In this episode we answer emails from Ron, Michael, Jaime and Clare.  We discuss all the generosity bestowed on us and our charity, including the McKenna Man portfolio, a listener's personal portfolio and two-year experience, portfolio longevity issues and common myths thereabout, tax considerations and how to really enjoy retirement after accumulation.

Links:

Father McKenna Center Donation Page:  Donate - Father McKenna Center

Michael's Portfolio (unlevered) vs. a 70/30 since 2022: testfol.io/?s=fW46hjKw65M

Breathless AI-Bot Summary:

Money can buy you more wealth, but it can't buy you more time. This fundamental truth frames our deep dive into the stories of listeners who've transformed their financial futures through risk parity investing.

We begin with Ron's creative McKenna Man Portfolio – a 100% equity allocation that makes quarterly charitable distributions while still growing steadily. Michael shares his journey from traditional investing to a risk parity approach that delivers impressive returns with dramatically lower volatility, proving these principles work in real-world applications.

The heart of this episode tackles a question many struggle with: how to plan for extremely long retirement periods of 50+ years. Contrary to popular fear-mongering that suggests dramatically lower withdrawal rates, we explore research showing withdrawal rates tend to flatten over extended timeframes. Variable withdrawal strategies that adjust based on actual spending needs rather than rigid CPI increases can support withdrawal rates only slightly lower than traditional 30-year plans. For those concerned about longevity risk, slight adjustments to equity allocations or implementing rising equity glide paths provide additional security without sacrificing quality of life.

Perhaps most powerful is Claire's story of transitioning to a work-optional lifestyle at 56, using risk parity principles to escape a high-pressure career and create space for relationships and experiences. Her wisdom cuts through financial noise with crystal clarity: "Don't worry about running out of money, worry about running out of time."

When we reflect on Bronnie Ware's "Five Regrets of the Dying," none involve wishing for more wealth. They center on authentic relationships, self-expression, and allowing more happiness – precisely what proper financial planning should ultimately enable. The purpose isn't maximizing wealth, but confidently answering "how much is enough" so you can stop playing the accumulation game and start truly living.

What would your life look like if financial fears no longer dictated your choices? Join our community at riskparityradio.com to continue the conversation.

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