September 23, 2025

Episode 197: RWS Live! With Bill Bengen: Part 2

31 minutes

In this conversation, Wade Pfau, Alex Murguia and Bill Bengen discuss various aspects of retirement planning, focusing on risk management, asset allocation, and the implications of market conditions on withdrawal rates. Bengen shares insights on adjusting the traditional 4% rule based on current market valuations and inflation, emphasizing the importance of a diversified portfolio and the role of annuities. The discussion also covers the significance of sequence of returns risk and the potential benefits of rising equity glide paths in retirement strategies.

Takeaways

A 65% stock allocation is recommended for retirees.

Risk management involves adjusting asset allocations based on market conditions.

The first 10 years of retirement are crucial for long-term success.

Diversification is key to mitigating risks in retirement portfolios.

Annuities can play a beneficial role in retirement income planning.

Market valuations should influence withdrawal rate strategies.

Rising equity glide paths may help manage sequence of returns risk.

Monte Carlo simulations can provide insights but have limitations.

The 4% rule may need adjustments based on current economic conditions.

Retirement planning should consider both historical data and future projections.

Chapters

00:00 Replacing Micro Caps in Portfolios

00:25 Risk Management and Asset Allocation

01:32 The Role of Third-Party Advice in Portfolio Management

02:50 Navigating Market Swings and Timing Investments

03:41 Inflation and Asset Allocation Strategies

05:27 International vs. Domestic Equity Allocation

07:04 Historical vs. Projected Data in Retirement Planning

12:18 Understanding Sequence of Returns Risk

14:18 Adjusting Withdrawal Rates Based on Market Conditions

15:45 Exploring Rising Equity Glide Paths

23:29 Finding the Right Equity Allocation for Retirement

27:29 Adjusting Withdrawal Rates for Inflation and Market Valuations

Links

Get Bill Bengen’s New Book – A Richer Retirement

Want to dive deeper into the research behind the 4% rule and how retirement income planning has evolved?

Bill Bengen’s new book, A Richer Retirement, is now available—visit bengenfs.com to learn more and get your copy.

🎉 We’re About to Hit 200 Episodes! 🎉

Can you believe it? Retire With Style is closing in on our 200th episode, and we want you to be part of the celebration!

Whether you’ve been with Wade and Alex since episode one or just joined the party, this milestone wouldn’t be possible without listeners like you. Help us mark the occasion by sending in a short video or voice note to share your favorite moment, biggest takeaway, or just some kind words for the guys.

We’re also running a special giveaway to thank our community — and yes, there will be prizes.

👉 Be a part of Episode 200 by visiting https://retirewithstyle.com/join-episode-200 to join the celebration!

Explore the New RetireWithStyle.com! We’ve launched a brand-new home for the podcast! Visit RetireWithStyle.com to catch up on all our latest episodes, explore topics by category, and send us your questions or ideas for future episodes. If there’s something you’ve been wondering about retirement, we want to hear it!

The Retirement Planning Guidebook: 2nd Edition has just been updated for 2025! Visit your preferred book retailer or simply click here to order your copy today: https://www.wadepfau.com/books/

This episode is sponsored by McLean Asset Management. Visit https://www.mcleanam.com/retirement-income-planning-llm/ to download McLean’s free eBook, “Retirement Income Planning”

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By Wade Pfau & Alex Murguia

3.9

167167 ratings