You Figured Out How to Save. Now What’s Your Withdrawal Strategy?

When planning for retirement, we often focus on the accumulation phase: saving diligently and investing wisely. We spend 40 or more years of our lives focused on building the proverbial “nest egg,” but after retirement, things change and so should our financial focus.

The transition from accumulation phase to distribution phase has historically been one of the most difficult transitions I see clients needing help with as they approach retirement. There are a variety of questions that must be answered. How much should you be withdrawing annually? Should you go with your IRA first or your brokerage account? Should you withdraw a fixed percentage or fixed amount? How much will you leave behind?

Having a well-planned withdrawal strategy is important: 
●    It helps to prolong the lifespan of your retirement savings.
●    It may reduce your overall tax burden.
●    It can provide a more balanced income stream.
●    It can help in preserving your wealth for legacy purposes.

Common Withdrawal Strategies to Consider 

There are a number of ways you can go about withdrawing money in retirement. As always, it helps to get advice from a trusted financial advisor, but it never hurts to educate yourself on some options beforehand. We’ve compiled a list of three strategies below that are commonly used. Which one sounds like the best fit for you?

1. Fixed Percentage Withdrawals (Including the 4% Rule)
   You’ve probably heard of the 4% rule, a guideline suggesting that you withdraw 4% of your retirement savings in the first year of retirement, adjusting for inflation in subsequent years.¹ For instance, if you have $3 million in retirement savings, you withdraw $120,000 in the first year. Of course, the percentage could be 3% or any other fixed percentage you choose.
   
   This rule aims to provide a steady income while keeping the principal balance largely intact. However, it's not one-size-fits-all. The rule doesn't account for market volatility, interest rate trends, tax implications, unexpected expenses, or changing personal circumstances. This can make your annual income a bit unpredictable, but if you withdraw a smaller percentage than what your investments are expected to earn, your income and the value of your account could actually go up over time. But be careful — if you take out too much, you might run out of money sooner than you think.
    
2. Fixed-Dollar Withdrawals 
   Some retirees choose to withdraw a set amount of money each year for a certain number of years. For instance, you might opt to take out $100,000 every year and then check if this amount still works for you after five years. This approach gives you a steady income to plan your budget around, but it doesn't consider the rising cost of living due to inflation. Also, if you set the amount too high, you might start eating too far into the money you have invested. Plus, if the market is down and your investments are worth less, you might have to sell more than you'd like to get the cash you need.²
    
3. Systematic Withdrawals
   This strategy has the investor withdrawing the income (such as dividends or interest) created by the underlying investments in the portfolio. Because the principal is not invaded, the strategy is designed to prevent one from running out of money and the investment has the opportunity to grow. However, like the fixed percentage withdrawal strategy, the amount of income you receive in any given year will vary. There’s also the risk that the amount you’re able to withdraw won’t meet all of your income needs, or you may not outpace inflation.

Are there other withdrawal strategies? Certainly. Which strategy is best for you? That really depends upon your unique situation. If you’re approaching retirement or lack confidence in your current strategy, we’re here to help you design a distribution strategy that meets your needs and is customized to your situation, so you feel confident that your cash flow needs are met as you enter (or are living) the next chapter of your life.

Meet Brian Horan, CPWA® »

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SOURCES

¹ "What Are Retirement Withdrawal Strategies?" BlackRock, 2023, www.blackrock.com/us/individual/education/retirement/withdrawal-rules-and-strategies. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
² "What Are Retirement Withdrawal Strategies?" BlackRock, 2023, www.blackrock.com/us/individual/education/retirement/withdrawal-rules-and-strategies. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023

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