4% Rule

The 4% Rule is a retirement withdrawal strategy that involves retirees securely withdrawing 4% of total savings in the retirement year and then adjusting for inflation every successive year for the next 30 years. It helps keep a stable income stream while maintaining a sufficient account balance for the future. 

Individuals can utilize this rule of thumb to decide how much they need to withdraw from their retirement funds every year. Generally, the withdrawals comprise dividends and interest on savings and dividends. Note that multiple factors, for example, tax rates, risk profile, portfolio tax status, and life expectancy, impact a retiree’s safe withdrawal rate.

• The 4% rule is a strategy that involves a retired individual withdrawing a fixed percentage, i.e., from their retirement funds every successive year after adjusting for inflation. A noteworthy alternative to the 4% rule is the Boglehead variable percentage withdrawal strategy. 
• There are different 4% Rule advantages. For example, this retirement withdrawal strategy is straightforward and offers a steady income after retirement. 
• This rule aims to provide people with a steady income source while ensuring that the invested balance keeps growing throughout retirement. 
• Some crucial factors influencing the withdrawal rate include life expectancy, risk profile and life expectancy.

The 4% rule refers to a rule of thumb concerning retirement planning that requires a retiree to withdraw an amount equal to 4% of their total retirement funds in the year of retirement and then make adjustments for inflation each succeeding year after. This rule aims to establish a stable and safe income stream that can help fulfill a retiree’s future and current financial requirements. 

Experts argue whether withdrawing 4% of the total savings is ideal. Many people (including the person who introduced the rule) believe that 5% is a better option for nearly all scenarios. That said, some caution that a 3% rate is safer considering the current conditions concerning interest rates. That said, 4% is a well-tested figure, even when considering the surging medical expenses one tends to incur in life’s final stages. 

Life expectancy is the most crucial among the factors influencing this rate. This is because the longer a person expects to live after retirement, the longer they would require their portfolio to help them meet their financial requirement. 

A lot of retirees raise the withdrawal rate to mitigate the impact of inflation and adapt to the changing economic conditions. This enables them to match the changes in the cost of living and their income. 

There are two possible methods to make adjustments for inflation. One includes fixing a flat 2% yearly rate of increase, and the other one involves adjusting withdrawals on the basis of actual inflation rates. Note that out of the two techniques, the former offers predictable increases and stability. On the other hand, the latter method is more effective in matching cost of living changes and income. 

A common misconception is that retirees must withdraw 4% of the portfolio value every year. That said, the 4% is applicable only in the first year of retirement. Following that, the withdrawal amount depends on the inflation rate. 

In the mid-1990s, An American financial advisor named Bill Bengen introduced the rule. Since the rule’s introduction, Bengen has complained that various adherents have over-simplified the concept. According to him, a ‘worst-case scenario’ formed the basis of the retirement withdrawal strategy, and a more realistic figure would be 5%. 

He created the rule utilizing historical data concerning bond and stock returns over 50 years (1926-1976) while majorly focusing on the significant market downturns taking place in the 1930s as well as the early 1970s. 

Bengen reached a conclusion that even in untenable, there wasn’t any existence of a historical case where a 4% withdrawal every year exhausted an individual’s retirement portfolio in less than 33 years.

Let us look at a few 4% rule examples to understand the concept better.

Example #1

Suppose David retired with $1 million in savings. He decided to follow the 4% rule as his retirement withdrawal strategy so that he could pay for all expenses smoothly. In the year of retirement, David had a budget of 40,000 ($1 million x 4%). From Year 2, he started adjusting the same amount by the inflation rate. Let us say that the inflation rate was 2% in Year 2. In that case, he withdrew $40,800, i.e., $40,000 x 1.02.

In the next year, he took the previous year’s withdrawal amount and adjusted it for inflation. For the next years, the calculation took place in this manner only. In other words, the inflation rate dictated the withdrawal amount. 

Note that the calculation was different for years in which prices dropped. Suppose in Year 4 prices dropped by 2%. Then, in that year, the withdrawal amount would have been $39,200, i.e., $40,000 x 0.98. 

Example #2

In December 2023, American financial advisor Suze Orman said that she would not recommend opting for the 4% rule as there isn’t any way to make a prediction regarding what may happen after retirement. For example, economic volatility could increase the cost of living to a level that the strategy cannot help fulfill the financial requirements in retirement. 

Moreover, stock market swings could influence the retirement portfolio value, or interest rate hikes could make the cost of borrowing more expensive. 

She believes the less amount one withdraws during a year, the better and suggests Americans should work until they turn 70 to increase the chances of the assets’ worth. Also, she recommends that one should delay taking their Social Security benefits until 70 years so that they can get the maximum amount every month. 

The following are some alternatives to the 4% rule that is worth considering: 

• Bogleheads Variable Percentage Withdrawal Strategy

This method does not involve adjusting the spending after accounting for inflation. Rather, the technique considers the following factors to find out the withdrawal percentage for every retirement year:

• Portfolio balance 
• Asset allocation 
• Age 

Retirees utilize a chart that consists of variable withdrawal rates based on asset allocation and age to implement this strategy. It was created by the person who came up with this method. 

• Maximize Social Security Benefits

Individuals must consider making the most of the income generated from non-portfolio sources. Among such sources, Social Security is a significant one. One can start claiming Social Security at the age of 62, but they can only obtain 75% of the full retirement benefit if they start then. Having said that, if people delay claiming their Social Security benefits until they are 70, they can obtain a benefit every month, which is 77% higher compared to the benefit received at 62. 

• Strategize Regarding Required Minimum Distributions 

Since the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires individuals to withdraw a minimum sum from their tax-deferred accounts beginning at age 73, people might want to factor in whether required minimum distributions (RMDs) would be a comparatively better option for them instead of following the 4% rule. 

The 4% yearly withdrawal strategy involves adjusting for inflation. On the other hand, the recalculation of RMDs occurs each year based on the actual account balances and the remaining (likely) lifespan. Hence, opting for those RMDs could realistically be a better option. If one does not need the RMD money, they can reinvest the amount into the market. After all, the IRS does not keep an eye on how people save or spend their RMDs.

Let us look at the benefits and limitations of this rule:

Advantages 

• Following this rule is simple. 
• Following this rule can protect individuals from running out of funds after their retirement. 
• Another key 4% rule advantage is that it can provide individuals with predictable and steady income.

Disadvantages

• One must adhere to it strictly after retirement. 
• This rule is not that dynamic. Thus, it cannot respond effectively to lifestyle changes. 
• It does not respond to the changing market conditions. 

Also, one must keep in mind that many critics suggest that the rule may not work and cannot guarantee that a person will have enough funds to fulfill their financial requirements some years after retirement.

This has been a guide to what is 4% Rule. Here, we explain its examples, history, alternatives, advantages disadvantages, and inflation adjustment. You can learn more about financing from the following articles –

• Retirement Income
• Books On Passive Income
• Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE)