How should you prepare for retirement? How much money do you need to save in advance? Exactly how much income will you need each year? As you approach retirement, you will want to evaluate your options when it comes to your income. During your retirement, you’ll receive income from Social Security benefits, as well as possibly retirement account distributions, a pension, or some other source. One popular strategy for your retirement income is “the $1,000 per month” rule. This rule states that for every $240,000 that you have set aside, you can receive $1,000 per-month assuming you withdraw 5% of your savings each year.
With the $1,000 per month rule, you’ll need at least $240,000 in savings if you plan to withdraw 5% of your savings each year. If you’re planning on taking out $2,000 every month, at a withdrawal rate of 5%, you’ll need to set aside $480,000. For $3,000, you should aim to save $720,000.
Following through on this strategy involves creating investments and developing passive sources of income: The income could come from investments, dividends, rental properties, or other sources that require little to no effort.
Advantages of the $1000 Rule
The more money you have access to in retirement, the better, especially in times of rising costs and high inflation. $1,000 a month can provide you with a level of financial security, as it covers a portion of regular expenses. You can also take some comfort in knowing what to expect. If you retire at age 65 with a nest egg of $480,000, you can set up your monthly budget based on withdrawing $2,000 monthly. You may even be motivated to save more to receive a higher level of passive income in retirement. This strategy does, however, have some limitations.
Savings can help you prepare for the future. However, reliance on investments exposes you to risk; your portfolio balance will rise and fall based on the state of the market. In the event of a market downturn, your portfolio balance could drop, and when retirement arrives you might not have enough money to last you using the $1,000 strategy. So, you may want to take out less money per year to ensure your funds last longer.
The 4% Rule
The $1,000 per month rule is actually a variation of the 4% rule. The 4% rule has been a financial planning rule of thumb for many years. The rule states that retirees can deduct 4% from their portfolio each year (adjusted for inflation) and not run out of money for at least 30 years. “Retirees who had a mix of 50% stocks and 50% bonds and who lived on about 4% each year would be unlikely to run out of money in retirement.” Like the $1,000 rule, however, the 4% rule has some limitations. Not all retirees want a 50-50 mix of stocks and bonds. Additionally, some people may need more or less money in a given year. These rules are guidelines, intended to ensure that you save enough for retirement and don’t withdraw funds too quickly.
The 4% Rule is Back
For a long time, the 4% rule was considered the gospel of retirement strategies. But, in recent years, that changed. Many financial advisors warned that you were likely to run out of money by starting with that rate. Based on the state of the economy a few years ago, the recommendation was changed to 3.3%. Thanks to higher interest rates and bond yields recently, though, it may be safe for new retirees to spend 4% of their nest egg in their first year of retirement (and then adjust that amount for inflation in subsequent years).
Using this method, someone who retires right now with a $1 million portfolio with 40% of it in stocks and 60% in bonds would spend no more than $40,000 from that portfolio in 2024. Assuming inflation rises by 3% next year, the investor would give themselves a raise up to $41,200 in 2025, regardless of the performance of the market.
In the case of those already retired, meanwhile, they should stick with the recommended withdrawal amount they began their retirement with (adjusted for inflation) rather than switching to 4% now.
We Can Help
Investing in the market is a tricky process. The performance of a stock will change as time goes on. If you want to prevent losses as much as possible, you should do your research, and invest in the right stocks at the right times. This is tricky–It would be best to work with a qualified financial advisor with an “active” approach to money management. We can help with this.
Reach out to American Principal Wealth Management today: you could reserve a seat at one of our educational seminar events, where we’ll disclose potentially helpful information regarding planning for retirement. Or, you could reach out to us to schedule a one-on-one meeting so we can review your retirement strategy and discuss your financial future. Help us help you–Contact us today.
Sources: U.S. News, Wall Street Journal, The Balance
