Author Topic: Stop worrying about the 4% rule  (Read 1147523 times)

DreamFIRE

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1400 on: April 29, 2018, 08:28:05 PM »
Hey MMMers, remedial question here:
(3) under current tax rules in USA you can pull US$90k /yr from long term capital gains and dividends and pay ZERO federal tax.

That's usually not the case, certainly not for a single person (I assume "Miss" implies single.)  For a single person, the 0% capital gains bracket is $0-38,600

If you had no other taxable income, you could add a $12,000 additional gains due to the standard deduction.

So, then you're up to $50600 of long term capital gains that you would pay 0% federal tax on, but ONLY if you had no other taxable income.   So $90K in capital gains would trigger taxes at the federal level.

Myself, I have to pay 15% on all my long term capital gains because I earn over $100K/yr of other income, well above the 0% capital gains tax level.

Of course, normally when selling shares that realize capital gains as opposed to dividends, the gain is only part of the amount you are pulling from the investment.  So a $30K gain, for example, from selling shares will mean you're actually pulling much more from your investment than $30K.
« Last Edit: April 29, 2018, 08:57:11 PM by DreamFIRE »

boarder42

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1401 on: April 30, 2018, 04:51:36 AM »
Dream this is a discussion during the withdrawal phase. 50.6k is more than enough for a single person as is 90k for a couple.

AdrianC

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1402 on: May 07, 2018, 07:20:36 AM »
Intercst (aka John Greaney):

"Adding rigor to the 4% rule"

http://www.retireearlyhomepage.com/intercstinsights.html


(Just for fun. I'm completely convinced that N = 25 x E will work just fine for us).


ysette9

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1403 on: May 07, 2018, 09:42:00 AM »
Haha

hykue

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1404 on: May 09, 2018, 12:10:18 AM »
Stocks have tended to perform better over longer time periods and should therefore provide the highest possible SWR's.

This may seem instinctively true but mathematically it's more complicated than that.  Safe Withdrawal Rates are highly influenced not only by average returns but also by annual volatility.  All things being equal, higher volatility lowers the SWR.  So two portfolios with equal average returns may have drastically different withdrawal rates based on the underlying volatility.  And sometimes portfolios with lower average returns but lower volatility can still beat stocks.  That's how you get interesting results like this:



This plots the returns and calculated SWRs of a variety of different popular lazy portfolios.  Note that the Total Stock Market has one of the highest returns but the lowest SWR!  Also note than none of the top-3 SWR portfolios have more than 40% stocks.  For a more detailed walkthrough, I'd recommend reading this.  And to see an example of a portfolio with only 40% stocks that matches the long-term returns of the stock market with much lower volatility and a much higher SWR, try this.

Mind blown. This is an awesome application of the best kind of intensive geekiness. I am in awe. Also, I am three years behind, but don't want to lose this thread. Thank you so much!

boarder42

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1405 on: May 09, 2018, 06:27:42 AM »
Stocks have tended to perform better over longer time periods and should therefore provide the highest possible SWR's.

This may seem instinctively true but mathematically it's more complicated than that.  Safe Withdrawal Rates are highly influenced not only by average returns but also by annual volatility.  All things being equal, higher volatility lowers the SWR.  So two portfolios with equal average returns may have drastically different withdrawal rates based on the underlying volatility.  And sometimes portfolios with lower average returns but lower volatility can still beat stocks.  That's how you get interesting results like this:



This plots the returns and calculated SWRs of a variety of different popular lazy portfolios.  Note that the Total Stock Market has one of the highest returns but the lowest SWR!  Also note than none of the top-3 SWR portfolios have more than 40% stocks.  For a more detailed walkthrough, I'd recommend reading this.  And to see an example of a portfolio with only 40% stocks that matches the long-term returns of the stock market with much lower volatility and a much higher SWR, try this.

Mind blown. This is an awesome application of the best kind of intensive geekiness. I am in awe. Also, I am three years behind, but don't want to lose this thread. Thank you so much!

you need to take this with a grain of salt the data only goes back to 1970 this isnt data from the beginning of the markets.  Some think 1970 is sufficient to set their portfolio - i don't believe it is.

Mr Mark

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1406 on: May 09, 2018, 07:32:15 AM »
Stocks have tended to perform better over longer time periods and should therefore provide the highest possible SWR's.

This may seem instinctively true but mathematically it's more complicated than that.  Safe Withdrawal Rates are highly influenced not only by average returns but also by annual volatility.  All things being equal, higher volatility lowers the SWR.  So two portfolios with equal average returns may have drastically different withdrawal rates based on the underlying volatility.  And sometimes portfolios with lower average returns but lower volatility can still beat stocks.  That's how you get interesting results like this:



This plots the returns and calculated SWRs of a variety of different popular lazy portfolios.  Note that the Total Stock Market has one of the highest returns but the lowest SWR!  Also note than none of the top-3 SWR portfolios have more than 40% stocks.  For a more detailed walkthrough, I'd recommend reading this.  And to see an example of a portfolio with only 40% stocks that matches the long-term returns of the stock market with much lower volatility and a much higher SWR, try this.

