How fast you spend your savings — and which accounts you draw from first — has a major effect on how long your money lasts. There's no single right answer, but there are well-tested approaches.
This guide compares the most common withdrawal strategies and the trade-offs of each.
The 4% rule and its limits
Where the classic guideline comes from and why it's a starting point, not a guarantee.
The bucket strategy
Segmenting savings by time horizon to manage short-term needs and long-term growth.
Dynamic and guardrail approaches
Adjusting withdrawals up or down based on how your portfolio performs.
Tax-smart withdrawal sequencing
Choosing which accounts to tap first to manage your lifetime tax bill.
Building guaranteed income underneath
Using guaranteed income to reduce how much you must withdraw from volatile assets.
This guide is for general educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Tim Hartle is an independent insurance professional. Annuity guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company and are not FDIC insured. Rules and product features vary by situation and by state. Please consult a qualified advisor about your own circumstances.