Retirement Distribution
Accumulation is a key facet of reaching your retirement goals. However, we tend to see far less about portfolio drawdown, or decumulation—the logistics of managing a portfolio from which you're simultaneously extracting living expenses during retirement. This can be even more complicated than accumulating assets.
Pitfall
One of the big mistakes of retirement distribution can be not adjusting withdrawals to account for market fluctuations. So-called sequencing risk—the chance that retirees may encounter a harsh bear market early in the life of their withdrawal program—can have a big effect on a portfolio's longevity. Taking fixed distributions from a shrinking pool means that a retirement portfolio could suffer losses from which it would be impossible to recover.
Workaround
Maintaining a well-diversified asset mix may be a retiree's best weapon for protecting his or her portfolio from a bear market. For example, holding assets in high-quality bonds and cash may allow a retiree to meet desired living expenses without having to withdraw from equity holdings during periods of market weakness. That said, the smartest retirement-distribution plans also make adjustments during times of market duress, possibly reducing withdrawals or, at a minimum, forgoing upward inflation adjustments.
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All investments involve risk, including the loss of principal. There can be no assurance that any financial strategy will be successful. Asset allocation and diversification are methods used to help managed risk. They do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. This is for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax or financial planning advice. Please consult a tax and/or financial professional for advice specific to your individual circumstances.