Mind blown. This is an awesome application of the best kind of intensive geekiness. I am in awe. Also, I am three years behind, but don't want to lose this thread. Thank you so much!

you need to take this with a grain of salt the data only goes back to 1970 this isnt data from the beginning of the markets.  Some think 1970 is sufficient to set their portfolio - i don't believe it is.

Yep. I agree.

Be aware by being from 1970 it also takes in the transition from gold standard to market priced gold, so the back tested gold portfolios - such as the PP and 'golden butterfly' - do a lot better than I think they should (because the US coming off the gold standard was a one off event).

But the issue of volatility reducing SWR is a really great point.

hykue

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1407 on: May 15, 2018, 11:38:56 PM »
Oh absolutely do worry!

Just find one best home in your calculations for each terrible thing which could possibly go wrong. Then if you're tempted to worry about it somewhere else and correct for the same risk a second time, just remember: "Hey I've taken into account (radical healthcare inflation/the odds of living to 120/a big uptick in inflation/minor nuclear war/the odds I'll start a harem at 85 and having to send a dozen kids to college when I'm in my early 100s) in my math already."

Literally loled :)

hykue

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1408 on: May 16, 2018, 02:20:16 AM »
Stocks have tended to perform better over longer time periods and should therefore provide the highest possible SWR's.

This may seem instinctively true but mathematically it's more complicated than that.  Safe Withdrawal Rates are highly influenced not only by average returns but also by annual volatility.  All things being equal, higher volatility lowers the SWR.  So two portfolios with equal average returns may have drastically different withdrawal rates based on the underlying volatility.  And sometimes portfolios with lower average returns but lower volatility can still beat stocks.  That's how you get interesting results like this:



This plots the returns and calculated SWRs of a variety of different popular lazy portfolios.  Note that the Total Stock Market has one of the highest returns but the lowest SWR!  Also note than none of the top-3 SWR portfolios have more than 40% stocks.  For a more detailed walkthrough, I'd recommend reading this.  And to see an example of a portfolio with only 40% stocks that matches the long-term returns of the stock market with much lower volatility and a much higher SWR, try this.

Mind blown. This is an awesome application of the best kind of intensive geekiness. I am in awe. Also, I am three years behind, but don't want to lose this thread. Thank you so much!

you need to take this with a grain of salt the data only goes back to 1970 this isnt data from the beginning of the markets.  Some think 1970 is sufficient to set their portfolio - i don't believe it is.

Yep. I agree.

Be aware by being from 1970 it also takes in the transition from gold standard to market priced gold, so the back tested gold portfolios - such as the PP and 'golden butterfly' - do a lot better than I think they should (because the US coming off the gold standard was a one off event).

But the issue of volatility reducing SWR is a really great point.

Yes, thank you! I won't run out and set a portfolio based on this alone, I just had never managed follow my doubts about volatlity to any logical conclusion. This helped!

PizzaSteve

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1409 on: May 24, 2018, 06:07:39 PM »
I find it is better to keep all studies in perspective and think of the 4% rule not as " a scientific principle", but rather the best wisdom of our elder shaman economists, based on recent history.

Even though it is derived statistically via excellent models, it cant predict the future by definition.  We could all be screwed or golden, we just dont know.  So what do we do in that situation?  We look at history and plan a prudent course, but also we must stay mentally flexible.  If someone starts calling a group of people animals and suggests herding them into cattle cars somewhere, we need to be prepared to take action with more than just a portfolio allocation.

The portfolio is only a minor note in the symphony of FIRE.  What is more important is the 'live within your means' mindset, the 'invest to get your free dollars working' mindset, and the 'be mindful with spending' mindset.  The combo of these is 99% successful.  The other 1% requires mindful observing and action within the world of politics and human governance.

Namaste.
« Last Edit: May 24, 2018, 06:10:49 PM by PizzaSteve »

DavidAnnArbor

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1410 on: May 24, 2018, 07:12:28 PM »
Thank you PizzaSteve I liked the prudent and mindful presentation of that big picture.

Jamese20

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1411 on: June 07, 2018, 02:10:25 PM »
hi all,

i am from the UK and HATE that there is very limited literature from a UK based perspective on the 4% rule other than ours should be lower (like 2.5%) which are just for click-bait i am sure because even this country has averaged 5% returns after inflation over 100+ years.

equally frustrating is I dont find much literature from a global portfolio perspective and what the 4% rule would look like then?

hard to not worry about the 4% rule when 1. you are not from the states 2. no specific studies I can see that dont have some agenda of creating click bait.

p.s I have one major gripe with the 4% rule is alot of FI blogs answers to making sure it doesnt fail is "go back to work" I would class that as failure for me of the 4% rule if you need to go back to work because the 4% rule has made you go back to work, but that is just me






EscapeVelocity2020

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1412 on: June 07, 2018, 03:24:10 PM »
Well, two things you can use to calibrate on.  1) I agree that needing additional income or else you run out of money constitutes a failure.  Not that young folks remember, but the absolute hardest time to sufficiently supplement income is when everyone else is in the same boat.  2) at least healthcare and retirement provisions are more clearly defined, in the US, prior to 65, you get reduced Social Security and no public medical coverage (once Affordable Care Act collapses).

