For decades, the 4% rule has served as a simple benchmark for retirees: withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one, adjust for inflation each year after, and your savings should last about 30 years. But new research suggests that today’s market conditions call for a little more caution.

You may want to keep anywhere from 30% to 60% of your retirement portfolio in stocks, depending on your risk tolerance, income needs, and outside income sources. A financial advisor can help you come up with a smart allocation, so it could pay to talk to one.

When you stop working years before most people, you’re not just retiring early — you’re signing up for an unusually long financial voyage. Over such long time horizons, markets will rise and fall, inflation will ebb and surge, and your needs will shift.

Since withdrawals from their Roth IRAs are off the table for now, the couple must choose how much to take from the remaining accounts. They decide to withdraw 60% from their 401 (k)s ($24,000) and 40% from their brokerage account ($16,000).

A lot of people think saving money for retirement is the hard part. Some actual retirees might tell you that’s the easy part. The hard part, rather, comes when it’s time to start withdrawing from your savings.

Most retirees tap their accounts in the wrong order, draining savings faster and triggering unnecessary taxes. This 5-step withdrawal plan could make your money last years longer.

Your 401(k) or IRA could hide a tax time bomb. Withdrawals in retirement are taxed. RMDs at age 73 can spike income. Future tax hikes could slash savings. A $1M account may face $40,000+ in mandatory withdrawals,

Get clarity on the four percent rule and how financial advisors build sustainable withdrawal plans. Learn how to protect your nest egg while still enjoying your retirement years.

These factors all occurring at once may impact Americans in the long-term, especially as it pertains to retirement funds and savings.

This article draws heavily on Bill Bengen’s new groundbreaking safe withdrawal rate research and references his latest updates. Bill was kind enough to review the article and his insights are included. Bill is widely recognized as the originator of the ...

Now to be very clear, an HSA is not a retirement account in that you don't have to save the money for retirement specifically. There's no such thing as an early HSA withdrawal penalty. The only penalty you have to worry about is a non-medical withdrawal penalty, which you should try to avoid since it'll cost you 20%.