The 5% Rule: Why Retirees Can Safely Spend More Than The 4% Rule Allows

Retirement planning just got a lot more flexible. In this episode, Andy Hill breaks down the new 5% rule, based on his interview with Bill Bengen, the creator of the original 4% rule. Learn how this updated strategy can help you withdraw more from your portfolio, reach Coast FIRE faster, and enjoy life while you are still healthy. We also hear the inspiring net worth journey of John and David Auten-Schneider, hosts of the Queer Money Podcast, who grew their wealth from $51,000 of credit card debt to $1.6 million in their early 50s. Finally, Andy and his son Calvin dive into “The Good Word,” where they celebrate positive financial news and explore how investing can grow wealth over time. RESOURCES⁠Sponsors, Deals, and Partners that Support the Show Sponsors, Deals & Partners – See all current offers in one place. MKM RESOURCES Own Your Time – Pre-order my first book today! MKM Coaching – Get 1-on-1 support with your family finance journey. Coast FIRE Calculator – Find out when you can slow down or stop investing for retirement. Mortgage Payoff Calculator – See how fast you can become mortgage free. YouTube – Subscribe for free to watch videos of episodes and interviews. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES (SPONSORS & AFFILIATES) Monarch Money – Best budget app for families & couples. Empower – Free portfolio tracker. Crew – HYSA banking built for families (Get an extra 0.5% APY with my partner link). Ethos – Affordable term life insurance. Trust & Will – Convenient estate planning made easy. Podcast Chapters 00:00 – Bill Bengen on enjoying life while spending safely 00:18 – Welcome and today’s 3 segments 01:00 – The 4% rule explained 02:20 – How Bill Bengen created the 4% rule 04:10 – Why diversification allows for a higher withdrawal rate 05:30 – Introducing the 5% rule 06:05 – Retirement math examples ($1M and $2M portfolios) 06:45 – FIRE and Coast FIRE implications (20x vs. 25x expenses) 07:50 – Conservative vs. aggressive expert takes (Orman, Ramsey, Vanguard) 09:00 – Why flexibility matters in retirement withdrawals 10:00 – Andy’s personal perspective on the 5% rule 10:15 – Net Worth Win: John and David Auten-Schneider (Queer Money Podcast) 13:00 – Their early struggles with $51,000 of credit card debt 15:30 – From debt payoff to Coast FIRE 18:00 – Breaking down their $1.6M net worth 21:00 – Navigating income dips and financial resilience 26:00 – Considering Roth conversions and tapping retirement accounts 32:00 – Future plans: Moving to Mexico and geo-liberation 37:30 – Their advice for others starting the wealth-building journey 39:00 – The power of house hacking and frugal car choices 40:20 – Where to find John and David online 40:23 – The Good Word with Calvin Hill 42:49 – Stock market hits all-time high and Calvin’s investing progress HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products. Opinions are the creators alone. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. CREDITS Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa Editor: Johnny Sohl Podcast Support: Andy Hill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices