Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-24-2012, 06:00 AM   #21
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
donheff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,318
Quote:
Originally Posted by Animorph View Post
Wade Pfau has been working in the same direction. One approach, though not his primary one I think, is to use the RMD's to determine the portfolio withdrawals. RMD's are based on life expectancies that are adjusted as you get older. They have the effect of allowing higher earlier spending, but with some concern for the future.
This sounds backwards to me. RMDs are just a fixed percentage approach adjusted for life expectancy each year. They start out at 70 at about 3.6% of portfolio and INCREASE as a percentage as you get older. The goal is to liquidate the untaxed pot by death, not insure that a smooth spending curve is implemented. In most markets this method would result in a steadily growing spend. In volatile markets it would result in large swings. How does Pfau use the tables?
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
donheff is online now   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 07-24-2012, 06:32 AM   #22
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 344
My own planned spending model in retirement takes what he is talking about into account. I am currently shooting for an early retirement of 52 and am planning my expenses to initially be higher then than what they are now. That is when I plan to do extensive travel and have a lot of fun.

However, as I approach 65, the plan is for me to gradually throttle back on exepenses (while accounting for inflation) because I will not feel like traveling or physically be capable of doing the things I plan on doing in my early 50's.

I plan to defer Social Security to age 70 and treat it more or less like a hedge against outliving my money. If I live past 70 there is decent chance I AM going to run out of money, BUT will have $3,100 per year coming in from Social Security which I feel can provide a comfortable existence for somebody that age. The main risk is assuming social security benefits will not be cut in the future. I feel comfortable that they will not. To politically unacceptable (IMO)to actually cut actual benefit payout amounts. I believe they will raise taxes, increase retirement age and do everything else they can to make the program solvent before cutting the actual amount paid out.

I do agree with others that there is a middle ground. However, who wants to believe and admit they are on one side of these extremes? We all would like to think we are in the middle even though I would bet based on the nature of this board, most on here are people others would call "cheapskate party poopers".
skyvue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 07:03 AM   #23
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 728
Quote:
Originally Posted by rescueme View Post
Which for us (having an adult, disabled "child") is the case.

We certainly have much more (financially) than we will ever need, to live retirement as we wish. However, as responsible parents (which ours were not) we are driven in our financial decisions for not only our, but his future needs, which we calculate at a minimum 20+ years after we're gone since he suffers from a condition that will not reduce his expected lifespan.

There are many different situations. An article written for the "general public" dosen't necessarily apply.
I have a disabled granddaughter as well. I've started a special needs trust so that when I nor her parents are around, she will be taken care of. And, if her parents are still around at their retirement, they'll have additional funds for their daughter and be able to retire. I commend you, really commend you for thinking ahead. We who have our health are so lucky....and I'm just thankful that I can set aside funds now and it doesn't affect my conservative but full future retirement. Overall, I've really been blessed, but my heart goes out to every parent with a disabled child.

And, I assume I'll live to 95..... I'd rather leave a little then have to be miserable if I live to a really old age.
jerome len is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 09:54 AM   #24
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 3,851
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerome len View Post
I've started a special needs trust so that when I nor her parents are around, she will be taken care of.
Bless you; you well understand the challange...

Just remember that the SNT (as we have, also) hopefully will provide the cash resource. The challange is to match the ongoing living requirement/services to ensure that they are taken care of, after all (who give a damn) have passed, regardless of financial resources. In our case, our "family" want nothing to do with him, or his future (that's why I say "family's suck", but in your case, it seems to be different).

It's not an easy path to follow, regardless of your "connection" to the disabled...
rescueme is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 12:07 PM   #25
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,366
Quote:
Originally Posted by donheff View Post
This sounds backwards to me. RMDs are just a fixed percentage approach adjusted for life expectancy each year. They start out at 70 at about 3.6% of portfolio and INCREASE as a percentage as you get older. The goal is to liquidate the untaxed pot by death, not insure that a smooth spending curve is implemented. In most markets this method would result in a steadily growing spend. In volatile markets it would result in large swings. How does Pfau use the tables?
I think of it like a 4% of portfolio value per year kind of rule, but as you age you can increase the percentage because you have fewer possible years to worry about. It is intended to maximize your spending, but in an arguably "safe" way. No way a 100 year old needs to take just 4% of their portfolio value per year if the intention is not to leave anything.

