The 4% rule has been the gold standard for decades, but is it holding you back? What if you could retire earlier, spend more, and still feel confident your money will last?
In this episode, certified retirement counselor Mark Struthers introduces his Green Light Spending approach, a smarter, more flexible alternative to the rigid 4% rule. Mark shows how to align your spending with real-life market conditions and personal goals, so you can make the most of your healthiest, most active retirement years.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why the 4% rule might be costing you extra years of freedom or precious memories.
- How “safety rails” work to keep your retirement spending secure and flexible.
- The three stages of retirement spending and why early years are important.
- Real-life examples of retirees who retired five years earlier or added $15,000/year to their lifestyle.
- How Greenlight Spending lets you enjoy today while protecting your tomorrow.
- Ways to plan smarter, not harder.
Ideas Worth Sharing:
- “Retirement is not only about running out of money; it’s about permission. Permission to retire earlier. Permission to spend more if conditions allowed. Permission to enjoy the healthiest years of your retirement.” – Mark Struthers
- “If withdrawal rates drift 20% above the start, we trim spending 10%… If spending rate falls 20% below the start, you give yourself a raise.” – Mark Struthers
- “Those several years in your sixties mean a lot.” – Mark Struthers
Resources:
- Work with Mark Struthers
- Subscribe to our Healthy & Wealthy newsletter and get our 2025 Tax Cheat Sheet: Subscribe here
- Download Free Guide: Green Light Spending eBook
- Get Your Free Retirement Review: Start Here
- Download William Bengen’s new book: A Richer Retirement: Supercharging the 4% Rule to Spend More and Enjoy More
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Disclosure:
Investment advisory services are offered through Sona Financial LLC (DBA Sona Wealth Advisors, Sona Wealth, Sona Wealth Management), an investment adviser registered in the state of MN. Sona Financial only offers investment advisory services where it is appropriately registered or exempt from registration and only after clients have entered into an investment advisory agreement confirming the terms of engagement and have been provided a copy of the firm’s ADV Part 2A brochure and document.
This video or article is for educational purposes only and is not exhaustive. Nothing discussed during this show/episode should be viewed as investment advice. Diversification and/or any strategy that may be discussed does not guarantee against investment losses but is intended to help manage risk and return. If applicable, historical discussions and/or opinions are not predictive of future events. The content is presented in good faith and has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable. The content is not intended to be legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult a legal, tax, or financial professional for information specific to your individual situation.
This content has not been reviewed by FINRA.