There is no perfect method, and the 4% rule appears solid overall. If you can, have enough cash to insure you do not have to sell your stocks, while markets are down. In my world, enough cash/bonds is 5 to 10 years worth. If you are of age, you will have to take your RMD, reinvest as much as you can. Best to all.
Great summary, but I think this fellow needs a part time job. If the Stocks Gods are good, no problem. Insurance can be a killer, I pay about $20,000 per year at 80 years old. Inflation is a bigger killer. Personally I would not retire on this scenario without some additional income.
Adam, very well addressed. I am with you and Buffett, and have NO plans to add Gold or any other commodity to my portfolio. Thanks for you well written articles, and keep them coming.
Excellent article William H. It took 20 years, but I proved that the S&P index over long periods was definitely better than my picks. Sure I had some better, but how long! and how many big losers, so 75% etc. Right now not even the Buffett stock BRK-b is keeping up with S&P. For the rest of my life, it is 85% S&P and 15% cash for those years to tide us over, that are in the Red. Amen.
AI will change many, many things. Sure it will replace jobs, but then again it will increase jobs, and in my mind it will be different, but not so sure the human mind will go extinct. Unfortunately, I will not be around to experience it, 20 years from now, but my children and grands will. To my knowledge in all of time, there are more workers today than ever, so not so fast. The landscape will change, but not so sure anyone can predict the real future.
Budgets were very useful to us, especially in our early married life. It helped us save appropriately and not to spend more than we had. I hate debt, and only allowed debt to buy a car so I could get to work, and then buy a house. I am Happy to say, after 57 years of marriage it worked out well for retirement too. And by the way, at married year 50, we discarded the budget. We went for it, and did not miss a thing.
I personally, around age 65 went with the Buffett advice, but modified from 90% S&P and 10% short term government bonds, to 85% S&P and 15% cash to tide me over to not sell anything during a downtrend. It was a tough go through 2000, 2001 and 2002 when I lost 45% of my brokerage account! The secret, I sold NOTHING, and have increased that account about 10 fold since then. You have to be disciplined. Best to all.
Nice article, Mark. I was downsized at 45, and it turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. I worked out of my home in 1994, when very few did that, then semi retired at 55, and worked just about an hour per day from 2021 to 2024, and full retirement was on 12-31-2024. Now I offer my services of mostly financial and computer help at my Independent Living. Very fortunate to have little stress over the last 20 years. Enjoy each day.
Comments
There is no perfect method, and the 4% rule appears solid overall. If you can, have enough cash to insure you do not have to sell your stocks, while markets are down. In my world, enough cash/bonds is 5 to 10 years worth. If you are of age, you will have to take your RMD, reinvest as much as you can. Best to all.
Post: RMDs, account withdrawals, 4% simplified- MAYBE?
Link to comment from January 17, 2026
Great summary, but I think this fellow needs a part time job. If the Stocks Gods are good, no problem. Insurance can be a killer, I pay about $20,000 per year at 80 years old. Inflation is a bigger killer. Personally I would not retire on this scenario without some additional income.
Post: Early Retirement
Link to comment from January 17, 2026
If we could only plant those sayings in all our children and grands, their investments health would follow. Their lives would be fulfilled.
Post: No Such Thing as Easy Money
Link to comment from January 10, 2026
Adam, very well addressed. I am with you and Buffett, and have NO plans to add Gold or any other commodity to my portfolio. Thanks for you well written articles, and keep them coming.
Post: Gold Isn’t Special
Link to comment from January 10, 2026
Excellent article William H. It took 20 years, but I proved that the S&P index over long periods was definitely better than my picks. Sure I had some better, but how long! and how many big losers, so 75% etc. Right now not even the Buffett stock BRK-b is keeping up with S&P. For the rest of my life, it is 85% S&P and 15% cash for those years to tide us over, that are in the Red. Amen.
Post: Average vs. Humble Average
Link to comment from January 4, 2026
AI will change many, many things. Sure it will replace jobs, but then again it will increase jobs, and in my mind it will be different, but not so sure the human mind will go extinct. Unfortunately, I will not be around to experience it, 20 years from now, but my children and grands will. To my knowledge in all of time, there are more workers today than ever, so not so fast. The landscape will change, but not so sure anyone can predict the real future.
Post: Artificial Intelligence and Payroll Tax
Link to comment from January 4, 2026
Budgets were very useful to us, especially in our early married life. It helped us save appropriately and not to spend more than we had. I hate debt, and only allowed debt to buy a car so I could get to work, and then buy a house. I am Happy to say, after 57 years of marriage it worked out well for retirement too. And by the way, at married year 50, we discarded the budget. We went for it, and did not miss a thing.
Post: Can a budget do all that?
Link to comment from January 4, 2026
Great article, thanks and keep them coming in 2026. I am the S&P believer and will remain that way for life. The Best year to ALL.
Post: 2026 Financial Plan
Link to comment from January 4, 2026
I personally, around age 65 went with the Buffett advice, but modified from 90% S&P and 10% short term government bonds, to 85% S&P and 15% cash to tide me over to not sell anything during a downtrend. It was a tough go through 2000, 2001 and 2002 when I lost 45% of my brokerage account! The secret, I sold NOTHING, and have increased that account about 10 fold since then. You have to be disciplined. Best to all.
Post: What is the standard advice for someone who wants guaranteed income in retirement?
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
Nice article, Mark. I was downsized at 45, and it turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. I worked out of my home in 1994, when very few did that, then semi retired at 55, and worked just about an hour per day from 2021 to 2024, and full retirement was on 12-31-2024. Now I offer my services of mostly financial and computer help at my Independent Living. Very fortunate to have little stress over the last 20 years. Enjoy each day.
Post: The Life That Was Waiting
Link to comment from December 27, 2025