A Richer Retirement: The 4.7% Rule | Bill Bengen | 169

13 snips

Sep 21, 2025

In this enlightening discussion, Bill Bengen, a renowned retirement researcher and creator of the original 4% rule, shares insights from his new book, A Richer Retirement. Joined by his wife, Barbara, they reveal their love story before diving into essential strategies for managing a successful retirement withdrawal plan. Bill explains the evolution of the 4% rule to 4.7%, discusses the impact of valuation and inflation, and offers guidance for late starters on how to balance saving and enjoying life. A must-listen for future retirees!

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ANECDOTE

How Bill And Barbara Met

Barbara and Bill met in a bereavement group after both losing spouses and became romantically involved over time.
Barbara credits Bill as an excellent teacher who helped her learn financial planning.

INSIGHT

Safe-Max Fell Over History Due To Market Shocks

The historic safe-max began higher (~5.75%) and fell over time due to large bear markets and later high-inflation periods.
The 1960s–70s conditions pushed the floor down to roughly 4.7% historically.

ADVICE

Pick A Withdrawal Strategy And Stress-Test It

Consider fixed-dollar, fixed-percentage, or front-loaded withdrawals and pick one that matches tolerance for volatility.
Plan for the inevitable cut in a front-loaded approach so you aren’t surprised later.

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We are welcoming back the man behind the most debated number in retirement, Bill Bengen- this time with a special appearance from his lovely wife, Barbara. We take a brief detour to hear their love story and how they met, before getting into his new book, 'A Richer Retirement: Supercharging the 4% Rule to Spend More and Enjoy More'. He joins us in this episode to:

Break down the primary goals of the book
Help you understand what's required to create and manage a successful personal retirement withdrawal plan
Step us through all the tools required to make your money last your entire lifetime

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📘A Richer Retirement

Charts and Tables from 'A Richer Retirement'

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