The 4% Rule: Is It Still the Key to Early Retirement in 2025?

The 4% withdrawal rule does not apply to early retirees since it's based on a 30-year timeline, not the 40+ years needed for early retirement. Guyton's guardrails approach offers a better alternative, allowing for 5.2-5.6% withdrawal rates by adapting spending based on market performance. • Guardrails approach uses flexible withdrawal rates that increase when markets perform well and decrease during downturns • Traditional 4% rule based only on S&P 500 and intermediate US bonds, while di...