The 4% Withdrawal Rule Explained

998. How much do you really need to retire? Should you always buy term life insurance? In episode 998, Money Girl Laura Adams audits 8 popular financial rules of thumb to see if they hold up in today’s economy.

What you’ll learn:

• The Rule of 72: How to calculate when your money will double.
• The DIME Method: A smarter way to calculate life insurance than "10x your income."
• Emergency Fund Math: Why 3 months might not be enough for you.
• Investing Allocations: Why "100 minus your age" is likely too conservative for 2026.
• Retirement Readiness: Understanding the "Multiplier of 25" and the 4% withdrawal rule.

Don't follow a rule just because it's famous—follow it because it works for your life.

Find a transcript here. 

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