Other than that, you need to adjust the 4% rule based on your investments.  US outperformed UK over the last century or so, but there's no guarantee UK won't outperform US next century (given our ability to elect Trump).

cerat0n1a

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1413 on: June 07, 2018, 04:17:24 PM »
i am from the UK and HATE that there is very limited literature from a UK based perspective on the 4% rule other than ours should be lower

Absolutely no need to restrict yourself to investing in UK stocks though. You can buy a global index tracker like Vanguard's VWRL just as easily. (And in fact, even if you did limit yourself to the FTSE - something like 65-70% of earnings come from outside the UK - not to mention the built-in biases towards banks & oil and lack of tech stocks.)

Currency risk obviously comes into play, but offset against that is the state pension, no healthcare costs to worry about and the very generous tax treatment of FIREes through ISAs, pensions, no CGT on your own house, decent tax free allowances for dividends, interest and so on.

TempusFugit

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1414 on: June 07, 2018, 04:48:41 PM »
...US outperformed UK over the last century or so, but there's no guarantee UK won't outperform US next century...

Government policy issues aside, clearly the historical data over the past century favors the US because of the effects of 2 world wars.

The US was the winner on both sides of that equation in the sense that we didn't suffer the negative impact to our infrastructure and workforce, and then we reaped the benefits of supplying all the materials for rebuilding Europe after the wars. 
 
One would expect the future returns to move toward each other absent another hugely destabilizing event affecting our countries disproportionately.  That's all other things being 'equal' in terms of free trade, etc. 

Perhaps the SWR rules based on historical data for the UK would be somewhat useless due to the dramatic affects of those wars on returns.  That being said, I have seen some SWR calculations for other countries in the context of showing how there is no SWR if your country loses a major war, such as what happened to Japan and Germany.  That probably falls into the category of having 'bigger problems'.

maizefolk

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1415 on: June 07, 2018, 05:23:04 PM »
Perhaps the SWR rules based on historical data for the UK would be somewhat useless due to the dramatic affects of those wars on returns.  That being said, I have seen some SWR calculations for other countries in the context of showing how there is no SWR if your country loses a major war, such as what happened to Japan and Germany.  That probably falls into the category of having 'bigger problems'.

What bothers me is how often I see presentations of the "SWR for other countries" without people pointing out that essentially the differences between countries are showing is how badly individual country were destroyed during the two world wars (and the civil war in Spain).

@Jamese20 The reason we don't see more literature and studies on the 4% rule and similar outside the US boils down to data availability. The studies of SWR in ~20 countries all use the Dimson, Marsh, & Staunton dataset on stock market and bond returns which isn't publicly available, but is included in some subscription data services which cost huge amounts of money. So what comes out is primarily from employees at big banks or financial advisory firms. In contrast, in the USA, a professor named Robert Shiller released data on US stock and bond returns each month from 1871-present on his website. So any interested blogger or random guy with a python script (like me) can try out all sorts of different approaches to investment and withdrawal rate strategies.

Radagast

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1416 on: June 07, 2018, 10:23:57 PM »
hi all,

i am from the UK and HATE that there is very limited literature from a UK based perspective on the 4% rule other than ours should be lower (like 2.5%) which are just for click-bait i am sure because even this country has averaged 5% returns after inflation over 100+ years.

equally frustrating is I dont find much literature from a global portfolio perspective and what the 4% rule would look like then?

hard to not worry about the 4% rule when 1. you are not from the states 2. no specific studies I can see that dont have some agenda of creating click bait.

p.s I have one major gripe with the 4% rule is alot of FI blogs answers to making sure it doesnt fail is "go back to work" I would class that as failure for me of the 4% rule if you need to go back to work because the 4% rule has made you go back to work, but that is just me
https://portfoliocharts.com/calculators/
Tyler's calculators include UK and include data as far as 1970, which I understand was one of the worse starting periods for SWR.

Jamese20

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1417 on: June 07, 2018, 11:42:06 PM »
i am from the UK and HATE that there is very limited literature from a UK based perspective on the 4% rule other than ours should be lower

Absolutely no need to restrict yourself to investing in UK stocks though. You can buy a global index tracker like Vanguard's VWRL just as easily. (And in fact, even if you did limit yourself to the FTSE - something like 65-70% of earnings come from outside the UK - not to mention the built-in biases towards banks & oil and lack of tech stocks.)

Currency risk obviously comes into play, but offset against that is the state pension, no healthcare costs to worry about and the very generous tax treatment of FIREes through ISAs, pensions, no CGT on your own house, decent tax free allowances for dividends, interest and so on.

I agree and that's why I mentioned even from a global perspective there isn't much detail regarding the 4% rule with a global portfolio

I guess I will just have to use it as a rough guide but I find answers like "just go back to work" really frustrating as that is not what I want to be doing if I decide to retire early.

Work sucks overall and alot of folks on FI sites claim to love it, maybe they do but I have to say I don't fit into that at the moment.