Here's the last post Dr. Pfau posted about this:

Retirement Researcher Blog: Retirement Planning Horizons and IRS Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
Animorph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 02:43 PM   #26
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
donheff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 11,318
Quote:
Originally Posted by Animorph View Post
I think of it like a 4% of portfolio value per year kind of rule, but as you age you can increase the percentage because you have fewer possible years to worry about. It is intended to maximize your spending, but in an arguably "safe" way. No way a 100 year old needs to take just 4% of their portfolio value per year if the intention is not to leave anything.

Here's the last post Dr. Pfau posted about this:

Retirement Researcher Blog: Retirement Planning Horizons and IRS Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
If that is all Pfau is saying then he is not using the RMD tables to counsel a larger spend now with a shorter spend later. He is just using them to calculate a realistic horizon based on starting age. I don't disagree with people who want to spend a bit more now with the expectation that they can cut back later but that is a different concept than using RMD tables.
__________________
Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre -- Albert Camus
donheff is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 02:53 PM   #27
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
MasterBlaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,391
Quote:
Originally Posted by Animorph View Post
I think of it like a 4% of portfolio value per year kind of rule, but as you age you can increase the percentage because you have fewer possible years to worry about. It is intended to maximize your spending, but in an arguably "safe" way. No way a 100 year old needs to take just 4% of their portfolio value per year if the intention is not to leave anything.

Here's the last post Dr. Pfau posted about this:

Retirement Researcher Blog: Retirement Planning Horizons and IRS Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
William Bernstein had similar ideas... Here's his chart(s) of safe withdrawal rates versus payout period:
Attached Images
File Type: gif SWR.gif (29.2 KB, 172 views)
File Type: gif SWR2.gif (13.9 KB, 11 views)
MasterBlaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 03:22 PM   #28
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 88
Quote:
Originally Posted by skyvue View Post

I plan to defer Social Security to age 70 and treat it more or less like a hedge against outliving my money. If I live past 70 there is decent chance I AM going to run out of money, BUT will have $3,100 per year coming in from Social Security which I feel can provide a comfortable existence for somebody that age.
Did you mean you'll have $3,100 per month, instead of per year? If not, I'm curious what your definition of a "comfortable" existence is for a 70-year-old.
ocdokie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 06:13 PM   #29
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
haha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
Quote:
Originally Posted by ocdokie View Post
Did you mean you'll have $3,100 per month, instead of per year? If not, I'm curious what your definition of a "comfortable" existence is for a 70-year-old.
A plot in a nice graveyard, with paid upkeep? Spring bouquets in spring, autumn colors in fall.
__________________
"As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate a conversation, the more interesting it is."-Scott Adams
haha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 07:17 PM   #30
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,629
Quote:
Originally Posted by growing_older View Post
I don't have to actually spend the money on Corvettes to get value from having it. I value the security it gives me in knowing I can reasonably deal with what the unexpected future brings.
Burns' probabilities point to the rational decision of buying an SPIA. It doesn't cost much to insure yourself for those years in the longevity tale.

Retirement planning gurus are always baffled by the fact that so few people actually do that.

I think you've explained why.
Independent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2012, 12:03 PM   #31
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 344
Quote:
Originally Posted by ocdokie View Post
Did you mean you'll have $3,100 per month, instead of per year? If not, I'm curious what your definition of a "comfortable" existence is for a 70-year-old.
Sorry, yes, $3,100 per MONTH according to my current estimate. Thanks for the correction.
skyvue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2012, 01:32 PM   #32
Recycles dryer sheets
bamsphd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 337
Quote:
Originally Posted by donheff View Post
If that is all Pfau is saying then he is not using the RMD tables to counsel a larger spend now with a shorter spend later. He is just using them to calculate a realistic horizon based on starting age. I don't disagree with people who want to spend a bit more now with the expectation that they can cut back later but that is a different concept than using RMD tables.
The Scott Burn's article reminded me of a Pfau article because both were using life expectancy numbers to help calculate withdrawal rates. The biggest difference that I noticed was that the Pfau approach was based on recomputing withdrawal rates (probably annually) to account for the fact that for example an 80 year old is likely to live to an older age than a 60 year old, simply because they have already made it through 20 additional years. My own father was quite surprised when he noticed that his life expectancy expressed as age of death was greater than his children's life expectancy expressed as age of death, simply because he has lived longer already.

