Originally Posted by
123494
The 4% rule is the big one that seems to work over many 30 year periods. Unless you are a big spender in retirement, you'll likely end up with more than what you started with. Great if you had kids or a cause you care about. If you're single like me, not so much.
Endowments at universities and others use 4%. If they spend 4%, the additional investment income added to the principal compensates for inflation. Also, it keeps the ups and downs from eroding the buying power, over the long hall.
This is conservative.