Hi Jan,
As 2025 comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on the conversations that made the biggest impact this year; both for our team and for the Retirement Researcher community. This week, I wanted to highlight a personal favorite.
In Episode 195 of Retire With Style, I had the chance to sit down with Bill Bengen, the researcher behind the original 4% rule. It was a conversation I had looked forward to, and it did not disappoint.
We covered far more than just withdrawal rates. We talked about how inflation really drives retirement outcomes, why rules of thumb can be both helpful and misleading, and how Bill’s own thinking has evolved through his own retirement. Whether you heard the episode when it first aired or are just now getting to it, it is well worth the listen.
If the episode leaves you wanting to explore more, these articles are a great next step:
| | | | 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 | | | | 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, CFP, RICP
| | | | Balancing Insurance and Investments in Retirement Planning Retirement income planning is one of the most important challenges in financial services today. People are living longer, traditional pensions are less common, and Social Security alone often does not provide enough to cover the lifestyle many retirees hope to maintain. The responsibility now falls on individuals to turn their accumulated savings into a reliable stream of income that can last for decades.
By McLean Asset Management
| | | | The 4% Rule and Beyond: Retirement Strategies with Bill Bengen
Wade and Alex are joined by Bill Bengen, the creator of the 4 percent rule, for a thoughtful conversation about sustainable withdrawal rates, managing inflation risk, and spending confidently in retirement. Bill shares personal insights from his new book A Richer Retirement and reflects on how theory translates into real-life choices.
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