Hi Jan,
This week’s article and podcast episode focus on a question many retirees wrestle with at some point: how much can I safely spend, and what really drives that answer over time. The familiar 4 percent rule often serves as a starting reference, but it rarely captures the full picture once inflation, taxes, and real world uncertainty enter the conversation.
Together, this week’s pieces explore why retirement spending decisions benefit from flexibility and ongoing judgment, rather than relying on a single rule of thumb, and how a thoughtful framework can make those decisions feel more manageable.
| | | | Why the 4% Rule Is a Starting Point, Not a Plan One of the most familiar concepts in retirement planning is the safe withdrawal rate, which is the percentage of an investment portfolio you can withdraw each year without running out of money. For many retirees, that conversation begins and ends with a single number: 4%.
By Retirement Researcher | | | | Which Retirement Spending Strategy Is Right For You Deciding on the right retirement spending strategy for your particular situation is both incredibly difficult, and incredibly important. There are huge numbers of reasonable options, but how do you know which is right for you? The answer depends on several factors.
By Wade Pfau, Ph.D, CFA, RICP®
| | | | The Factors That Shape Safe Withdrawal Rates – And Why Inflation Matters Most Retirement spending is one of the great financial puzzles. After years of saving, the question shifts from “How much can I put away?” to “How much can I spend without running out?” When it comes to taking money out of a retirement portfolio, there is no single “right” answer.
By Retirement Researcher
| | | |
When Spending More in Retirement Actually Makes Sense
In this episode of Retire With Style, Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia take a closer look at why the 4 percent rule is better viewed as a starting point than a definitive plan. They discuss how inflation, taxes, market conditions, and retirement timing influence sustainable spending, and why portfolio based withdrawal strategies require ongoing adjustment. The conversation helps listeners think more realistically about how to manage spending as conditions change.
| | | | | | | | |
