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How much can you spend in your retirement from Duke Energy without the risk of running out of money?
That is an important factor to consider for your Duke Energy retirement income plan. By striking a balance between current spending and future asset value, you will be able to sustain that spending later.
You are presented with the choice of taking income now and running out of money when withdrawing too much, or withdrawing too little and leaving more than you anticipated to heirs.
Retirement variable withdrawals or 'guardrails' can help you achieve this balance in a systematic way that removes the guesswork.
How to Determine Withdrawal Amounts
One way to calculate the income or withdrawals you can take from an investment portfolio is by withdrawing a fixed percentage of the portfolio and adjusting the withdrawal for inflation each year using the 4% rule. If you elect to do so, this method will provide you with a consistent income throughout your Duke Energy retirement, securing the amount of the withdrawals and your ability to maintain that income for your lifetime are both pretty safe with this method.
When considering the validity of the 4% rule, it's worthy to acknowledge how analyses of the 4% rule has stood up to the stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression, World War II and the stagflation of the 1970s. Although the future remains unknown, history indicates that the 4% rule is a reliable approach to determining how much one can spend in retirement.
Despite that, there are some risks that need to be addressed
When taking consistent withdrawals from your portfolio you become exposed to the sequence of return risk. The sequence of return risk is the downside risk experienced when normal downside volatility hits your account early into your retirement from Duke Energy, this can impact your account value down the line.
Despite running that risk when choosing this strategy, there are ways that you can protect yourself. In this article we will discuss a strategy of taking variable withdrawals from your portfolio, providing some protection from sequence risk, and protecting your portfolio from higher inflation.
Why Variable Withdrawals?
Factors affecting your portfolio such as Inflation, interest rates, investment returns, and taxes will change throughout your retirement. Adjusting withdrawals to account for these changes will balance your spending to keep it in accordance with what your portfolio can support.
Adjusting withdrawals based on account value provides opportunity for better investment performance. Taking more when markets are up is beneficial, while withdrawing more during a market downturn is inadvisable because you would be selling at a time of low market value.
How do I adjust my withdrawals?
This section will entail how to adjust withdrawals based on changes in your retirement account. The adjustments demonstrated are formally known as the Guardrail or Guyton-Klinger methodology.
There are four(4) guiding rules to this strategy:
- Withdrawal Rule
- Portfolio Management Rule
- The Capital Preservation Rule
- The Prosperity Rule
The last two rules work as one. Taken together, these two rules establish “guardrails” around your withdrawal that keep it from drifting too high or too low.
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The Withdrawal Rule
This rule is similar to the 4% rule – with a basic modification. Pick a set percentage of your portfolio to withdraw in the first year. For each year after, adjust your withdrawal by the prior year’s inflations.
The difference behind this methodology is to not make the inflation adjustment if portfolio returns are negative, and the new withdrawal would give you a withdrawal rate that is higher than the initial withdrawal rate.
An Example:
Assume you start with a $600,000 dollar portfolio and take a 4% withdrawal in the first year. That’s $16,000.
Then, let’s assume that inflation for the year is 4.3%. You would adjust your withdrawal for the next year upward by 4.3%. You would take a $16,640 withdrawal for the next year.
The rule would be triggered if your investment returns are negative, say -1%, AND the $16,640 is more than 4% of the portfolio.
For this example, a 1% loss plus a $16,000 withdrawal gives you a portfolio value of $380,000 for the second year.
$17,100 is 4.5% of $380,000. Since 4.5% is higher than 4%, you would forego the inflation increase and just withdraw the $16,000.
Portfolio Management Rule
The portfolio management rule addresses the way your portfolio is rebalanced as the investment values of the different asset classes fluctuate.
Retirement Income Guardrails
The capital preservation rule and the prosperity rule can be taken together. Think of these two rules as establishing guardrails around your retirement income withdrawal rate.
When choosing to use the guardrails, you are in effect placing a buffer around your savings. The amount of income taken from the portfolio is adjusted based on account value. If the account grows, income increases. If the account value drops, income is reduced.
How it works
To understand how the rule works think first in terms of your initial withdrawal rate from your portfolio. Let’s say that you begin your first year of retirement by withdrawing 4% of your portfolio. Considering a $400,000 portfolio, that would be $16,000. Next, you follow the standard rule of increasing your withdrawals each year for inflation.
The guardrails work like this:
- When your current withdrawal rate exceeds your original withdrawal rate by more than 20%, you reduce the withdrawal by 10%.
- When your current withdrawal rate lags your original withdrawal rate by more than 20%, you increase your withdrawal by 10%.
The Prosperity Rule
Let's assume that for several years markets have been really good and your investments have performed well. Your account value has grown to $800,000 even though you have taken withdrawals for several years. Your withdrawal amount is now $20,800 due to inflation adjustments.
Ok. Here come the numbers…
$20,800 is only 2.6% of $800,000. The rule says to increase your withdrawal when your current withdrawal rate is 20% less than your original withdrawal rate. 20% of 4% is 0,8%. 4%-0,8%= 3.2%. Since 2.6% is less than 3.2%, you would increase your withdrawal by 10%.
10% of $20,800 is $2,080. You would take a withdrawal of $22,880.
In this case, the unexpectedly high investment gain means you can afford to take a larger amount of income from your portfolio.
The Capital Preservation Rule
This is the mirror image of the prosperity rule. If your account value drops too low, you reduce your withdrawals to reduce the risk of running out of money too soon.
Looking at the same scenario from above, you have a $20,800 annual withdrawal. Instead of having really good investment performance, however, you experience an extended bear market and now only have $350,000 in your portfolio.
