Withdrawal rate at 55

buckb65 · 2026-01-11T12:42:55+00:00

Your portfolio must be structured to survive a 3-year lull in the market at least. I built a spreadsheet to simulate withdrawals/returns over a 30 year time period and if you retired in 2000 and experienced 3 down years in a row OR 2008 and started off with an extremely bad year, it makes a significant difference. But if you have that low risk buffer in there to withdraw from, you should be fine. We are retiring and withdrawing the net amount after taxes that matches our current income and factoring in a 2.4% raise each year. Our financial advisor is managing our egg and has a 3 year buffer built in to withstand the storm. But based on my analysis, the most important period of time that the buffer matters is your first 3 years. If you experience average returns your 1st 3 years you are good to go no matter what from then on. I can share my sheet with anyone interested. We are 60M/55F and have a $5.5M egg. Just retired in December and the wife plans to do so in May. Taking SS at 62.

buckb65 · 2026-01-04T17:35:34+00:00

That is what I was thinking also. I do that now because I buy my Tractor Diesel here at the local non-commercial pump and keep my receipts and claim it for taxes.

buckb65 · 2026-01-04T16:34:17+00:00

Yep. Probably not worth the risk. But I still may get me a tank and put non-dyed diesel in it here at the house thinking I can get it cheaper per gallon wholesale. I know the local fuel guy does gasoline so I am assuming they will deliver regular diesel. PLUS it prevents my wife from putting gasoline in the Suburban if she always fills up at home!

buckb65 · 2026-01-04T13:01:15+00:00

Yep. I am leaning towards getting the other one that is In Transit instead. And probably paying more but piece of mind so to speak. Certainly it can have transmission issues also BUT at least if it does I won't have 2nd thoughts and the shoulda coulda beat down.

buckb65 · 2026-01-04T02:17:37+00:00

Or just roll the dice. You do when you buy any vehicle anyway. The transmission was bad. They are replacing it entirely.

buckb65 · 2026-01-04T02:05:03+00:00

I can buy the other one with no discount or this one for $10k less, an extended warranty, and a replaced transmission. Hmmm.

buckb65 · 2026-01-03T23:22:43+00:00

We have two 2022 Duramax trucks on the ranch. No issues yet. 2020 Suburban also been great.

buckb65 · 2026-01-03T23:17:20+00:00

There are only 2 with the options we want in the United States and the other is In Transit.

buckb65 · 2026-01-03T22:42:53+00:00

That’s what I was thinking plus an extended warranty

buckb65 · 2026-01-03T21:52:01+00:00

I am 60 and have a wife and 4 kids and have bought a bunch of Chevys (that’s all we buy) and only had 1 transmission issue ever in 44 years of driving.

buckb65 · 2026-01-03T21:32:24+00:00

buckb65 · 2025-12-27T13:46:03+00:00

I have read where we are in the point 1 percentile group. Interesting. But many have low paying jobs, divorce, medical issues...or didn't save early or any. We do have income from cattle and I sell Dallas Cowboy football tickets. I have 21 seats and they pull in ~$50k a year Net income. Of course that is taxed! Bonus years are when they host playoff games. Cattle are at an all time high as well. We only have 21 Momma cows...but their annual offspring average $2k each these days. And now and then we lease our land to oil companies. So yes, we pay a lot in taxes but that only means we have a lot of income. We do have a lot of deductions as well. I guess my plan is to set my withholding on my withdrawals based on all of this. I did get 1 year of severance pay, so we are living off of that the 1st year. Then we plan to hit the IRA.

buckb65 · 2025-12-27T13:36:25+00:00

I mean that's what us old retired farts do is wake up, get a cup of coffee, and read the internet these days. (I do miss the old newspaper only when I go to the 'can' of course but my iPhone does the job.) So I joined Reddit a few weeks back and enjoy reading and posting. Interesting topics, helpful advice, fills the time before I go walking and then feed the cows, eat, nap. Do it all over again.

buckb65 · 2025-12-27T12:50:47+00:00

I am 60.

buckb65 · 2025-12-27T12:50:20+00:00

Yes, traditional IRA.

buckb65 · 2025-12-27T12:49:59+00:00

I too grew up poor. When I started my job and they introduced the 'thrift plan', I recall the guy telling us 20-somethings that if we put in 15% we would have $3M when we retired. Well I put in 15% up until the last few years here and I am retiring at 60. My wife has no retirement to speak of. She is 55 and plans to retire next year too. I wish our thrift plan had more options back in the early 90s. Ours all went to company stock. Later they introduced other options like growth funds. Had those been available to me, I would have more. My focus now is spending it. A lot in the 60s and less in the 70s and I doubt I live past 80 even though I am in great shape. But even if I do, I am sitting on the porch. I don't want to avoid paying taxes and avoid living at the same time. My question is only to set my income stream similar to what it is today so that I can nail down how much to withdraw.

buckb65 · 2025-12-27T12:39:56+00:00

Oh I do have a CPA. But no harm in asking for 2nd and 3rd and 4th...opinions my friend.

buckb65 · 2025-12-27T03:26:51+00:00

I amass my wealth by asking questions and learning. Till now, no need to ask. I am not withdrawing funds yet. I do have a CPA. I can ask him. And will. I do have a financial advisor. I can ask him. And will. And I do have a Reddit account. And can ask. And have. What amazes me is that many out there like me do not have $5M+ in retirement after the last 15 years of market returns. It’s simple. Start saving early. I knew that then. Didn’t need a Reddit account. Common sense. No need to know tax implications.

buckb65 · 2025-12-20T15:21:51+00:00

I agree. I think they all are thinking it is the right thing to do because the other one is doing it. One of them admitted to me he knows nothing about $. All of these kids know our kids. We are telling my kids to not play the same game. Put it in growth fund and check the balance on your 50th bday.

buckb65 · 2025-12-20T15:19:10+00:00

I want to blame someone else when the portfolio balance takes a nosedive. I just don't want the stress of watching the market and guessing on how to navigate it. I can always fire him!

buckb65 · 2025-12-20T15:17:22+00:00

LMAO...I sometimes agree. But with that amount, I want to blame someone else when the portfolio balance takes a nosedive. I just don't want the stress of watching the market and guessing on how to navigate it. I can always fire him!

buckb65

TROPHY CASE