Maybe I will find something once I have the free time to sit and think about how I can earn some spare cash but I don't really expect to retire to then have to work


Retire-Canada

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1418 on: June 08, 2018, 08:00:25 AM »
I guess I will just have to use it as a rough guide but I find answers like "just go back to work" really frustrating as that is not what I want to be doing if I decide to retire early.

Work sucks overall and alot of folks on FI sites claim to love it, maybe they do but I have to say I don't fit into that at the moment.

Let's agree work sucks.

Your choices are:

1. work extra years now to save/invest beyond a reasonable 4%WR
2. stop at 4%WR and face a small risk you might have to do some part-time work later

Option 1 means a 100% chance of doing a bunch more of that work that sucks. Option 2 most likely won't happen. Personally that leads me to choose Option 2.

Jamese20

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1419 on: June 08, 2018, 10:52:42 AM »
I guess I will just have to use it as a rough guide but I find answers like "just go back to work" really frustrating as that is not what I want to be doing if I decide to retire early.

Work sucks overall and alot of folks on FI sites claim to love it, maybe they do but I have to say I don't fit into that at the moment.

Let's agree work sucks.

Your choices are:

1. work extra years now to save/invest beyond a reasonable 4%WR
2. stop at 4%WR and face a small risk you might have to do some part-time work later

Option 1 means a 100% chance of doing a bunch more of that work that sucks. Option 2 most likely won't happen. Personally that leads me to choose Option 2.

sounds lovely in theory - i struggle at part time work that is enjoyable? unless I am just being really blind and stupid?

Retire-Canada

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1420 on: June 08, 2018, 11:03:46 AM »
sounds lovely in theory - i struggle at part time work that is enjoyable? unless I am just being really blind and stupid?

1. the PT work is only a small possibility not a certainty
2. if your annual spend is say $40K/yr you only have to make $10K/yr to make a dramatic difference in your portfolio's performance
3. there is no panic in finding that PT job the second something happens in the market...you have months and years to make a move so you can find some work you don't hate
4. personally I can think of several ways to earn $10K/yr that I would not find objectionable for a limited period of time
5. keep reminding yourself about point #1

Ultimately if that ^^ doesn't work for you then go ahead and spend as much time at your full-time job as you want until you feel like you can safely stop. It's your life.

However, if you start off with the statement that "work sucks" then choose a 100% certainty of working more so you can avoid say a 5% chance of working for a short period part-time later on then I don't understand your logic.
« Last Edit: June 08, 2018, 11:52:36 AM by Retire-Canada »

Jamese20

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1421 on: June 08, 2018, 11:45:50 AM »
sounds lovely in theory - i struggle at part time work that is enjoyable? unless I am just being really blind and stupid?

1. the PT work is only a small possibility not a certainty
2. if your annual spend is say $40K/yr you only have to make $10K/yr to make a dramatic difference in your portfolio's performance
3. there is no panic in finding that PT job the second something happens in the market...you have months and years to make a move so you can find some work you don't hate
4. personally I can think of several ways to earn $10K/yr that I would not find objectionable for a limited period of time
5. keep reminding yourself about point #1

Ultimately if that ^^ doesn't work for you then go ahead and spend as much time at your full-time job as you want until you feel like you can safely stop. It's your life.

However, if you start off with the statement that "work sucks" then choose a 100% certainty of working more so you can avoid say a 5% chance of working for a short period part-time later on then I don't understand that your logic.

Of course I agree with you on the last point, I just wish it felt like part time work was an option for me , my current job is kind of an all or nothing thing really

I hope I never had to do it and I don't think I would have to really, simply ignoring inflation for 5 years gives enough margin of safety that I think I'll be fine

Plus I'll have a sizeable pension coming up afterwards I can fall back on...

In 10 years time I'll be ready to go I think

ysette9

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1422 on: June 08, 2018, 12:55:32 PM »
THat is a very all-or-nothing way of thinking about it though. Certainly there is something else in the wide world of paying work that could bring in $10k/year with your education and experience? You could probably mow your neighbor’s lawns and pick up that kind of money if you put your brain into it. It doesn’t have to be work in your current profession or bust.

Tyler

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1423 on: June 08, 2018, 01:21:16 PM »
Mind blown. This is an awesome application of the best kind of intensive geekiness. I am in awe. Also, I am three years behind, but don't want to lose this thread. Thank you so much!

You're welcome!  I'm glad you find it useful.  Withdrawal rates certainly aren't the be-all-end-all with retirement planning and there's a lot more to a good strategy than a backtested withdrawal rate, but I do think it pays to understand how they work and plan accordingly.  BTW, since I first wrote that post I've done a lot more work on the same subject.  You can find a collection here: https://portfoliocharts.com/portfolio/retirement-income/


i am from the UK and HATE that there is very limited literature from a UK based perspective on the 4% rule other than ours should be lower (like 2.5%) which are just for click-bait i am sure because even this country has averaged 5% returns after inflation over 100+ years.

equally frustrating is I dont find much literature from a global portfolio perspective and what the 4% rule would look like then?

hard to not worry about the 4% rule when 1. you are not from the states 2. no specific studies I can see that dont have some agenda of creating click bait.
https://portfoliocharts.com/calculators/
Tyler's calculators include UK and include data as far as 1970, which I understand was one of the worse starting periods for SWR.

