2 September 2026
Most of us mean well when it comes to money. We tell ourselves we’ll get on top of it next year, renew that finance book we never quite get around to reading, and quietly hope things will sort themselves out. Sound familiar?
On his morning commute, Mr MPF tuned into RTHK’s Money Talk and caught a standout episode with financial advisor Eleanor Coleman (a quick aside — Mr MPF is also a big fan of Peter Lewis’ podcast, always a great source of sharp financial insights from around the globe). Eleanor’s discussion struck a chord: we’re all guilty of putting off good financial habits and kicking the can down the road. And yes, that includes your MPF.
Too many people treat their MPF as a passive, “set and forget” retirement pot. And while it does work quietly in the background, there’s actually a lot you can be doing actively to get more out of it. The trick? Apply the same smart habit-building techniques that work for investing — but make them work for your MPF too.
Here Are 7 Easy Habits You Can Start Today:
1. Consolidate Your Accounts
Thanks to the eMPF platform, this is now much simpler than it used to be. If you’ve changed jobs over the years, chances are you have legacy MPF accounts sitting with past employers. Use the eMPF app to bring them all under one roof — and here’s the bonus (literally): many scheme providers offer incentives to consolidate with them. Less admin, less headache, and potentially a little reward for your trouble. Win-win.
2. Quarterly Rebalance — Keep Your Strategy Sharp
Set a recurring calendar reminder on the 1st of every quarter. Take five minutes to check whether your current fund mix still matches your risk profile. That’s it.
To make it stick, treat yourself to a favourite coffee or meal straight after you’ve done your review. It sounds simple, but anchoring a small reward to a financial habit is a surprisingly effective way to make it second nature.
3. TVC — Your Top Value Creator
We love a good acronym, and TVC — Tax-Deductible Voluntary Contribution — is one worth knowing. Think of it less as a tax term and more as your personal wealth-building tool.
Open a standalone TVC account on eMPF and start contributing on your own terms. You don’t need to put in the maximum HK$60,000. Starting with as little as HK$500 or HK$1,000 is absolutely fine.
- How to pay: Set up a monthly direct debit so it happens automatically on payday, or make a one-off lump sum deposit before the tax year ends on 31st March.
- The reward: Tax savings with the amount saved dependent on your marginal tax rate. And if your budget tightens next year and you contribute nothing? You keep every cent of your past tax savings. Your money stays put, compounding away tax-free.
4. The April Tax Prep Drop
Once the fiscal year closes on 31st March, log into the centralised eMPF Platform portal and download your official TVC Contribution Summary. Drop it into a clearly labeled digital folder — “Tax Prep” works just fine. When your electronic BIR60 tax return form lands in May, you’ll be able to fill in both your Mandatory Contributions (up to HK$18,000) and your TVC box (up to HK$60,000) in under two minutes. No scrambling across different trustee sites, no stress. Just done. Ensure you retain this download for 7 years in case of an IRD audit.
5. The Birthday Portfolio Check
Once a year — your birthday works perfectly as a prompt — take a moment to audit your asset allocation. Does your current risk level still match your age and where you are in life?
As you move through different life stages, your MPF strategy should evolve too. This annual check keeps everything aligned without you needing to track markets every day.
6. The Bonus 10% Rule
When a windfall comes your way — such as a work bonus, tax refund, or unexpected cash — one option could be to put 10% of it into your MPF as a one-off Special Voluntary Contribution (SVC). It can be a simple way to help curb lifestyle creep — the tendency to spend more simply because you have more — while giving your long-term savings an extra boost. As always, any decision should reflect your personal circumstances, and you may wish to consult a financial adviser.
The Beginner Self-Education Habits
7. The “15-Minute Saturday Study Tax” (Weekly Learning Habit)
Block out 15 minutes every Saturday morning before opening social media. Dedicate it strictly to learning one micro-concept (e.g., “What is an index fund?”). Breaking financial literacy into bite-sized weekly pieces builds unstoppable investing confidence. Think of it as a small tax you pay to your future self — one that pays dividends for life.
The bottom line? You don’t need to overhaul your entire financial life overnight. Small, consistent habits — done regularly — are what build real retirement wealth over time. Pick one of the above, start today, and go from there.
The information contained in this blog is not advice, it is for educational purposes, general in nature and does not take into account personal situations. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser.
