Retirement Drawdown Lab

Saving is only half the game — spending it down is the other half. Pick your numbers, and watch three withdrawal strategies fight it out on the same portfolio: which one lasts, which one pays the most, and which one adapts.

Your inputs

Portfolio value

Annual spending needed

Expected annual return As a % — e.g. 6 for 6%

Inflation As a % — e.g. 3 for 3%

Planning horizon

Fixed % withdrawal rate Strategy 2 only

Retirement details

Current age

Traditional (pre-tax) balance The RMD-relevant part of your savings

Social Security PIA Monthly benefit at age 67

Social Security claim age

Annual Roth conversion During the low-income gap years

4% rule

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Fixed %

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Guardrails

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Portfolio balance by strategy

4% rule Fixed % Guardrails

Snapshot every 5 years

Year	4% rule bal.	4% rule wdraw.	Fixed % bal.	Fixed % wdraw.	Guardrails bal.	Guardrails wdraw.

Required minimum distributions

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Age	IRS divisor	RMD	Balance after

Simplified: your traditional balance grows untouched at the expected return until 73, then RMDs are taken yearly. Real RMDs use the prior year-end balance and interact with your withdrawals.

Social Security timing

Claim at 62

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Claim at 67

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Claim at 70

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Claim at 62 Claim at 67 Claim at 70

Assumes full retirement age 67 (born 1960 or later) and ignores COLAs — the percentages are what matter.

🔄 Roth conversion window —

Educational purposes only — not financial advice. Withdrawal strategies are hypothetical models; actual retirement outcomes depend on market returns, taxes, and your personal situation.