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Plus tier · advanced calculator

Safe withdrawal rate is a Plus-tier tool. Try the math here for free; saving scenarios, AI dispatches against your portfolio, and exports unlock on a paid plan.

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§ Calculator · Retirement

Safe withdrawal rate

What this is

How much can you safely pull from your portfolio each year?

The 'safe withdrawal rate' is the % of your portfolio you can draw annually without running out in retirement. Bengen's 4% rule is the classic answer: $40k/yr per $1M portfolio, lasting 30 years.

  • ·Below 3.5%, conservative. Survives even the worst historical 30-year periods.
  • ·3.5-4.5%, the Bengen / Trinity Study sweet spot. Most advisors recommend this band.
  • ·4.5-6%, aggressive. Works for high-equity portfolios + shorter horizons + late retirement starts.
  • ·Above 6%, depleting. Failure rates rise sharply over 30 years; reserve for short horizons only.

Withdrawal rate

4.00%

Band

Guarded

Per $1M portfolio

$40,000

Educational. Not financial advice. Real SWR depends on asset mix, sequence-of-returns risk, longevity, and other income (CPP/OAS/DBPP) reducing what you need from the portfolio.

Invest Wise Way

Disclaimer

Educational, not financial advice. Output is generated by an AI assistant using simplified assumptions. Tax rates, contribution limits, and benefit amounts change annually; confirm with a CFP, CPA, or the relevant Canadian regulator (CRA, FSRA, OSC, IIROC) before acting.

§ The breakdown

Hint + benchmark + sensitivity

Near the textbook 4% rule. Comfortable for a 30-year horizon at typical equity allocations.

Reference: Bengen 4% rule + Trinity Study (30-year US history).

Plus extends this with a 5×5 sensitivity grid (portfolio × rate), Monte Carlo success %, and year-by-year drawdown projection.