$21,700 is 6.2% of $350,000.
The capital preservation rule says that since your current withdrawal rate, 6.2% is more than 20% higher than your original 4% withdrawal rate, you need to reduce your spending by 10%.
10% of $20,800 is $2,080. Since your account value has dropped so much compared to your withdrawal amount, you would reduce your withdrawal that amount. Your new withdrawal is $18,720.
Conclusion
Using a 'Guardrail' or variable withdrawal strategy keeps your retirement spending more in line with the value of your investments. It provides a means to spend more when sustained by your portfolio, and keeps you from draining your portfolio too quickly when returns are poor.
How does the Duke Employees' Retirement Plan calculate benefits at normal retirement age, specifically for employees who reach the age of 65? In what circumstances might an employee consider retiring before reaching this age, and how would the benefits differ if they choose this option?
Benefit Calculation at Normal Retirement Age: Duke Employees' Retirement Plan calculates benefits for employees who retire at age 65 by applying a formula that includes 1.25% of their average final compensation for the first 20 years of credited service and 1.66% for any additional years. If an employee retires before 65, they can do so after age 45 with 15 years of service, but their benefits will be reduced based on how early they retire, resulting in lower payments due to a longer payout period.
What considerations should an employee keep in mind regarding their unused sick leave or carry-over bank hours when calculating benefits under the Duke Employees’ Retirement Plan? How does Duke utilize these factors to enhance an employee's credited service for the purpose of benefit calculation?
Impact of Unused Sick Leave and Carry-Over Bank Hours: Unused sick leave and carry-over bank hours are converted into additional credited service, which can enhance the calculation of retirement benefits. Employees who have accumulated these hours can see their credited service extended, leading to higher pension benefits at retirement.
In what situations would an employee's benefits under the Duke Employees' Retirement Plan be automatically paid in a lump sum? How does the Plan determine the value of benefits that fall below the threshold for monthly payouts, and what implications does this have for retirement planning?
Lump-Sum Payments for Small Benefits: If the value of an employee's benefit is $5,000 or less, Duke Employees' Retirement Plan automatically pays it as a lump sum. For benefits between $5,000 and $10,000, employees can choose between a lump-sum payment or a monthly pension. This can significantly impact retirement planning, especially for employees weighing whether to take a smaller upfront amount or spread it over time.
How does the Duke Employees' Retirement Plan handle benefit adjustments for employees who continue to work beyond their normal retirement age? What factors influence how these adjustments are calculated, and what implications might this have for future financial planning for employees nearing retirement?
Benefit Adjustments for Postponed Retirement: Employees who continue working beyond their normal retirement date will see their benefits increased annually (by no less than 10%) to account for the shorter period during which they will receive payments. The plan recalculates benefits based on the employee’s continued service and compensation after age 65.
What options are available to employees of Duke University regarding payment forms when they retire, and what are the long-term implications of choosing each option? How do these choices affect both the retiree's monthly income and survivor benefits for a spouse or other beneficiary?
Payment Form Options and Implications: At retirement, employees can choose various payment options such as a single life annuity, joint and survivor annuities, or a lump-sum payment. These choices affect the amount received monthly and any survivor benefits for a spouse or beneficiary. Employees should carefully consider their long-term financial needs and the needs of their beneficiaries when selecting a payment option.
What specific protections does the Duke Employees' Retirement Plan provide for spouses in the event of an employee's death, and how does this influence the choice of payment options? What steps must an employee take to ensure that their spouse's rights are upheld under the Plan?
Spousal Protections: The Plan provides protections for spouses in the event of an employee's death. A surviving spouse can receive 50% of the employee's reduced monthly benefit through a joint and survivor annuity. Employees must take steps to ensure spousal rights are protected by selecting the appropriate payment option and ensuring the necessary documentation is completed.
How can employees of Duke University ensure that they are informed about their rights under ERISA while participating in the Employees' Retirement Plan? What resources and tools does Duke provide to help employees understand and assert these rights?
Employee Rights Under ERISA: Duke provides resources for employees to understand their rights under ERISA, including access to plan documents and assistance in filing claims. Employees are encouraged to use Duke's available tools to assert their rights and ensure they are fully informed about the benefits available to them under the Plan.
In what ways can employees at Duke University navigate the complexities of reemployment after retirement, and how does their choice of retiree status affect their benefits? What regulations govern how benefits are recalculated if they choose to return to work at Duke?
Reemployment After Retirement: Employees who return to work at Duke after retiring can continue to receive their pension if they work fewer than 1,000 hours per year. However, if they exceed 1,000 hours, their payments will be paused and recalculated based on additional service and earnings when they retire again. This provides flexibility for employees considering reemployment after retirement.
What impact do legislative changes, such as those introduced by the IRS, have on the Duke Employees' Retirement Plan’s structure and benefits? How should employees approach understanding these changes in the context of their personal retirement strategies?
Impact of Legislative Changes: Changes introduced by the IRS or other regulatory bodies can impact the structure of the Duke Employees' Retirement Plan and its benefits. Employees should stay informed about these changes and how they affect personal retirement strategies, particularly regarding tax laws and pension calculations.
How can employees at Duke University contact the Retirement Board for questions or clarifications regarding their retirement benefits? What is the best approach for reaching out to ensure that they receive timely and accurate information?
Contacting the Retirement Board: Employees can contact Duke's Retirement Board for any questions or clarifications regarding their retirement benefits. The Retirement Board is responsible for managing the Plan, and employees are encouraged to reach out directly for timely and accurate information to address any concerns about their retirement.
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