Withdrawals

Spending it down without running out.

Saving is half the problem. The other half is turning a portfolio into a paycheck that lasts as long as you do. These guides cover withdrawal rates, the 4% rule, and the sequence risk that decides whether a plan holds.

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How much can you safely pull from your savings each year? The famous answer is 4%, but that number comes with conditions, a 30-year horizon, a specific stock-bond mix, and a U.S. market history that may not repeat. The guides below explain where the rule comes from, when it breaks down (especially for early retirees), and how the order of your returns matters as much as the average. To see what rate survives your own numbers, run them through the calculator.

RetirFi
Withdrawal Strategy
What Is a Safe Withdrawal Rate? The 4% Rule Explained
The 4% rule is the most cited number in retirement planning. But where does it come from, when does it break down, and what should you actually use?
RetirFi
Early Retirement
The 4% Rule Doesn't Work for Early Retirement. Here's Why
Bengen built the 4% rule for 30 years starting at 65. Retire at 45 and you face a longer horizon, sharper sequence risk, and no Social Security for decades.

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