Yep.  :) 

The frustration of non-US investors about US-centric investing analysis is definitely warranted, and I'm doing my best to help.  All of the calculators on the site (including Withdrawal Rates) are able to directly model UK portfolios using UK securities, inflation, and exchange rates.

And you may also find these links interesting:

Explanation of how your home country affects withdrawal rates

Collection of British portfolios with accompanying stats
« Last Edit: June 08, 2018, 01:36:27 PM by Tyler »

Exflyboy

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1424 on: June 08, 2018, 03:53:48 PM »
I see the S&P500 is a mere 3.2% down from the Feb all time high...:)

TempusFugit

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1425 on: June 08, 2018, 04:27:06 PM »
I see the S&P500 is a mere 3.2% down from the Feb all time high...:)

I prefer to think in positive terms:  The S&P is UP 3.1% since Jan 2.     


Jamese20

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1426 on: June 09, 2018, 03:39:21 AM »
THat is a very all-or-nothing way of thinking about it though. Certainly there is something else in the wide world of paying work that could bring in $10k/year with your education and experience? You could probably mow your neighbor’s lawns and pick up that kind of money if you put your brain into it. It doesn’t have to be work in your current profession or bust.

Mowing lawns ? I think you are kind of proving my point - I would rather be full time professional with some self respect than having to mow my neighbors lawn because the 4% rule is failing me

If I can find a side hussle of sorts that give me some decent income then that's brilliant, the hard part is finding what that is

I don't buy mmm just stumbling onto a 6 figure paying website, I know how much effort and commitment it takes to run any site let alone a fantastic one like this.

It really is easy to say "find some enjoyable part time work" when 90% of people hate even their full time work let alone trying to find part time work.


Retire-Canada

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1427 on: June 09, 2018, 06:05:14 AM »
I would rather be full time professional with some self respect than having to mow my neighbors lawn because the 4% rule is failing me



I think you've answered your question. Just work more. The beauty with shooting for a sub-4%WR is not only will you have more money you'll have less time you need to fund your retirement before you die. Quite cunning! ;)

Personally I'll retire earlier and enjoy my life. I'm flexible and adaptable. For FIRE success I think that's a lot more important than having a sub-4%WR.

Everyone is different so do what works for you.

Jamese20

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1428 on: June 09, 2018, 08:58:55 AM »
I would rather be full time professional with some self respect than having to mow my neighbors lawn because the 4% rule is failing me



I think you've answered your question. Just work more. The beauty with shooting for a sub-4%WR is not only will you have more money you'll have less time you need to fund your retirement before you die. Quite cunning! ;)

Personally I'll retire earlier and enjoy my life. I'm flexible and adaptable. For FIRE success I think that's a lot more important than having a sub-4%WR.

Everyone is different so do what works for you.

not quite :) neither are really the answer i would ideally want :)

DreamFIRE

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1429 on: June 09, 2018, 09:33:15 PM »
Good points made.  That said, work suckage is a relative thing.

I was tempted to reply earlier on that topic and about enjoying life.  I agree about working, and I actually like the majority of a given work week on my job.  But there was also a comment about FIREing and enjoying life.  People should be able to enjoy life while working as well, not hanging onto FIRE to finally enjoy life.

Quote
The easiest path is not always the best for our soul, so consider that some people will choose to work beyond 4% for multiple reasons, not just to never run out of sufficient funds.

Exactly.  But from the financial perspective, if someone's 4% is calculated on barebone just to pay the necessary expenses, then they better save extra for discretionary spending so that they're not "just getting by" in FIRE.

Jamese20

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1430 on: June 10, 2018, 03:33:45 AM »
I guess I will just have to use it as a rough guide but I find answers like "just go back to work" really frustrating as that is not what I want to be doing if I decide to retire early.

Work sucks overall and alot of folks on FI sites claim to love it, maybe they do but I have to say I don't fit into that at the moment.

Let's agree work sucks.

Your choices are:

1. work extra years now to save/invest beyond a reasonable 4%WR
2. stop at 4%WR and face a small risk you might have to do some part-time work later

Option 1 means a 100% chance of doing a bunch more of that work that sucks. Option 2 most likely won't happen. Personally that leads me to choose Option 2.
Good points made.  That said, work suckage is a relative thing.  Once its gone you appretiate some of its qualities, such as 1) adding productively to society, 2) opportunity and requirement to meet with and interact with people unlike you, you might otherwise meet (good to see and understand that people unlike you exist in society) and perhaps mentor/build relationships with them that are valuable, 3) direct opportunitiy to see and observe non mustacian people to create anecdotes for 'shame threads'....where will you get more material for `heard at work', if not working?, 4) earning money is a feel good thing that can be hard to say good bye too.

Anyway, just a thought that while some aspects of work can suck, we can also try to appretiate all the learning opportunities that work provides.  I have learned a lot from my sucky work experiences, how to be more mindful and in control of myself, deal with bad people, etc.   Many life experiences, including work, misfortune, illness, have plenty to learn from their challenges.  The easiest path is not always the best for our soul, so consider that some people will choose to work beyond 4% for multiple reasons, not just to never run out of sufficient funds.

