The 4% Rule Naysayers Are Wrong (We Retired at 47 Using It!)
Description
Does the four-percent rule actually work? On paper, yes. So why don’t more people put it to the test? Today’s guest retired at forty-seven years old and is living proof that the math really does check out. Stay tuned to find out how!
Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Bobby Beck has done what so many in the FIRE community are seemingly unable to do—he actually retired on the four-percent rule! What’s more? He did it while living in the Bay Area, one of the most expensive markets in the US. What gave him the confidence to leave his job and never look back? While “One More Year Syndrome” keeps many people from retiring early, Bobby’s mantra of “take a year” compelled him to take a leap of faith. Even though his retirement portfolio took a sixteen-percent hit right before he retired, he weathered the storm, and sure enough, the market rebounded!
Now, Bobby lives the life people dream of when they discover FIRE. He has a comfy lifestyle, travels multiple times a year, and only checks his portfolio once a month. If you need the motivation to call time on your career and put your retirement date on the calendar, you don’t want to miss this episode!
In This Episode We Cover
How Bobby and his wife retired on the four-percent rule (at age 47!)
Why the FIRE community overestimates how much they’ll owe in taxes
How to beat “One More Year Syndrome” and actually retire early
Growing your brokerage accounts and cash to avoid the middle-class trap
The portfolio allocation that will give you the confidence to retire
And So Much More!
Links from the Show
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Sign Up for BiggerPockets Momentum 2025 to Reach FIRE Faster
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Learn How to Retire Early with Scott’s Book “Set for Life”
Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area
How Much Do You Need for Early Retirement? (How to Calculate Your FI Number)
(00:00 ) Intro
(01:03 ) Retired at 47!
(05:49 ) Bobby’s Portfolio
(08:35 ) Real Estate Investments
(17:05 ) Withdrawals & Tax Strategies
(26:45 ) 100% Stock Portfolio
(34:36 ) What Does Your Life Cost?
(39:47 ) The 4% Rule Works!
Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-605
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