As I recall, the Pfau article was also trying to incorporate other factors such as current portfolio balance, not just life expectancy, to create an adaptive withdrawal plan.
bamsphd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2012, 03:44 PM   #33
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Purron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,596
Quote:
Originally Posted by rescueme View Post
Which for us (having an adult, disabled "child") is the case.

We certainly have much more (financially) than we will ever need, to live retirement as we wish. However, as responsible parents (which ours were not) we are driven in our financial decisions for not only our, but his future needs, which we calculate at a minimum 20+ years after we're gone since he suffers from a condition that will not reduce his expected lifespan.

There are many different situations. An article written for the "general public" dosen't necessarily apply.
Your child is very lucky to have parents like you. One of my oldest and dearest friends has had MS for over 30 years now. Her parents are gone but she is well provided for. I knew them well and they were not rich people. They just made sure she would be taken care of - and she is. I admire them, and you, so much.
__________________
I purr therefore I am.
Purron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 12:31 AM   #34
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Katsmeow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,307
I found it an interesting article and, in fact, says in a better form what I was trying to say in this thread:

http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...ml#post1203408

Anyway, in the Burns article he says:

Quote:
Financial planners are savers. That’s why they want us to be 95 percent confident we can finance a 30-year retirement even though, as I have noted a number of times, there is an 82 percent probability of being dead by then. Somehow, it doesn’t seem sensible to be 95 percent prepared for something you only have an 18 percent chance of experiencing. Honk if you feel the same way.
Which is really making the same point I was making. I do wish he had told us what to do with numbers and made a suggestion on how it should influence retirement spending.
Katsmeow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 08:11 AM   #35
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,821
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katsmeow View Post
I found it an interesting article and, in fact, says in a better form what I was trying to say in this thread:

http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...ml#post1203408

Anyway, in the Burns article he says:

Quote:
Financial planners are savers. That’s why they want us to be 95 percent confident we can finance a 30-year retirement even though, as I have noted a number of times, there is an 82 percent probability of being dead by then. Somehow, it doesn’t seem sensible to be 95 percent prepared for something you only have an 18 percent chance of experiencing. Honk if you feel the same way.
Which is really making the same point I was making. I do wish he had told us what to do with numbers and made a suggestion on how it should influence retirement spending.
I'm not honking, I don't feel the same way as Burns. While the math is correct, I think this is a case of misapplying the math to the situation (depends on your POV).

Let me give another example where the math says "YES, YES, YES!", but most of us would say "NO WAY!":

Let's play a game. If you want to play, you have to bet your entire portfolio. I give you a single die, you get one throw. If you throw a "4", you win (1:6 chance). The payout for a win is 18x your bet. Wanna play?

That is a 1:6 chance to win and an 18:1 payout. The math says that is a 3:1 expected return. That is a screaming good deal. But.... the downside of losing is more 'painful' in real life terms than the big win. I think most of us would not play, regardless of the math. It works if you get to throw the die 100 times, but in this game (and in life) we get one shot.

This is the way I view the 18% chance that DW or I may live to 95. I don't want the downside of not being prepared, and I will pass on 'optimizing' my portfolio and choose instead to protect myself. Leaving money on the table isn't always so bad, sometimes it is prudent.

You can even change that game so you win on anything but a "4", with a 3.6x payout. That still gives a 3:1 expected return, you have a 5:5 chance of winning, but you have a 1:6 chance of losing everything. Wanna play that game? One throw, bet the entire nut. Not me.

-ERD50
ERD50 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 09:52 AM   #36
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
NW-Bound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
Good example, ERD50, but it does not have to be that way.

Scott Burns did not say that we had to structure our spending so that our entire stash would be gone by 85. What I got from him is that we should front-load our expenses so that we spend more in earlier years, when we still have our health to "rent" whatever happiness our money might bring, and these are the years we most likely to live, statistically speaking. Indeed, many do not even make it to 85.

In my view, what he says does not at all contradict what people are actually doing, as Bernike found out from actual statistics. That is people cut back their spending as they age, obtensibly due to health reasons. I saw that in plenty of elderly relatives around me, my mother included.

Of course, if an early retiree's budget does not have much room for leisure then it is a different situation.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
NW-Bound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 10:58 AM   #37
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,821
Quote:
Originally Posted by NW-Bound View Post
Good example, ERD50, but it does not have to be that way.

Scott Burns did not say that we had to structure our spending so that our entire stash would be gone by 85.
Understood, I made it pretty extreme just to illustrate the point.