A pretty obvious point, perhaps and maybe off topic.  Likely I will remove it later to keep the thread on the math and not the retirement psychology we will face on trigger day....still dealing with that myself.

I think the things you have posted mostly start to get realised when you actually dont need the money - until then, i think most would find it difficult in most circumstances to see the benefits.

after all, they wouldn't call it "work" if it was in reality, some really wonderful thing to do :) having said that I would probably start to feel that trigger day myself you are describing - I really do think work becomes so much more enjoyable when you do not need the money and until you get there, you never fully realise its benefits?

SwordGuy

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1431 on: June 10, 2018, 08:41:01 AM »
But from the financial perspective, if someone's 4% is calculated on barebone just to pay the necessary expenses, then they better save extra for discretionary spending so that they're not "just getting by" in FIRE.

We calculated 2 numbers.

An FI number, which meant we could survive indefinitely without jobs. 

A FIRE number, which meant we could fund the life we choose to live indefinitely without jobs.

You can shed a lot of stress when you reach the first number, and shed your jobs without worry when you reach the second number. 

(Well, mathmatically without worry, but in reality, there may well be some worry, because we're people not calculators.)

« Last Edit: June 17, 2018, 03:26:41 PM by SwordGuy »

maizefolk

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1432 on: June 10, 2018, 08:45:17 AM »
after all, they wouldn't call it "work" if it was in reality, some really wonderful thing to do :)

Extremely low effort post below:


Retire-Canada

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1433 on: June 10, 2018, 05:32:22 PM »
Good points made.  That said, work suckage is a relative thing.  Once its gone you appretiate some of its qualities, such as 1) adding productively to society, 2) opportunity and requirement to meet with and interact with people unlike you, you might otherwise meet (good to see and understand that people unlike you exist in society) and perhaps mentor/build relationships with them that are valuable, 3) direct opportunitiy to see and observe non mustacian people to create anecdotes for 'shame threads'....where will you get more material for `heard at work', if not working?, 4) earning money is a feel good thing that can be hard to say good bye too.

Anyway, just a thought that while some aspects of work can suck, we can also try to appretiate all the learning opportunities that work provides.  I have learned a lot from my sucky work experiences, how to be more mindful and in control of myself, deal with bad people, etc.   Many life experiences, including work, misfortune, illness, have plenty to learn from their challenges.  The easiest path is not always the best for our soul, so consider that some people will choose to work beyond 4% for multiple reasons, not just to never run out of sufficient funds.

A pretty obvious point, perhaps and maybe off topic.  Likely I will remove it later to keep the thread on the math and not the retirement psychology we will face on trigger day....still dealing with that myself.

I wouldn't argue there were positives to some aspects of working. After 33yrs of work [in my case] if I haven't gotten the benefit/appreciation from them yet another decade chained to a desk isn't going to make that happen.  If I was one of these lucky bastards ERing after 5yrs at some magical software engineering gig maybe I'd feel I missed out.

Most of us have been programmed from nearly birth to work and power the economic engine of society. By the time you have saved up enough to hit a 4%WR you'll have done a lot of work. So my general advice is to get the hell out. From the perspective of someone who has always been working it's hard and scary to quite and see what you and your life are like without that career/job. It's always easier to stay chained to the desk. So people look for almost any rationale they can to OMY.

Reading these forums I don't come across any instances where I think "Boy this guy/gal is really going to suffer because they didn't work enough and get to enjoy enough of those work experience benefits."
« Last Edit: June 10, 2018, 05:39:10 PM by Retire-Canada »

Retire-Canada

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1434 on: June 10, 2018, 05:42:01 PM »
I agree that everyone's situation is unique. This is likely why I react when people post absolute statements like 'we can all agree work sucks, so we should all quite once we are FI.'  Many on here are teachers, MDs, police...they are helping society not just chained to a desk...

Nobody is saying you or anyone else has to stop working if you don't want to. Retirement [at least in most cases] is voluntary. I would argue a doctor can be chained to a desk as a wage salve just like anyone else. The difference is his/her cage is just more nicely decorated. ;)

I would also argue a lot of people that don't stop working are staying the course not because it's amazing, but because stopping is scary as hell.

Retire-Canada

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1435 on: June 10, 2018, 06:14:43 PM »
Well, I've both worked after being FI, and have chosen to retire.   So speaking from personal experience I can say that you are wrong in at least instance (my own).  I wasnt 'scared to retire.'  I had plenty of money, but had things to complete, work wise.

That said I woukd hesitate to try to speak for other people, as I cant reasonably speak for them as being 'scared' or not, without actually being them.



Agreed you can't speak for other people. Although I think it would be the rare high powered professional who would admit they were scared to stop working. If people were 100% honest with themselves and others....and able to work out accurately what is motivating their responses to major life events like FIRE psychiatrists/psychologists would be out of business. Luckily [for the psychiatrists] that's not the case.

