10 Variable Spending Strategies Retirees Should Consider

By reviewing existing research on variable spending, we can identify and describe key representative variable spending strategies from the countless possibilities, and classify them into a general taxonomy.
The Perks Of Being A Flexible Spender In Retirement

William Bengen’s 1994 article introduced the concept of the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals. He defined the sustainable spending rate as the percentage of retirement date assets which can be withdrawn, with this amount adjusted for inflation in subsequent years, such that the retirement portfolio is not depleted for at least thirty years.
Should You Lower Your Distributions If Your Portfolio Underperforms The Stock Market?

Another optimistic assumption of classic safe withdrawal rate studies is that retirees are able to earn precisely the underlying index returns net of the risks. But three truths dispute that idea.
Navigating One Of The Greatest Risks Of Retirement Income Planning

The financial market returns experienced near retirement matter a great deal more than most people realize. Even with the same average returns over a long period of time, retiring at the start of a bear market is very dangerous.
Does Your Mindset Affect How You Make Retirement Income Decisions?

The fields of behavioral finance and behavioral economics have uncovered various biases humans have which are great for day-to-day survival, but somewhat maladaptive for long-term investing.
How a Roth Conversion Could Save You Money in the Long-Term

Roth conversions – the basic idea is that you take money from your traditional IRA, withdraw it, pay taxes on it, and move it to your Roth IRA. This means you will be paying more in taxes today. Why would you want to do that?
Withdrawal Sequencing: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Retirement Distribution Order

Taking retirement income from your investment portfolio in retirement is like walking through a minefield. Most people don’t think about it, but your distribution strategy in retirement – how you actually take money out of your portfolio – and the resulting taxes can have a significant impact on how long your money lasts and how much you’ll be able to spend throughout retirement.
What is an RMD?

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about required minimum distributions (commonly referred to as RMDs or MRDs).