Table of Contents
- Curriculum Review
- Saving
- General Investing
- Average Return - It’s Not What You Think
- Understanding Sequence of Returns Risk
- Your Index Investments Likely aren't as Diversified as You Think
- U.S.-Based Investors Think the Worst-Case Scenario is the Great Depression or GFC
- Defending Your Savings Against Significant Downturns
- Capital Gains Tax Impacts on Trend Following Strategies
- Retirement Planning
- Understanding Safe Withdrawal Rate
- Safe Withdrawal Rate Failure
- Safe Withdrawal Rate For Shorter Retirements
- Does Using a Safe Withdrawal Rate Mean I Likely Die With No Money?
- Variable Withdrawal Rates Enable Increased Retirement Income
- The 4% Rule Is Dead, Here's What's Replaced It
- Hope Is Not a Strategy; Retirement Takes Planning
- Simplified Roth Versus Traditional IRA Conversations May Be Costly
Curriculum Review
The AlgorithmicFIRE Curriculum Review
Our blogs provide comprehensive resources to the math, the risks, and the strategies of Financial Independence/Retire Early (FIRE). In our Curriculum Review we provide a summary of all our posts to quick-start your journey.
Read Article Watch VideoSaving
You can’t retire without savings. These posts show how compound returns produce surprising results.
Can You Afford an Investment Advisor?
The question isn't whether you can afford an advisor, but whether the long term costs of an advisor are worth the money; which will be measured in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Read Article Watch Video
It's OK to Put Off Retirement Savings Until You're Older - It's Easier Then...
Except it's not. It is actually harder, unless you get lucky.
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to Watch
How Much Retirement Savings Can Be Accumulated with 30 Years of Saving $1000/month?
Historical analysis shows luck plays a huge role
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to WatchGeneral Investing
You’ll want to be investing your savings; these posts cover issues to consider.
Average Return - It’s Not What You Think
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is the proper way to express investment returns over a period, not (arithmetic) average
Read Article Watch Video
Understanding Sequence of Returns Risk
A critical risk factor that can make or break your retirement portfolio, regardless of average returns
Read Article Watch Video
Your Index Investments Likely aren't as Diversified as You Think
Large cap indices are dominated by a few large stocks. What to know and how to get more diversified.
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to Watch
U.S.-Based Investors Think the Worst-Case Scenario is the Great Depression or GFC. Other Countries Disagree.
When investment planning for retirement, it is important to consider all possible outcomes. We take a look at Japan in the 1990s to redefine "worst case".
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to Watch
Defending Your Savings Against Significant Downturns
What happens if the market doesn’t just "dip," but stays down for a decade or more? We explore strategies to safeguard your savings from prolonged stagnation.
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to Watch
Capital Gains Tax Impacts on Trend Following Strategies
Retirement accounts are generally tax deferred, but if you have taxable accounts you should be aware of the tax implications of increased trading frequency.
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to WatchRetirement Planning
After your savings and investments produce returns, you’ll start to wonder, “How much money do I need to retire?”.
You first need to understand sequence of returns risk, then you need to understand withdrawal strategies. That and more are covered below.
Understanding Safe Withdrawal Rate
Safe Withdrawal rate (SWR) is the key to answering “Am I (financially) ready to retire?”
Read Article Watch Video
Safe Withdrawal Rate Failure
What happens if your Safe Withdrawal Rate (SWR) is too high? A look at history and some tips for recovery.
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to Watch
Safe Withdrawal Rate For Shorter Retirements
Not everyone needs a 30 year retirement. How does Safe Withdrawal Rate change for shorter retirements?
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to Watch
Does Using a Safe Withdrawal Rate Mean I Likely Die With No Money?
No, in fact, you are likely to leave behind substantial assets. Plan for it.
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to Watch
Variable Withdrawal Rates Enable Increased Retirement Income
But why do they work? Why not just start with a higher withdrawal rate?
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to Watch
The 4% Rule Is Dead, Here's What's Replaced It
The 4% rule, which we wrote about in our post regarding Safe Withdrawal Rate, was established back in 1994. Since then, many alternatives have been suggested. We review the major alternatives.
Read Article đź”’Subscribe to Watch
Hope Is Not a Strategy; Retirement Takes Planning
You must have a savings plan, and a withdrawal plan; either can come first. We will show you how to make both plans so you have a clear path to retirement.
Read Article Watch Video
Simplified Roth Versus Traditional IRA Conversations May Be Costly
The discussion is frequently reduced to comparing your current tax bracket to your expected tax bracket in retirement. While simple, this comparison is incomplete.
Read Article Watch VideoReady to learn more?
See a list of recent blogs on our home page.
Or, dive deeper into investing, saving, and withdrawal strategies through our comprehensive Curriculum.
Subscribe now to get:
- Our new blogs delivered straight to you via email.
- Access to all historical blogs. (Only recent posts are availble to non-subscribers.)
- Access to all of our calculators.
- Access to our Dashboard with trend following results. (See the trend following calculator for historical example results and links to the post where we explained the strategy.)
Thanks for reading! Feel free to share this post, and follow us on social media:
Disclaimer
**For Educational Purposes Only:** All content on this site, including articles, tools, and simulations, is for informational and educational purposes only. It should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. The information provided is general in nature and not tailored to any individual’s specific circumstances.
**Software Development Has Inherent Risks:** The software used to perform the analyses may have errors or inaccuracies. When we post updates to any material, errors or inaccuracies that are subsequently fixed may change the results.
**No Guarantees & Risk of Loss:** The analyses and simulations presented are based on historical data. Past performance is not an indicator or guarantee of future results. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Market conditions are subject to change, and the future may not resemble the past.
**No Fiduciary Relationship:** Your use of this information does not create a fiduciary or professional advisory relationship. We are not acting as your financial advisor.
**Consult a Professional:** You should always conduct your own research and due diligence. Before making any financial decisions, it is essential to consult with a qualified and licensed financial professional who can assess your individual situation and objectives. We disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the content of this site.
* Nobody associated with Algorithmic Fire LLC has any credential(s) or affiliation(s) with any licensing or regulatory bodies, including but not limited to: Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
© 2025-2026 Algorithmic Fire LLC. All rights reserved.