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  3. 4% Rule
GlossaryRetirement & Wealth Building

4% Rule

A rule of thumb suggesting you can withdraw about 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, then adjust for inflation, with low risk of running out.

Related terms

AnnuityCompound GrowthDecumulationEmployer MatchFinancial IndependenceFIREPensionSequence RiskTax ReliefTax Wrapper

Related lessons

intermediateRetirement & Wealth Building

FIRE: Financial Independence, Retire Early

FIRE — Financial Independence, Retire Early — is a movement built on a striking insight: your savings rate, far more than your income, determines how soon work becomes optional. Learn the maths of financial independence, the flavours of FIRE, the real criticisms, and why its core principles make everyone wealthier, early retirement or not.

intermediateRetirement & Wealth Building

How Much Do You Need to Retire?

How big does your pot need to be before you can stop working? The famous 4% rule and its '25x' shortcut give a powerful starting answer. Learn where the rule comes from, how to estimate your own number, its important limitations, and how the State Pension and other income change the maths.

beginnerRetirement & Wealth Building

Cash ISA vs Stocks and Shares ISA

Both are ISAs, both are tax-free — but they do fundamentally different jobs. Learn the real difference between saving and investing, why time horizon is the deciding factor, how inflation quietly erodes cash, how FSCS protection differs, and why the honest answer is often 'both'.

Ironclad Research provides educational content only. Nothing on this platform is financial advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. Always do your own research and consider professional advice before making financial decisions.