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The 4% rule - is it still valid for UK retirees?
Are you using the '4% rule' for taking retirement income? In this article, we investigate the many challenges to consider.

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Sep 6, 202519 min read


Retirement planning concepts that sound good in theory
Many retirement planning concepts claim to offer beneficial retirement outcomes. This post aggregates our research.

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Sep 4, 20253 min read


Should your retirement portfolio contain 100% shares?
Retirement researcher Bill Bengen found that the optimal retirement portfolio contains 50-75% equities. Are 100% equities a better option?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Aug 6, 20257 min read


The S&P 500 lost decade - how to protect your retirement
The S&P 500 has generated strong returns over the past 15 years. But should you invest all of your retirement savings in this index?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Jun 23, 20258 min read


How much do I need to save for a moderate retirement in 2025?
How much does a retiree need to save for a moderate retirement? And why a larger retirement pot doesn't always provide the best outcomes.

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Jun 20, 20254 min read


How much do I need to save for a comfortable retirement in 2025?
Recent research suggests that a comfortable retirement for a couple costs around £60,000 a year. What size retirement pot do you need to fund this?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Jun 19, 20257 min read


Using the Guyton Klinger withdrawal guardrails - updated for 2025
Guyton-Klinger guardrails aim to improve upon Bill Bengen's seminal research. Should retirees use this framework? What are the downsides?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Jun 12, 202512 min read


Does holding a cash buffer solve Sequence of Returns Risk?
Cash buffers are often suggested as a way of mitigating Sequence of Returns Risk. Do they work, or are they more of a chocolate teapot?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
May 4, 20256 min read


Buffered ETFs - a solution looking for a problem?
Buffered ETFs are often marketed as a way to reduce portfolio losses during market turbulence. We examine whether they have a place in portfolios.

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Apr 27, 20257 min read


Will Guyton-Klinger guardrails allow me to withdraw 7% a year?
Do Guyton-Klinger guardrails allow us to take 7% from our portfolio from the first decade of retirement? Does a cash buffer help?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Sep 8, 20244 min read


Factor investing hasn't worked for 15 years. Why do we still use it?
We take a deep dive into all things factor-related. Performance over the last decade hasn't been great. So why do we stick with it?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Jul 29, 20249 min read


Investing: what is working now? Summer 2024 edition
We examine recent investment trends over the last few years and use the Scoville scale to compare their relative "hotness"

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Jun 20, 20245 min read


The most efficient way to blow up your retirement plan
In a perfect world, retirees would hold diversified portfolios, pay low fees and not misbehave. How might things look in an imperfect world?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
May 26, 20248 min read


Living too long - how bad is it for your retirement plan?
People are living longer. How might you have to alter your retirement lifestyle if you are worried that you might live longer than planned?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
May 17, 20245 min read


Smoothed funds - the holy grail of retirement planning?
Smoothed funds are often claimed to reduce portfolio volatility during turbulent markets. We investigate whether these claims stack up.

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
May 7, 20243 min read


Using a natural income strategy. The natural choice?
The natural income strategy involves a retiree living off the income from their portfolio. We examine the downsides.

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Apr 27, 20245 min read


Sequence of Returns Risk. A misunderstood concept?
Sequence of Returns Risk is seen by some as a tiger waiting to pounce at the first sign of market volatility. Do they have valid concerns?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Apr 24, 20247 min read


Death by a thousand cuts - when portfolios go sideways
The returns of globally diversified portfolios have been subdued in the last few years. How does this impact our clients' retirement plans?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Dec 5, 20234 min read


Auric Goldfinger: A sustainable retirement?
Auric Goldfinger loved gold. But should you include it in your retirement portfolio, and how does it compare to other assets?

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Sep 24, 20235 min read


Using risk based guardrails for retirement planning
We've looked at Bengen and the Guyton-Klinger approaches. We now look at risk-based guardrails and how these are implemented.

Noel Watson CFPᵀᴹ - Chartered Wealth Manager
Jul 14, 202310 min read
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