Retirement planning & income
The 4% rule: what it is and where it falls short
The 4% rule is a research finding about past data, not a guarantee. Learn what it actually says, the assumptions behind it and its main limits.
4 min read
Topic
Retirement planning & income
Saving targets, withdrawal concepts, pensions, annuities and turning savings into income.
6 articles
Retirement planning & income
Annuities: the basic types and how they work
An annuity is an insurance contract that can turn savings into income. Learn the main types, how the costs work and the questions regulators suggest.
4 min read
Retirement planning & income
How much to save for retirement: ways to think about it
There is no single correct retirement number. Here is how spending, other income, time and assumptions combine into a personal savings target.
4 min read
Retirement planning & income
Pension lump sum vs. monthly payments
Some pension plans offer a one-time lump sum in place of monthly payments for life. Learn how each option works, the tradeoffs and the tax rules.
5 min read
Retirement planning & income
Sequence-of-returns risk explained
Why the order of good and bad investment years matters once withdrawals begin, shown with a simple hypothetical example and common responses.
4 min read
Retirement planning & income
Turning savings into retirement income: the moving parts
A retirement income plan matches spending to income sources. See the main pieces: expenses, Social Security, withdrawals, taxes and reserves.
4 min read