Which would you choose - $9k per month stagnant salary from the age of 21 (didn’t complete studies) or $2.5k/ month at age of 25 (just complete studies) and salary will increase over the years?

9K salary is probably a ceiling already for most ppl so might as well start with 9k and then massively milk the salary by investing at least 2/3 of it, by 40-45 you'll be able to retire.

I'll choose Option 2, $2.5k / month at age 25 plus completing your studies which I assume is getting a Degree. Simply because there are tangible and practical benefits to completing your studies eg. the network and friends that you gain, the experience from taking a breadth of modules, and also the rigour from the curriculum.

Yes, $9k / month at age 21 is incredible. But note that you stagnant throughout. The one earning $2.5k / month may seem to be "losing out" at the beginning, but he or she can gain valuable working experience, get promoted internally, jump a few jobs, and easily reach that salary in a couple of years. Plus, there is upside to earn more than $9k if he or she takes up a managerial role.

Option 1.

• $9k of salary is guaranteed but wage growth percentage is not

• assuming conservative wage growth of 2% per annum, it will take about 64 years for option 2 to get 9k salary. By that person in option 2 would be at age 89. if he decides to stop work at 65, he would never ever see that kind of salary.

• the reason for working for most is money and it is an enabler for us to achieve what we want and need in life. option 1 would have better cash flow for savings and investment/passive income with good time horizon. Therefore, achieving those goals earlier and faster.

• assuming a crisis strikes, person in option 1 may be better protected with the relevant insurance as he can easily afford the premiums while person in option 2 may be still struggling with cashflow for getting insurance(2.5k after cpf is 2k and maybe paying study loan instalment?)

• Lastly, we'll never know when we need to punch hole(not referring to renewing) in our IC so i guess it's better to have more than less?​​​

Hands down 9k a month. in most cases, people don't even earn 9k a month even when they are in their 40s thus you can calculqte the head start you get by earning that much more at an early age! You could even retire by 40 :)