And while on average, people may spend less as they age, some may spend more as they age - they may need to hire help or have other health related expenses. So again, do we spend more earlier because of the averages, or do we move more towards saving some in case we need it in our old age. What are the consequences if we are on the 10% area of the distribution curve? A 1:10 chance isn't something I feel comfortable to hand-wave away. By the time we find out which camp we are in, it's too late if you spent it already.

We can't cover every possibility of course, but an 18% chance of one spouse living past 95YO just isn't something that screams "That will never happen!" to me. That's an almost 1:5 chance that it will happen. People w/o mortgages carry fire insurance on their house, and those odds are much lower.
ERD50 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 11:09 AM   #38
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 3,851
Quote:
Originally Posted by ERD50 View Post
And while on average, people may spend less as they age, some may spend more as they age - they may need to hire help or have other health related expenses. So again, do we spend more earlier because of the averages, or do we move more towards saving some in case we need it in our old age. What are the consequences if we are on the 10% area of the distribution curve? A 1:10 chance isn't something I feel comfortable to hand-wave away. By the time we find out which camp we are in, it's too late if you spent it already.

We can't cover every possibility of course, but an 18% chance of one spouse living past 95YO just isn't something that screams "That will never happen!" to me. That's an almost 1:5 chance that it will happen. People w/o mortgages carry fire insurance on their house, and those odds are much lower.
I agree with you on (the bold/underlined) points. Just being in retirement 5 years has shown me that I spend more today than at the time of retirement, and I expect that trend to continue. Not that I/DW change our lifestyle, but rather that we will have to pay others to maintain that lifestyle - be it a home health professional/companion or installing an elevator to help us between floors (we have no current intention of moving).

The other point is that when I read the obits (to see if I am listed ), I see more and more of those folks that have met/surpassed the century mark (mostly women, but a few men) in our area of the country.

It all comes down to (my) old saying of "I would rather die with money, than live without it"...
rescueme is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 01:04 PM   #39
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,366
Quote:
Originally Posted by ERD50 View Post
Understood, I made it pretty extreme just to illustrate the point.

And while on average, people may spend less as they age, some may spend more as they age - they may need to hire help or have other health related expenses. So again, do we spend more earlier because of the averages, or do we move more towards saving some in case we need it in our old age. What are the consequences if we are on the 10% area of the distribution curve? A 1:10 chance isn't something I feel comfortable to hand-wave away. By the time we find out which camp we are in, it's too late if you spent it already.

We can't cover every possibility of course, but an 18% chance of one spouse living past 95YO just isn't something that screams "That will never happen!" to me. That's an almost 1:5 chance that it will happen. People w/o mortgages carry fire insurance on their house, and those odds are much lower.
I agree with all of that. But, if you have a 20% chance of living to 95 and a 10% chance of being broke at 95, then you have a 2% chance of being both 95 and broke. So the SWR failure rates are overstated to that extent. 90% SWR success is actually a 98% chance that you will not outlive your money. One of the reasons I'd happy to use an WR that is not 100% successful. Of course the other reason is that I will adjust my spending. Then it becomes a 2% chance that I'll have to seriously reduce my spending. Not that it means a whole lot to those looking for 100% success.
Animorph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 02:12 PM   #40
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
NW-Bound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
The main reason for my pessimism regarding expenses in the really old age is that my wife and I have been living close to our parents who are all living in town, and have spent time with them to take care of them to our abilities. And it is disheartening to imagine ourselves in the same state.

In his early 90s, my FIL could no longer eat solid food. Everything had to pureed. Slowly, he has developed problems with just swallowing. He chokes often, and drinking requires some efforts. He slowly lost his mobility 5 years ago. When he was in his 80s, everyone who saw him commented on how sprightly he was. Filet mignon or hamburger? No difference now, after it got all pureed. How long will it be until they put in a feeding tube? Then, it will be even worse, as there's no more taste as it all bypasses his tongue and palate.

Hence, I chuckle when reading of people planning to be globe trotters in their 80s and 90s. I have no doubt that some super elders could do that, but why do I keep seeing myself more like the residents of these nursing homes, many of whom are much younger than my FIL? At this point, he could not care less about most things. If he were rich and had a vamp nurse (like a millionaire who left his fortune to that nurse and caused a legal battle between his heirs and the nurse), would that make that much of a difference?
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
NW-Bound is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:39 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.