The 4% rule gets talked about like gospel in retirement planning. But let’s be honest, it’s always been more of a rough guess than a golden rule. Now, its original creator is revising it to 4.7%. So, does that mean your retirement paycheck just got a raise, or is this just another headline that oversimplifies a complex decision?

As tempting as it is to latch onto a single number, that percentage is based on assumptions most retirees don’t realize, including specific portfolio splits, ideal market conditions, and perfect timing. In this episode, Scott takes a grounded look at what the 4% rule was really built on and what the new 4.7% figure actually means. Tune in to learn why static numbers can be misleading and how a more flexible, personalized approach can help keep your retirement plan on track.

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Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📏 Why the 4% rule became the “default” retirement planning guide

🔍 What the 4.7% update really means (and doesn’t mean)

🖩 Why drag-and-drop spreadsheets can create false confidence

🧩 Building your retirement around your actual lifestyle, risk tolerance and income mix

0:00 – Intro

0:46 – Background on the 4% rule

3:40 – “Rules of thumb” don’t always work

7:41 – The power of flexible withdrawal rates

16:37 – Finding your personal withdrawal rate

Resources for this episode:

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