Episode 409: Dave Ramsey's 8% Retirement Rule: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Dave Ramsey says retirees can safely withdraw 8% a year from the stock market, but does his retirement planning math actually hold up? David McKnight breaks down why Ramsey's approach overlooks a critical risk, and why annuities may be the missing piece to sustainably boosting your retirement income beyond the traditional 4% Rule. In this episode, David McKnight examines Dave Ramsey's 8% withdrawal rate claim and why retirement planning may need annuities, and not just the stock market. For Ramsey, you can take 8% per year out of your stock market portfolio in retirement, despite what other financial planning advisors may say. Ramsey believes that advisors suggesting their clients follow the so-called 4% Rule are misadvising their clients. Wade Pfau, one of the most respected retirement researchers in the U.S. looked at what would happen if a retiree invested 100% of their money in stocks and took an 8% annual withdrawal each year, adjusted for inflation. The attempt to make...