Green, Singapore 049246. Phone: 1800 248 8000. Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. aia.com.sg
Singlife
Singlife Secure Saver VIII wraps up in just two years at 2.75% p.a. guaranteed, but it asks for a S$20,000 minimum—the highest entry on the list. Issuance is guaranteed, death cover is 105%, and you can fund it with SRS. This is the pick for someone sitting on a larger lump sum who wants it back quickly with a respectable return, no fuss. The whole experience lives on Singlife’s digital platform, clean and fast.
4 Shenton Way, #01-01 SGX Centre 2, Singapore 068807. Phone: +65 6827 9980. Monday to Friday, 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM. singlife.com
If you are also thinking about something tangible to mark a milestone, you might enjoy our look at Singapore’s Premier Bracelet Brands for Affluent Connoisseur—a different kind of asset, but just as personal.
How to choose
Start with your timeline. If you need the money back in two years, your choices narrow to Great Eastern and Singlife. Three years opens up the rest, and the rate jump between two-year and three-year plans is significant—enough to be the difference between a nice dinner and a short holiday.
Then look at the entry amount. S$5,000 gets you into Etiqa, Manulife, and AIA. S$10,000 unlocks Great Eastern, HSBC Life, and Income Insurance. Singlife sits at S$20,000. Pick a number that leaves your emergency fund untouched; these are not plans you can cash out early without losing some of the upside.
SRS eligibility matters if you contribute to your Supplementary Retirement Scheme. Funding a plan with SRS dollars reduces your chargeable income for the year—Income Insurance, AIA, and Singlife all allow it. If tax planning is part of your wealth routine, that feature alone can tip the scales. Even a S$10,000 SRS contribution can mean meaningful savings for someone in the 15% or 18% bracket.
Consider the death and terminal illness coverage if you want the plan to double as a small protection layer. HSBC Life and AIA both go to 110%, which is the highest on this list. For most people the difference between 101% and 110% on a S$10,000 premium is not life-changing, but it is still real money that lands in your beneficiaries’ hands without going through probate.
Finally, think about whether you want a fully digital journey or prefer walking into a branch. Etiqa, Singlife, and HSBC Life lean heavily digital. Great Eastern, Income Insurance, AIA, and Manulife give you both channels—useful if you like having someone to talk to when a question comes up. There is no right answer, just the one that makes you feel more in control of your money.
One practical tip: when a plan advertises a promotional rate like AIA’s up to 4.25% p.a., ask what the base rate is and what conditions attach to the bonus. Promotions usually run for a limited window or require a minimum premium size. The guaranteed base is what you can count on; anything above that is a welcome extra, not the number to anchor your decision on.
Also worth noting: none of these plans lock you into annual premium payments. They are all single-premium—you pay once and wait. That makes them easier to fit into a year where you have a bonus, a matured fixed deposit, or simply cash sitting in a low-interest account that you know you will not need for a while.
If you are weighing up which interest rate really matters, look at the guaranteed rate first, not the promotional one. Promotions flash big numbers, but the base rate is what the plan delivers no matter when you sign. HSBC Life’s 3.90% p.a. is fully guaranteed with no conditions beyond holding the plan to maturity. Etiqa’s up to 3.56% p.a. and Income Insurance’s 3.55% p.a. sit just behind, also fully guaranteed. AIA’s base 3.00% p.a. is lower, but the bundled promotion that lifts it to 4.25% p.a. can pull ahead if you time it right—just know that the window may close.
One more thing: ask yourself what the money is actually for. A 2-year plan like Great Eastern’s GREAT SP or Singlife’s Secure Saver VIII works well when you have a known expense coming—say a Certificate of Entitlement renewal or a child’s university fees starting soon. A 3-year plan gives you a higher rate and a bit more breathing room; it suits goals that are still forming, like a property downpayment you might need in 36 months rather than 24.
| Plan | Term | Guaranteed Return (p.a.) | Minimum Premium | SRS Eligible | Death/TPD Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Eastern GREAT SP | 2 Years | 1.00% | S$10,000 | No | 105% |
| Etiqa Tiq 3-Year | 3 Years | Up to 3.56% | S$5,000 | No | 101% |
| HSBC Life Online Endowment | 3 Years | 3.90% | S$10,000 | No | 110% |
| Income Insurance Gro Capital Ease | 3 Years | 3.55% | S$10,000 | Yes | 105% |
| Manulife Goal 2025 (III) | 3 or 4 Years | Up to 1.80% | S$5,000 | No | 101% |
| AIA Wealth Savvy | 3 Years | Check with the business | S$5,000 | Yes | 110% (incl. 10% accidental, Year 1) |
| Singlife Secure Saver VIII | 2 Years | 2.75% | S$20,000 | Yes | 105% |
Summary
HSBC Life gives you the highest guaranteed rate at 3.90% p.a., Etiqa and AIA keep the door low at S$5,000, and Income Insurance, AIA, and Singlife let you fund with SRS for a tax break. Great Eastern and Singlife are your two-year exits when speed matters more than the extra yield. Whichever you pick, these plans trade complexity for certainty—a rare thing worth holding onto.
Disclaimer: All information provided here has been compiled from publicly available sources. While we have made every effort to ensure accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information is complete or error-free. We disclaim any liability for inaccuracies or omissions. If you find any errors or have concerns about the content, please let us know so we can address them promptly.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a short-term endowment plan?
It is a savings product where you put in a single lump sum upfront and get it back with guaranteed interest after a fixed period, usually two or three years. There is no stock market risk, and a small life insurance component is built in.
Are my returns really guaranteed?
Yes. The interest rates quoted by these plans are guaranteed at maturity, not projected. As long as you hold the plan to the end of its term, you will receive exactly what was promised when you signed up.
Can I withdraw my money early if I need it?
Early surrender usually means you get back less than you put in, because the plan is designed to be held to maturity. If you might need the cash before the term ends, these are not the right place for it.
Do I need to go for a medical check-up?
No. All seven plans listed here are issued without medical underwriting. Some ask no health questions at all, like Etiqa’s Tiq 3-Year Endowment Plan.
What does SRS-eligible mean and why should I care?
SRS stands for Supplementary Retirement Scheme. If you have an SRS account, you can use those funds to pay for an eligible plan instead of cash. The benefit is that your SRS contribution reduces your taxable income for the year—useful if you are in a higher tax bracket.
Which plan gives the highest return right now?
Based on the rates available at the time of writing, HSBC Life’s Online Endowment offers 3.90% p.a. guaranteed over three years. AIA Wealth Savvy has a base rate of 3.00% p.a. but runs promotions that can reach 4.25% p.a.; you would need to check what is currently offered.
