{"id":22017,"date":"2016-02-23T12:19:37","date_gmt":"2016-02-23T04:19:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=22017"},"modified":"2019-12-03T10:18:44","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T02:18:44","slug":"what-does-the-6-40-epf-dividend-mean-to-your-savings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/what-does-the-6-40-epf-dividend-mean-to-your-savings","title":{"rendered":"What Does The 6.40% EPF Dividend Mean To Your Savings?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Over the weekend, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) finally announced the dividend rate for 2015 at 6.40%, with a total payout of RM38.24 billion.<\/p>\n
It is 0.35% less than the dividend rate in 2014, which was at 6.75% — and that was the highest dividend since year 2000. EPF said in a statement that it recorded RM44.23 billion in gross income for the last financial year, an increase of 13.18% over the RM39.08 billion figure in 2014.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the historical rates of dividend announced by EPF from 2000 to 2015:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, chairman of EPF said, the volatility in the currency markets would make it difficult for EPF to repeat the outperformance in global assets recorded last year.<\/p>\n
The rate of 6.40% was considered disappointing by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC). Acting president Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid told The Malaysian Insider<\/em><\/a>, though it was disappointing, it was still better than Tabung Haji\u2019s 5% dividend.<\/p>\n Gopal Kishnam, MTUC\u2019s secretary-general said the union was hoping it would be more or at least similar to last year\u2019s.<\/p>\n However, the announced rate has exceeded expectation amidst global economic slowdown. According to a report by The Heat Malaysia<\/em><\/a> last month, economists have projected that EPF will announce a lower dividend rate of between 4.5% and 5.2% for 2015 due to the weaker investment climate as a result of \u00a0slower global and domestic economic growth.<\/p>\n Leading economist and dean of business of Malaysian University of Science and Technology was quoted by The Malaysian Reserve <\/em>as saying, \u201cGiven the current weak climate, a dividend of 4.5% to 5% would be a commendable return.\u201d<\/p>\n Another prominent economist and investment advisor, Prof Dr Hoo Ke Ping said, \u201cThere were so many negatives last year. Asset prices fell and most hedge funds had weaker performances. It would likely be the same for EPF.<\/p>\n \u201cA dividend of 4.8% to 5.2% will be considered good. It is important to note that this will be better than what bank deposits offer, which only range around 3%.\u201d<\/p>\n 6.75% or 6.40% \u2013 what does it really mean to your EPF savings? To understand how the different rates affect the bottom line of your EPF account, you need to understand how the dividend is calculated. It is not as simple as taking your total EPF savings and multiplying with the rate.<\/p>\n By understanding how EPF dividend is calculated, you can then make a decision on whether to contribute more to EPF, or use your Account II savings for other higher-yield EPF-approved investments.<\/p>\n Your dividend is divided into two types of calculations \u2013 annual compounded dividend and pro-rated monthly dividend. Both of these calculations are on daily rest \u2013 which means your dividend will be calculated based on the previous day\u2019s outstanding balance.<\/p>\n Based on the example of a 2015\u2019s EPF statement below, there are three steps to calculating your dividend earned for 2015.<\/p>\n Step 1. Annual compounded dividend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Step 2. Pro-rated monthly dividend<\/strong><\/p>\n * 30% of contribution goes to Account II, while 70% to Account I<\/em> Total contribution for Acc 1<\/strong> x Dividend rate<\/strong> x (Total number of days in the year<\/strong> \u2013 Number of accumulated days for the month<\/strong> + 1<\/strong>) \u00f7 Total number of days in the year<\/strong><\/p>\n Example of calculation for January 2015 (Account 1): Step 3: Total dividend earned for the year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/span>How is EPF dividend calculated?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n\t \n\t Dividend Rate for 2015<\/td> \n\t Number of Days in 2015<\/td> \n\t <\/td> \n\t Opening Balance<\/td> \n\t Dividend Earned<\/td> = RM87,161.50 x 6.40% x 365\/365 (for full year)
\n= RM5,578.34<\/b><\/td>= RM12,874.60 x 6.40% x 365\/365 (for full year)
\n= RM823.97<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/p>\n
\n
\nFormula to calculate your monthly dividend earned for Account 1 and Account 2<\/p>\n
\n= RM1,137.50 x 6.40% x (365 \u2013 31 + 1) \u00f7 365
\n= RM1,137.50 x 6.40% x (335) \u00f7 365
\n= RM66.82<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n