Withdrawls from a Retirement Portfolio: Three Primary Options
Craig Israelsen, Ph.D., Brigham Young University

We observe that since 1926 a retirement portfolio being drawn down by the current RMD percentages for a period of 25 years finished “above water” (with more than the starting amount) almost 100% of the time (assuming a 60% equity/40% fixed income portfolio). For those who have retirement accounts that are not governed by the RMD, the option to withdraw a set percentage or a COLA-based annual withdrawal is a decision they will need to make. The findings in this analysis would favor a set percentage withdrawal (such as 4% or 5%) because it increases the annual withdrawals (due to growth in the portfolio) without endangering the portfolio account value.