I will say personally, as someone who is stoked about FIRE, the prospect of going through that massive life change is daunting and I am definitely scared/apprehensive, but that's just me. And I may be lying. ;)
« Last Edit: June 10, 2018, 06:54:01 PM by Retire-Canada »

steveo

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1436 on: June 10, 2018, 07:51:54 PM »
I will say personally, as someone who is stoked about FIRE, the prospect of going through that massive life change is daunting and I am definitely scared/apprehensive, but that's just me. And I may be lying. ;)

Myself and my wife are spending a lot of time discussing the big change that FIRE will bring onto us. I wouldn't say I'm scared but I think it will be a big change and it's something that I'm at least nervous about.
« Last Edit: June 12, 2018, 02:20:33 AM by steveo »

Exflyboy

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1437 on: June 11, 2018, 10:04:26 AM »
It is a big change without a doubt.. But it falls into the "good problem to have" category...:)

OurTown

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1438 on: June 14, 2018, 02:44:42 PM »
https://www.getrichslowly.org/four-percent-rule/

A few thoughts from J.D. Roth.  Enjoy.

Classical_Liberal

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1439 on: June 14, 2018, 03:25:23 PM »
https://www.getrichslowly.org/four-percent-rule/

From the article
Quote
Last October at Our Next Life, Tanja wrote that the fundamental problem with the 4% rule for early retirement isn’t the 4% rule. “The fundamental problem with any ‘safe’ withdrawal rate is the underlying assumption of level spending over time,” she said.

And you don’t have to be planning for dirtbag years followed by larger-living years, as we are, to be looking ahead to increasing costs in the future. You could be the most disciplined budgeter of all time and still need to plan for your spending to change over time.

The problem, Tanja says, is that many costs — especially costs for large expenses — can outpace inflation. Health care costs, for example, have been skyrocketing for years. So has the cost of higher education. Housing costs too have been increasing faster than inflation (and their historical average).

Meanwhile, Social Security and private pensions have not kept pace with inflation. (That’s one reason that, like many of you, I don’t even consider Social Security when calculating my retirement figures. Yes, I look at my projected benefits now and then. But to me, any future SS payments will be a bonus, not part of my actual calculations.)

False.  Assumptions not based in fact and without statistical support.  People spend less as they age

AdrianC

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1440 on: June 14, 2018, 05:38:03 PM »
False.  Assumptions not based in fact and without statistical support.  People spend less as they age

From the linked article:
This article examines the spending patterns of households with a reference person age 55 and older.

Be interesting, and more relevant, to see a study of the spending patterns of households with a reference person age 40 and older.

Anyway, expected increases in spending - like healthcare inflation - can be planned for and built into our number. That's what I did.

boarder42

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1441 on: June 14, 2018, 05:44:52 PM »
False.  Assumptions not based in fact and without statistical support.  People spend less as they age

From the linked article:
This article examines the spending patterns of households with a reference person age 55 and older.

Be interesting, and more relevant, to see a study of the spending patterns of households with a reference person age 40 and older.

Anyway, expected increases in spending - like healthcare inflation - can be planned for and built into our number. That's what I did.

In all actuality healthcare costs will start to be curbed over time. General services cant outpace inflation forever more players will enter tech will get more involved and people flat out won't continue to pay exorbitant rates. I have a much more optimistic out look on healthcare than most though.

pecunia

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1442 on: June 16, 2018, 08:49:51 AM »
bored of 42:
Quote
In all actuality healthcare costs will start to be curbed over time. General services cant outpace inflation forever more players will enter tech will get more involved and people flat out won't continue to pay exorbitant rates. I have a much more optimistic out look on healthcare than most though.

Good point - I think that more people are becoming aware that they are being ripped off rather than just blindly paying the ferryman.  I think businesses are being aware that they are being ripped off.  I think insurance companies while ripping us off are becoming aware that they too are becoming ripped off.

Retire - Canada:

Quote
Most of us have been programmed from nearly birth to work and power the economic engine of society. By the time you have saved up enough to hit a 4%WR you'll have done a lot of work. So my general advice is to get the hell out. From the perspective of someone who has always been working it's hard and scary to quite and see what you and your life are like without that career/job. It's always easier to stay chained to the desk. So people look for almost any rationale they can to OMY.

I used to think that way until I learned about the 1 percent.  Some of my work goes towards Society and some goes to those guys and I don't like it.  They don't care about me so why should I care about keepin' on workin' and helping them.  I guess you are right.  The smart thing is to get out.

Hey - If I moved a few miles North to Ontario, could I get the health care?


Exflyboy

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1443 on: June 16, 2018, 09:19:23 AM »
As time goes on I see more and more employers acting abusively towards their employees. Seems to me the faster you are done working for people who see you more as a commodity rather than a human being the better!

Once you are FI you don't HAVE to quit but having the option is priceless.

Classical_Liberal

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1444 on: June 17, 2018, 12:39:10 AM »
False.  Assumptions not based in fact and without statistical support.  People spend less as they age

From the linked article:
This article examines the spending patterns of households with a reference person age 55 and older.

Be interesting, and more relevant, to see a study of the spending patterns of households with a reference person age 40 and older.

Anyway, expected increases in spending - like healthcare inflation - can be planned for and built into our number. That's what I did.

