Dr. Pfau looks at the 4% rule in an interview

[Snidely Whiplash]

We raised our kids to be independent. We made sure they had college educations available to them (one chose not to take full advantage, but is very independent - having started several businesses already.) My point is that we don't plan to leave a whole lot to our kids (we do hope to help them along from time to time while we are still living). So we don't plan to leave this world with any guilt feelings - at least not financial guilt feelings - toward the kids (or anyone else.).

You and I (Great Minds!) think very much alike. I think it was "The Millionaire Next Door" and the chapter regarding grown children and economic outpatient care that opened my eyes and drove that point home with me.

My thoughts are just like yours; Odds are we probably will leave a decent amount of $$ to our kids, only because we are fairly frugal and aren't the type that could spend down our capital aggressively and our retirement lifestyle will be a relatively inexpensive one barring any major medical catastrophes, but we certainly do not operate with any goal of leaving a large inheritance to our children. We too believe our kids need a strong sense of independence and we cant encourage that by subsidizing them. We are fortunate (and very proud) in that neither of our kids are expecting or ask for any subsidizing. Like you, I want to be here for my kids, to help them not to do for them.

Thanks for your kind words.

By the way, I love your name! I always loved the "villain" names in Rocky and Bullwinkle.

Gosh I miss good ole' Saturday morning cartoons! And being a kid with nothing better to do than watch em' for a couple of hours!