In Boot Camp #6, Paul Merriman walks through real historical data starting in 1970 to test what happens when retirees withdraw 3%, 4%, or 5% from a $1 million portfolio — adjusted for inflation — across some of the toughest market conditions in history.
This episode covers:
The difference between retiring with “enough” and “more than enough”
How inflation quietly turns $30,000 into $130,000+ over 30 years
What happens if you retire into a bear market
Why 1% more in withdrawals can cost millions
S&P 500 vs. a globally diversified four-fund strategy
How diversification impacts lifetime income and legacy outcomes
The real risk of sequence of returns in retirement
Why some portfolios ran out of money — and others didn’t
You’ll hear side-by-side comparisons of:
100% S&P 500 portfolios
40/60, 50/50, and 60/40 stock-bond mixes
A worldwide four-fund equity strategy
Fixed inflation-adjusted withdrawals over 30 years
The results may surprise you — especially when comparing 3%, 4%, and 5% withdrawal rates.
If you're approaching retirement, already retired, or helping someone make distribution decisions, this episode breaks down the numbers in plain English and shows how small choices can create million-dollar differences.
Next week: the strategy Paul considers the very best distribution method — for investors who retire with more than enough.
Watch Video Here
Catch up on the previous Boot Camp 2026 here
