THE 4% rule may need to be updated.
At least according to its creator, now retired financial advisor Bill Bengen.
Mr Bengen first hatched the portfolio withdrawal rule in 1994 and became a standard people quickly depended on.
It suggests that retirees may safely withdraw the amount equal to 4% of their savings during the year they retire.
It works like this, add up your investments and withdraw 4% during your first year of retirement.
You can then adjust for inflation each year for 30 years.
The rule also assumes that once you retire, your portfolio will be 50% stocks and 50% bonds.
For example, if you’ve saved $1million, you spend $40,000 in the first year with estimated inflation of 2%.
The following year, you take out $40,800.
Millions of retirees have followed that rule and stayed financially stable.
And for many years, 4% worked.
Although it’s been used for nearly three decades, Mr Bengen says adjustments should be made.
About two years ago, Mr Bengen increased his suggested rate to 4.7% based on new data he found.
He recently found that high inflation is a huge threat to most retirees and recommended a rate closer to 4.5% or 4.4%, according to an interview with Think Advisor.
He also suggests that within your retirement portfolio, 55% should be allocated to stocks and your bond allocation should be cut in half.
Because the inflation rate is now at 8.3%, withdrawals under the 4% rule increase considerably.
Meaning, that your retirement portfolio must have higher returns as the chance for depletion is greater.
Other ways to save
Reduce your spending.
Mr Bengen suggests that retirees should reduce their risks with stocks and bonds.
The financial advisor recommends having cash or other assets that produce income until the price of stocks becomes cheaper.
“Wait for better values in both stocks and bonds, and then put the cash to work,” he told Think Advisor.
Budgeting is another sure way to save.
This could include everything from creating short-term and long-term goals to rules like the 50/30/20 rule.
Which basically divides your money into these three categories:
- 50% of income goes towards essentials
- 30% of income goes towards financial goals/savings
- 20% of income goes towards non-essentials