[TexasFreeper2009]

Here’s the key point to remember about retirement:

You build up principle throughout an entire working lifetime ...

to live off the “income” generated by that principle, not to live off the principle.

Any plan that involves living off the principle puts you in the unenviable position of needing to die before you run out of money.

[FreedomNotSafety]

IF you have perfect timing you would run out of principal at the time of your death. Since that is highly unlikely, The question then becomes do you mind running out of principal before you die or would you rather have some principal left after you die? Take your pick. I will spend earnings and principal as if i will I’ve to age 90. I will most likely die well before then and therefore leave some principal. If I live longer? Then I run out of money and join the 90% of my countrymen who I had previously been supporting.

There is no reason not to spend the principal except for a desire to leave it behind.

[DugwayDuke]

TexasFreeper2009 wrote: Here’s the key point to remember about retirement: Any plan that involves living off the principle puts you in the unenviable position of needing to die before you run out of money.

Here’s another key point: If you don’t travel first class, your grand kids will.

Question: what are you going to do with your principal? I personally have no desire to sit on the front porch of a nursing home bragging about my principal. I fully intend to liquidate a very sizeable portion prior to my death.