Key Points The 4% rule is a popular retirement savings withdrawal strategy. It has you taking out 4% of your portfolio your first year of retirement and adjusting future withdrawals for inflation. While this approach might work for some people, it's important to figure out if it's suitable for you or not. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › One of the most important things you can do to set yourself up for a happy retirement is save well for it. The more income y ...

Proper planning can help you avoid costly errors and big tax hits when transferring a 401(k) to an IRA https://t.co/SouLCACxVz ...

Market Trends - Bank of America ($BAC) reports hardship withdrawals from 401(k)s are at a record high [1]

Workers will be able to put up to $24,500 into their 401(k)s and similar workplace retirement accounts in 2026, up $1,000 from this year, the IRS said https://t.co/i9t81jPTV5 ...

Retirement Contribution Limits - The article discusses the increase in IRA, 401(k), and other retirement contribution limits in 2026 [1]

Your 401(k) projection might not be as accurate as you think. Changing markets, inflation, and savings habits can throw off estimates. Here’s how to make your retirement forecast more reliable:https://t.co/FadR6EvoRu https://t.co/Z6OivmlWU2 ...

Discover the benefits and drawbacks of using your 401(k) to pay off your mortgage, including tax implications, retirement savings impact, and interest savings. https://t.co/4YYZB4KNCb ...

Core Insights - A significant concern for preretirees is the fear of outliving their savings, with 53% expressing this worry according to the Schroders 2025 US Retirement Survey [1] Financial Requirements - Experts suggest that individuals need approximately 80% of their pre-tax earnings to maintain their standard of living post-retirement, which for Darren translates to $4,667 monthly [2] - Darren believes he can retire comfortably with a combination of Social Security benefits and additional income, estimating he will receive nearly $1,700 monthly from Social Security and an extra $2,000 [2] Savings and Withdrawal Strategy - Using the 4% rule, Darren's $500,000 savings would yield about $1,667 monthly, which is insufficient for his needs, prompting the search for alternative income sources [3] Retirement Delay Options - Delaying retirement is a viable option, as nearly 25% of Americans choose to do so, which can help reduce the amount needed from savings and increase overall savings [4] - Contributing maximally to retirement plans, especially if employer matching is available, can significantly enhance retirement savings. In 2025, Darren can contribute up to $31,000 to his 401(k), or $77,500 including employer contributions [5] Social Security Benefits - Delaying retirement can also lead to increased Social Security benefits. If Darren postpones retirement until age 66, his monthly benefit would rise to approximately $1,850, and if he waits until 67, it would exceed $2,000 [6]

Two-thirds of 401(k) savers use professionally managed accounts, and 59% use just a single target-date fund. Here’s why this hands-off strategy can pay off. https://t.co/KmGnZ8PQFC ...

Penalties and Exceptions - IRS imposes a 10% early-withdrawal penalty on 401(k)s [1] - Report discusses exceptions to the penalty [1] - SECURE 2.0 updates related to early withdrawals are included [1] Alternatives - Penalty-free alternatives to early withdrawals are explored [1]