In all actuality healthcare costs will start to be curbed over time. General services cant outpace inflation forever more players will enter tech will get more involved and people flat out won't continue to pay exorbitant rates. I have a much more optimistic out look on healthcare than most though.

Yah, that article seems to be a little light on research. It also commits a large logical fallacy by looking at a short-term trend and extrapolating it indefinably into the future. I am referring to the below section:

"...especially costs for large expenses — can outpace inflation. Health care costs, for example, have been skyrocketing for years. So has the cost of higher education."

Medical care cost inflation has been moderating and is around 2%. [1]

The inflation rate for the cost of college has been falling since 1982 and is now around 1.9%. [2]

[1] https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIMEDSL#0
[2] https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUSR0000SEEB#0

Right, I think over long periods of time we see mean reversions in these types of things. Unless, of course, there is a fundamental change; think industrial revolution.  If Healthcare keeps up it's current pace it will cost more than GDP relatively soon.  Obviously that can't happen.  Closed systems only have so many resources.  How cost increases start to drop is the only real question (ie will we just have less services?)

Think of it as investing, we will never see CAPE 100 (at least not for the long term), who'd pay a dollar to get 50 cents of earnings? 

pecunia

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1445 on: June 18, 2018, 03:34:31 PM »
Classical_Liberal:
Quote
Right, I think over long periods of time we see mean reversions in these types of things. Unless, of course, there is a fundamental change; think industrial revolution.  If Healthcare keeps up it's current pace it will cost more than GDP relatively soon.  Obviously that can't happen.

There's already been a few times when I have self diagnosed minor ailments with the computer.  Trips to the doctor are expensive.  Can't we expect cost decreases with expert programming?  Doctors are looking for patterns and they use these patterns to make a diagnosis.  Seems like computers can do a lot of this.  Will the necessity of needed medical care be the mother of one or more new inventions?

boarder42

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1446 on: June 19, 2018, 07:52:08 AM »
Classical_Liberal:
Quote
Right, I think over long periods of time we see mean reversions in these types of things. Unless, of course, there is a fundamental change; think industrial revolution.  If Healthcare keeps up it's current pace it will cost more than GDP relatively soon.  Obviously that can't happen.

There's already been a few times when I have self diagnosed minor ailments with the computer.  Trips to the doctor are expensive.  Can't we expect cost decreases with expert programming?  Doctors are looking for patterns and they use these patterns to make a diagnosis.  Seems like computers can do a lot of this.  Will the necessity of needed medical care be the mother of one or more new inventions?

they are already working on this.  cameras that can determine if moles need to be biopsied.  eventually that could just be an app on your phone take a picture tells you if it fits the pattern that would need a biopsy - doctors over precribe biopsies for fear of being wrong.  AI helps the medical industry and actually is more efficient than a doctor if symptoms are entered into a system in the not too distant future it should be much better than a doctor at diagnosis - esp. in fringe cases where a doctor may just not have the knowledge. a machine can have all the knowledge.

pecunia

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1447 on: June 19, 2018, 08:10:18 AM »
Boarder42:
Quote
a machine can have all the knowledge.

You know a lot of us let things go too far before we see a doctor as they are expensive.  I could see a machine inexpensively checking you out more often, trending changes in your body and letting you know.  This would be great preventive medicine.

Retire-Canada

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1448 on: June 19, 2018, 08:26:28 AM »
We are pretty far off the beaten track for the thread topic, but as a side note I've started using an e-doctor service here in BC. I just log in on my computer and usually within minutes I am video conferencing with a doctor and so far have been totally satisfied with the service. Saves me time and money. Saves the doctor time and money. I am more likely to see a doctor because the hassle is next to zero. So I stay on top of anything that's bothering me rather than waiting until it's a more serious issue. Overall this should be a significant savings to the health care system as it gets adopted more widely.

Canada is talking about various pharmacare/dental care programs where the government is the sole buyer and can negotiate amazing rates on drugs and services. Then it gets paid for with taxes and possibly income tested fees. I hope that goes through. It has the potential to save the country and massive massive amount of money and result in a much healthier population when nobody is choosing between rent/food and RX drugs/dental care.


boarder42

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Re: Stop worrying about the 4% rule
« Reply #1449 on: June 19, 2018, 09:24:36 AM »
We are pretty far off the beaten track for the thread topic, but as a side note I've started using an e-doctor service here in BC. I just log in on my computer and usually within minutes I am video conferencing with a doctor and so far have been totally satisfied with the service. Saves me time and money. Saves the doctor time and money. I am more likely to see a doctor because the hassle is next to zero. So I stay on top of anything that's bothering me rather than waiting until it's a more serious issue. Overall this should be a significant savings to the health care system as it gets adopted more widely.

Canada is talking about various pharmacare/dental care programs where the government is the sole buyer and can negotiate amazing rates on drugs and services. Then it gets paid for with taxes and possibly income tested fees. I hope that goes through. It has the potential to save the country and massive massive amount of money and result in a much healthier population when nobody is choosing between rent/food and RX drugs/dental care.

yep teladoc is now offered by my insurance company and our company encourages us to use it b/c it lowers costs taht they directly pass on to the rates we pay.