This post is a collaboration with Nick Maggiulli from Of Dollars and Data .

I read Nick’s book, Just Keep Buying , and the thing I loved most was how he backed up all his arguments with data.

I was chatting to him on Twitter about why I enjoyed his book, and he said, “If you ever want to collaborate on something (or want me to run a simulation of something for you), let me know.”

I had a topic I thought would be perfect to collaborate on, and this article is the result.

I’ve always had a problem with the 4% rule for early retirement.

It’s not because it’s bad or wrong.

It’s because it’s not for early retirement.

The 4% Rule: Why It’s Not Ideal for Early Retirement

My biggest issue is that it doesn’t account for the flexibility of most early-retirees.

It’s for standard retirement, and “traditional” retirees in their 70s or 80s aren’t likely to have as much lifestyle or spending flexibility as someone in their 30s or 40s.

By the time someone has reached the end of their career in their 70s, it’s…