Can I Retire at 70 With $500k?

Is $500k Enough to Retire at 70?

The 4% rule — pioneered by financial planner William Bengen in 1994 and validated by the Trinity Study — suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in Year 1, then adjusting for inflation annually. With $500,000, that's $20,000/year or $1,667/month. The average retired household spends $4,065/month (2022 BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey). This is 2,398/month below average retired household spending — Social Security income, part-time work, or reduced expenses would bridge the gap.

Withdrawal Rate Comparison

How Long Will It Last?

Retiring at 70 means a 15-year retirement to age 85 (average life expectancy for a 70-year-old is actually higher — about 87 for women, 84 for men). At 4% withdrawals with 7% average investment returns and 3% inflation, a $500k portfolio historically lasts 30+ years in 90%+ of historical market scenarios. The risk: early retirement (pre-60) spans more market cycles.