Many people only start thinking about retirement when they are approaching age 50. In fact, retirement funds are ideally prepared early, while still productive and with many investment options available, such as FR (Fixed Rate) Bonds.
This product is not only safe because it is guaranteed by the state, but it also provides fixed returns that can become a source of regular income during retirement.
Why Should Retirement Funds Be Prepared from Now?
Retirement funds should not be prepared only in old age. Rising living costs and annual inflation make accumulating retirement funds challenging if relying solely on regular savings.
Starting to invest young provides the advantage of a long time horizon to multiply funds through the effect of compounding and to choose investment instruments with risks aligned to your personal profile.
If preparation is done early, the hope of enjoying retirement with a decent and comfortable lifestyle will be easier to achieve.
What Are FR Bonds?
Fixed Rate (FR) Government Bonds are government debt securities with a fixed interest rate (coupon) over their entire tenor. The Government of Indonesia issues these Bonds as one way to finance the state budget (APBN).
FR Bonds can be purchased by the public in both the primary and secondary markets, with tenors varying from 5 to 30 years. The bond coupons are paid regularly (generally every 6 months), providing stable passive income for holders.
Some characteristics of these Bonds include:
- Fixed coupons so this cash flow can be predicted throughout the investment period;
- Issued by the government, so they have a very high level of security and a very low default risk;
- Tradable on the secondary market, providing flexibility if you wish to redeem early;
- Available in various series with different tenors, which can be tailored to medium- to long-term goals such as retirement;
- A broader set of investment options. Younger investors tend to be more flexible in taking risk, so they can combine several investment types.
In other words, starting to invest earlier will make retirement feel lighter and more enjoyable.
Advantages of FR Bonds for Retirement Preparation
When preparing retirement funds, security and certainty of returns are top priorities. Fixed Rate Bonds offer several advantages as follows:
1. Safe and State-Guaranteed
Returns and principal are guaranteed by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, making default risk minimal.
2. Regular and Certain Income
Fixed coupons provide reliable cash flow up to retirement time.
3. Higher Returns than Time Deposits
On average, coupons from these Bonds offer yields above bank time-deposit interest, especially for longer tenors.
4. Adjustable to Your Needs
There are many series with short, medium, or long tenors, making it easy to align with your target retirement year.
5. Liquidity Flexibility
FR Bonds can be sold before maturity on the secondary market if emergency funds are needed at any time.
6. Lighter Tax
Coupon tax is 10%, lower than the tax on deposit interest (20%).
With these characteristics, Fixed Rate Bonds have become one of the core instruments in modern retirement portfolios.
FR Bond Investment Simulation for Retirement
What does an FR Bond investment simulation look like if started early for retirement goals? Here is a simple illustration:
Suppose a 30-year-old employee begins preparing retirement funds and plans to retire at 55 (25 years from now). They invest a lump sum of IDR 100 million in FR Bonds with an average coupon of 6.5% per year.
Per year before tax:
Return: 6.5% × IDR 100 million = IDR 6.5 million
After 10% tax:
Net return: IDR 6.5 million − IDR 650 thousand = IDR 5.85 million/year
If this investment income is collected for 25 years (without calculating coupon reinvestment and price changes of the Bonds), the total coupons received can exceed IDR 146 million (not including the principal, which remains intact, and potential capital gains if sold in the secondary market).
Assuming coupon reinvestment, the results can be even greater through the effect of compounding.
Tips for Investing in FR Bonds
To optimise results for retirement funds, here are several important tips for investing in Fixed Rate Bonds:
1. Start Early
Starting as early as possible gives more time for growth and the benefits of compounding. With a long investment horizon, price fluctuations can also be better neutralised.
2. Choose Bond Series According to Your Goals
Each Fixed Rate Bond series has a different tenor. Choose a series with maturity close to your planned retirement so cash flow matches your needs. For example, for retirement in 20 years, you can choose longer-tenor bonds.
3. Diversify
Do not allocate all retirement funds into a single bond series or a single instrument. You can diversify across several series with different tenors—for example, alongside Fixed Income Mutual Funds and equities.
4. Use Official Platforms
Purchase these bonds through licensed and trusted investment platforms or apps so funds are secure, transactions smooth, and portfolio monitoring easy.
Several popular investment apps in Indonesia provide purchasing and monitoring features with starting capital from IDR 1 million.
Retirement Investing with FR Bonds—Start Here!
Investing retirement funds through Fixed Rate Bonds is one of the right steps to achieve peace of mind in later life.
With a high level of security, regular income, and the potential for better results than time deposits, these bonds deserve to be the foundation of a stable retirement portfolio. Start investing now, choose the right series and platform, and diversify for optimal results.
You can rely on DBS Treasures priority banking to begin investing. Receive regular coupons paid periodically and potential for capital gains.
Other benefits you can enjoy include competitive coupons, even above the average interest of time deposits. In addition, every transaction has no additional fees. You can also access a wide range of flexible Bond products that can be traded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, directly through the DBS digibank Application.
Through the DBS digibank Application, you can buy, sell, and switch, as well as complete SID (Single Investor Identification) registration. It can also be linked to a variety of Mutual Funds, whether from Fund Houses or Investment Managers, by product category or fund type.
You will also be supported by curated market analysis from a team of financial experts who will communicate it and provide the latest opportunities tailored to your risk profile and portfolio needs, powered by Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI-ML). These insights are complemented by curated solutions across investment (Grow) and insurance (Protect), enabling you to invest quickly and confidently through your preferred channel.
A prosperous retirement must be planned from now, and FR Bonds can be the step toward a calm life in retirement. Click here to start investing.
