Economic and Political Insights

Economic and Political Insights

Personal Finance & Investing

Why the 4% Rule Could Ruin Your Retirement

It’s time to rethink the most popular rule of thumb in financial planning.

David Bernstein's avatar
David Bernstein
Sep 12, 2025
∙ Paid

Abstract: The “4% rule” has long been promoted as a safe and simple retirement strategy: withdraw 4% of your savings in the first year, adjust for inflation, and your money should last three decades. But the rule ignores taxes, debt, fees, market downturns, and unexpected expenses. This article explains why the 4% rule often fails in practice, highlight…

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