"Maximizing Retirement Income with Flexible Strategies"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Morningstar
A recent study on safe withdrawal rates for retirees suggests that maintaining a consistent spending amount adjusted for inflation requires keeping starting withdrawals at 4.0% or lower for a 90% probability of success over a 30-year time horizon. The study also explores flexible withdrawal strategies, including forgoing inflation adjustments following annual portfolio loss, required minimum distributions, guardrails, and spending declines in line with historical data, comparing their pros and cons based on metrics such as starting safe withdrawal rates, lifetime portfolio withdrawal rates, cash flow standard deviation, and median ending value at Year 30. The guardrails method is highlighted as the most effective for enlarging payouts in a safe and livable way, but retirees are advised to consider other approaches based on their priorities, such as maximizing starting withdrawal rates, lifetime withdrawals, cash flow stability, or leaving a legacy.