Money Girl

Is the 4% Rule Dead? 8 Personal Finance Rules of Thumb Explained

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998. How much do you really need to retire? Should you always buy term life insurance? In episode 998, Money Girl Laura Adams audits 8 popular financial rules of thumb to see if they hold up in today’s economy.

What you’ll learn:

  • The Rule of 72: How to calculate when your money will double.
  • The DIME Method: A smarter way to calculate life insurance than "10x your income."
  • Emergency Fund Math: Why 3 months might not be enough for you.
  • Investing Allocations: Why "100 minus your age" is likely too conservative for 2026.
  • Retirement Readiness: Understanding the "Multiplier of 25" and the 4% withdrawal rule.

    • Don't follow a rule just because it's famous—follow it because it works for your life.

    Find a transcript here. 

    Have a money question? Send an email to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (302) 364-0308.

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