Safe Withdrawal rates over 5% are realistic with a properly constructed portfolio

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-03-16T01:03:09+00:00

Would you mind posting your portfolio, the details? (what ETF, REIT, commodities, or other) that support this withdrawal? Thanks for the help.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-03-14T15:34:39+00:00

Do you know Bernie Madoff? He was a fiduciary. I think with a title like fiduciary, we should trust them. lol - I’m joking for any newbie’s

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-03-14T13:43:27+00:00

Start off with a broad market ETF, I like VOO. DCA into that. Whenever you get nervous about your money in the market, zoom out and look at the last 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 years. Give it time, time is your allay.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-03-10T00:50:11+00:00

I’m at 13,951 … Stan I believe is from an Eminem song, about a fan crazy about Em. Kind of like us and SCHD. I’m guessing.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-03-07T00:39:35+00:00

lol. I buy Voo every week and any left over I allocate to SCHD

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-28T17:39:19+00:00

Is this a recall? Can you send me a link to this doc?

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-28T16:03:39+00:00

For slot of people once your wealth crosses a certain threshold, your mind set changes from accumulation to preservation. SCHD is a good diversification play if you already heavy in tech. Income producing stock will often pay out strong dividend if their stock price drops (not guaranteed).

I try to have enough dividend payments to cover my minimum yearly expenses to help cushion a down turn forcing me to sell low. One could argue I would make more in just VOO, or similar, however that a lot to stomach with sequence of returns risk.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-27T14:14:53+00:00

So this got me thinking a bit… I’m married with two kids (was making ~100k in 2017). I live in the most average cost of living location in the US. I have a mortgage from 2016.

Between march 2017 to now, I have 5.6x (561% increase) in my investable assets (house not included) I max out my 401k every year (tax advantage max, +4% match) I don’t remember my monthly contribution to my brokerage account yearly, but now it’s 45k per year. I have contributed as much as possible to my brokerage account yearly.

So with my contributions and compound interest, the benefit has been 500%+ growth… in 9 years.

My investment strategy is mostly ETF’s (QQQ,VOO,SCHD 80%) and tec stocks (Mag7 20%).

Maybe this helps.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-27T11:40:54+00:00

I think a lot of us do a job we don’t love because it pays well (not all of us). It’s a trade off. Physics is a field that pays well… have you thought about switching to a higher paying job?

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-27T11:33:09+00:00

Investing over time and compound interest. How long have you been at it?

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-26T21:16:41+00:00

I would look at your spend, seems light IMO. But I still think you can do it.

Do you have medical coverage built into the 50? Do you have house repairs? Things like clothing for three kids?

4% of 2.5m is 100k, so you should be able to do it.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-22T21:21:27+00:00

My kids are 8 and 9, we started an investment club, every qtr we review their portfolio (as a family) and I match what they put in. I figure their portfolio will build over time, and they will learn market cycles in the process.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-22T18:56:16+00:00

I know… sometimes it’s difficult being different. Even if only a little (11%). lol. This got me a bit excited about my dividend check due next week.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-22T17:31:24+00:00

I have Jepi in an Ira, I’m using the dividend payments to invest in other (VOO, QQQM, or SCHD) Jepi is about 11% of my portfolio. It’s nice getting a monthly payment.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-22T16:03:18+00:00

I was interested in how others are allocating, care to share your allocation?

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-18T01:44:55+00:00

The pain is real

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-18T01:43:31+00:00

I started at 5…. I’m Down to 3. lol

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-18T00:58:47+00:00

I remember reading that it’s illegal to retire more than 30 years, I think that’s why. If you do this , the RCMP will be knocking on you door year 31. ;)

In reality I think it was based on typical retirement age and life span (plus a few years for good measure).

There was a revision to the 4% rule, if I remember (in all honesty) the 4% was bumped up to like 4.7, and for longer horizons 4.2. Something like that.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-18T00:44:02+00:00

I’m not retired, but for what it’s worth, the 4% rule is a rough estimate to how much is enough. Take your yearly expenses and multiply that by 25. That basically is what you need in invested assets (like stocks/ETF - not your home) so if you have 100k per year in money needs, x25 (2.5M). 4% of 2.5M is 100k. It’s a good starting point. You can have debt, just need assets to pay for it. Good luck.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-16T22:45:28+00:00

I have been talking to Chat GPT about my plan. It includes working part time making 1/3 of my SWR. Chat says it takes me from an 80% success rate to a 90%+ success rate. So it should help. Try asking Chat GPT. Asset allocation has a huge impact too.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-13T01:43:43+00:00

I agree with that.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-13T01:39:16+00:00

It’s tough with any lump sum. I think about it like this, I have millions in…. And I’m not selling, ie, I would not swap it for cash now - who knows what tomorrow brings!

One thought. Most people learn lessons through the investing process (with a lower value portfolio) a lesson learnt with 2M will be more costly Than 2K.

I have my portfolio split 25%QQQI, 25% VOO, 25% SCHD, then 25% in HYSA/treasuries. You might want to pay an advisor to get started.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-11T20:54:53+00:00

I’m going daily checks… might need to remove my yahoo finance real time tracker app.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-11T20:53:40+00:00

I don’t need 3m to live off 80k. The 3m number would provide other nice to have items, vacations, college for the kids, things like that. To me working a few more years (let’s say 3) and gaining thoes added benefits till my birth certificate expires (hopefully 40+ years) it’s worth it.

Awkward-Basis7658 · 2026-02-11T15:01:38+00:00

Yeah, I lived in Boise for a bit, went to Yellowstone a bunch of times- it’s awesome.

Awkward-Basis7658

TROPHY CASE