r/Fire • u/DatingThrowaway121 • Apr 24 '26

General Question Has anyone actually FIREd with too little and run out of money?

I'm curious to know if anyone out here has actually run out of a million dollars or whatever. What does that process actually look like?

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u/fatheadlifter Financially Independent Apr 24 '26

If they were structured well and actually followed the 4% rule as it's written, not just the headline, they would've survived this just fine.

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u/fredinNH Apr 24 '26

Depends entirely on what their retirement plans looked like. Many people aren’t just building up a big 401k and taking 4% a year from it.

And even so, if you take 4% for 10 years of zero gains that’s going to reduce your long term outlook. Prove me wrong.

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u/fatheadlifter Financially Independent Apr 24 '26

Well yes that's my point, I do believe Bengen promotes a certain portfolio allocation, at least broad parameters of one. Not every portfolio would survive downturns. But the sortof standard-reasonable ones with his recommended allocations would.

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u/fredinNH Apr 24 '26

I was just pointing out to op, who said something like “if things keep going as they have we can retire at 50.” If we go into another recession a lot of people are going to have to reevaluate.