Planning for retirement often starts with one big question: How much money will help retirees live comfortably once the paychecks stop? There’s not one rule for every retiree or every situation, but the 4% rule is a popular guideline that gives a rough guide for retirement savings. It suggests withdrawing 4% of savings in the first year and increasing withdrawals with inflation each year. It doesn’t factor in things like market swings or unexpected expenses, but it gives an idea of the savings needed to f ...