For decades, retirees have been told to follow the "4% rule"—the theory that you can safely withdraw 4% of your savings each year without running out of money. But what if this cornerstone of modern financial planning is a ticking time bomb based on outdated, hypothetical models?

In this eye-opening episode of Safe Money and Income Radio, federal retirement consultant Daryl Blackmon dismantles the myths of "spend down" planning. He reveals how this common strategy, practiced by 95% of financial professionals, offers only a "reasonable chance" of success, leaving your future vulnerable to market volatility and the devastating impact of "sequential rate of return risk".

In this episode, you will learn:

• The history of the 4% rule and how modern research shows a truly "safe" withdrawal rate could be as low as 1.5%.

• Why planning for arbitrary "growth" is meaningless without a purpose, and how to build a retirement plan as secure as a well-built home.

• The critical difference between a paper gain in the market and a real gain that is locked in and protected from future loss.

• How alternative strategies can provide guaranteed lifetime income that you and a spouse can't outlive, often paying out significantly more than the risky 4% model.

If your retirement plan is built on guesswork rather than guarantees, this is an episode you can't afford to miss.