Portfolio Decumulation Simulator (Fixed SWR)

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The Purpose (Why?)

To understand how the sequence of investment returns and early market losses (sequence risk) can deplete your retirement portfolio faster than expected under a rigid, fixed SWR (adjusted only for inflation). (Note: Simulations use inflation-adjusted "Real Dollars")

How it Works

Enter your Current Portfolio Value, Target SWR (%), expected Return/Volatility parameters, and retirement duration. The calculator simulates 500 potential market trajectories to project portfolio survival.

Note: This simulator models a rigid, fixed SWR (adjusted only for inflation). If you want to simulate dynamic spending guardrails that reduce withdrawals in market downturns, use the Portfolio Decumulation Simulator (Variable SWR).

Foundational Research

Read the core research articles to understand sequence of returns risk (SORR):

ALGORITHMIC_NOTE: REAL_DOLLARS

Simulations use "Real Dollars" (inflation-adjusted). This means a 0% return maintains purchasing power, while positive returns approximate growth above inflation.

Input Specifications

PARAMETER DETAILS
Current Portfolio Value ($)
Starting portfolio value.
EXAMPLE: $1,000,000
Target SWR (%)
Percentage of initial portfolio withdrawn annually.
EXAMPLE: 5.0%
Real Return (%)
Average annual return (inflation-adjusted).
EXAMPLE: 5.8%
Standard Deviation (%)
Annual standard deviation (volatility).
EXAMPLE: 6.1%
Management Fee (%)
Annual percentage fee or expense ratio deducted from the portfolio.
EXAMPLE: 0.0%
Duration (Years)
Length of the simulation in years.
EXAMPLE: 30 Years
Benchmark Values
  • 50/50 Portfolio (Stocks/Bonds)
    R: 5.8% | σ: 6.1%
  • 100% Stocks (S&P 500)
    R: 7.0% | σ: 17.0%
Example Visualizations
Example Visualization
Interactive Calculator

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Example Output

View a high-fidelity, interactive sample report generated by this simulation engine.

View Sample Simulation Result

Frequently Asked Questions

This is called Sequence of Returns Risk (SORR). If the market suffers losses in the first few years of your retirement, you are forced to sell assets at low prices to fund withdrawals. This locks in losses and can cause the portfolio to run out of money prematurely, even if the market recovers later.

This simulator models a rigid, fixed SWR (adjusted only for inflation). If you want to simulate dynamic spending guardrails that reduce withdrawals in market downturns, use the Portfolio Decumulation Simulator (Variable SWR).