Bengen Updates Retirement Withdrawal Rule; Buffett's 2-Fund Portfolio Strategy
Key Takeaways
- Bengen updated the '4% rule,' suggesting 5.25-5.5% withdrawal rate may be sustainable.
- Buffett's '2-Fund' Portfolio: 90% S&P 500 index, 10% short-term U.S. Treasury bonds.
- Affording a $1 million home depends on location and lender's borrowing capacity assessments.
- Savings account rates steady; potential top rates of 5.50%, high-yield accounts up to 4.88%.
- Covered call strategies are growing as investors hedge risks amid Wall Street's record rise.
Top Stories
Financial advisor updates retirement withdrawal rule.
Financial advisor William Bengen updated his '4% rule' on September 9, 2025, suggesting a higher withdrawal rate of 5.25% to 5.5% may be sustainable, depending on inflation, and advising consultation with a financial advisor.
Warren Buffett's 2-Fund Portfolio strategy.
Warren Buffett's '2-Fund' Portfolio strategy, detailed on September 8, 2025, recommends a 90% allocation to an S&P 500 index fund and 10% to short-term U.S. Treasury bonds for retirement planning.
Affording a $1 million home.
On September 9, 2025, Aly J. Yale reported that affording a $1 million home depends on location, with lenders using rules like the 28/36 and 35/45 to assess borrowing capacity.
Savings account rates.
On September 9, 2025, Forbes Advisor reported that savings account rates are steady, with potential top rates of 5.50%, and high-yield accounts offering up to 4.88% for a $10,000 minimum deposit.
Covered call strategies.
On September 10, 2025, Reuters reported that Wall Street's record rise is spurring the growth of covered call strategies as investors seek to hedge risks and generate income.
Debt-Free Living
Boosting credit score.
On 2025-09-09, Vawn Himmelsbach explains that boosting a credit score can lower mortgage rates and closing costs, saving buyers thousands.
New secured credit card.
On September 9, 2025, Chime announced a new secured credit card for Chime+ members that provides uncapped 1.5% cash‑back on rotating categories, weekly payouts, and no annual fee.
Investing Insights
US stock market futures show modest gains.
On September 9, 2025, US stock market futures showed modest gains due to anticipation of Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts and upcoming inflation data, with gold hitting a new record high.
Market analysis and Federal Reserve rate cuts.
On September 9, 2025, Lauren Goodwin said the Fed is likely to cut rates by 25 basis points on Sept 17, and Barclays raised S&P 500 forecasts, while JP Morgan warned of a potential news sell event.
Investing in AI leaders.
On September 10, 2025, The Motley Fool analyst recommended investing in Palantir Technologies and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, citing their strong AI and chip manufacturing capabilities.
Stocks to buy.
On September 10, 2025, The Motley Fool analyst recommended Amazon, American Express, and Berkshire Hathaway as 'no-brainer' stocks to buy, citing their strong long-term prospects.
Reasons to buy Walmart stock.
On September 10, 2025, The Motley Fool analyst outlined five key reasons to buy Walmart stock, citing its market dominance, resilience, and proactive evolution.
International stocks.
On September 9, 2025 MarketWatch published a deep‑dive that screened MSCI EAFE constituents and identified 20 international stocks with forward P/E ≤20 and the highest projected revenue growth through 2027.
Vanguard ETFs.
On September 9, 2025, Katie Brockman of The Motley Fool recommends three Vanguard ETFs for investment: the Total Stock Market ETF (VTI), the High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM), and the Information Technology ETF (VGT).
Johnson & Johnson.
On September 10, 2025, Jim Cramer lauded Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), stating its core pharmaceutical business is 'roaring' and its medical devices are strong, contributing to a 23% year-to-date stock increase.
SoFi’s potential breakout.
On 2025-09-10, HernandezCapital analyzes SoFi’s potential breakout, projecting a base case target of $48–$50 and a stretch target of $100–$150, supported by Q2 2025 revenue of $855M.
Job Transitions
Fired, laid off, or retiring.
On September 9, 2025, a guide was published explaining the critical differences between being fired, laid off, and retiring, detailing impacts on unemployment eligibility, severance pay, and retirement planning.
Money Management 101
Essential money concepts for teens.
On September 9, 2025, Mary Luquette published an article outlining five essential money concepts—checkbook balancing, compound interest, credit history, gross vs. net salary, and debit vs. credit cards—to help teens achieve financial independence.
Financial Freedom Pyramid.
On September 09, 2025, Denny Ceizyk introduced the Financial Freedom Pyramid, a framework to guide individuals from financial literacy to financial freedom, with the first tier focusing on earning, budgeting, and saving.
Real Estate Guide
Best real estate investing apps.
On September 9, 2025, Bankrate published a guide detailing the four best real estate investing apps for 2025, including Fundrise, RealtyMogul, Arrived, and Groundfloor.
Retirement Ready
Financial advice for a 63-year-old seeking retirement guidance.
A 63-year-old individual, with over $1.1 million in savings, is seeking financial advice on retirement, with experts recommending engaging a CFP to manage complex assets and debts.
Smart Saving Strategies
Side hustle jobs.
On September 9, 2025, an article outlined 25 side hustle jobs that offer substantial pay and can aid in career advancement, with median hourly rates varying across different roles.