US T-Bills (1-3mths): a good asset for your retirement?

Last Update: 30 November 2024

US T-Bills (1-3mths) is an asset class belonging to Fixed Income category.

You can invest in this asset class, let it passively follow the market trend, and in the meantime you can periodically withdraw a portion of it for your retirement.

Worst case scenario so far, over a 30-year time horizon, you could have withdrawn 2.172% of your initial capital each year, kept withdrawing all the time (adjusting for inflation), and you wouldn't have run out of money before 30 years.

Considering the last 30-year (last update: November 2024), a safe withdrawal rate would have been 3.589%.

In this post, we will find out the most affordable withdrawal strategies. All calculations are made on actual historical series.

US T-Bills (1-3mths) asset class

Over the last 30 years (last update: November 2024), the asset class has returned 2.29% annualized, with a maximum drawdown of -0.42%.

Let's consider different timeframes, all ending at November 2024: which Withdrawal Rates could you have applied without running out of money in your retirement?

The Withdrawal Rates calculated here are annualized and refer to the initial capital (not the current!). The first month withdrawal is 1/12 of that annualized withdrawal and it's adjusted for inflation for each subsequent month.

A Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (PWR) protected the original inflation adjusted capital.

A Safe Withdrawal Rate (SWR) didn't protect the original capital, but the investment didn't run out of money during retirement. The capital went to zero exaclty at the end of the retirement period.

Learn more about Withdrawal Rate simulation
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Timeframes ending at Nov 2024
Withdrawal Rate (%)
Investment Performances
Timeframe Period from Period to Perpetual Safe Ann.Return(%)
[ Infl.Adj. ]		 Max
Drawdown(%)
10 Years 1 Dec 2014
 30 Nov 2024 0.000 9.196 1.57
[ -1.33 ] 		-0.16
Apr 2020 - Feb 2022
20 Years 1 Dec 2004
 30 Nov 2024 0.000 4.576 1.49
[ -1.03 ] 		-0.42
Nov 2009 - Dec 2015
30 Years 1 Dec 1994
 30 Nov 2024 0.000 3.589 2.29
[ -0.22 ] 		-0.42
Nov 2009 - Dec 2015
40 Years 1 Dec 1984
 30 Nov 2024 0.432 3.190 3.16
[ 0.36 ] 		-0.42
Nov 2009 - Dec 2015
50 Years 1 Dec 1974
 30 Nov 2024 0.648 2.675 4.27
[ 0.56 ] 		-0.42
Nov 2009 - Dec 2015
60 Years 1 Dec 1964
 30 Nov 2024 0.583 2.178 4.47
[ 0.52 ] 		-0.42
Nov 2009 - Dec 2015
70 Years 1 Dec 1954
 30 Nov 2024 0.690 1.977 4.22
[ 0.62 ] 		-0.42
Nov 2009 - Dec 2015
80 Years 1 Dec 1944
 30 Nov 2024 0.140 1.235 3.82
[ 0.15 ] 		-0.42
Nov 2009 - Dec 2015
Simulations are calculated with actual returns of US T-Bills (1-3mths) Asset Class | Preserved capital and withdrawals are considered adjusted for inflation | Withdrawals happen monthly | Performances are calculated in USD dollars, considering reinvestment of dividends when applicable | Inflation is updated at November 2024

Withdrawal Rates Simulation (updated at Nov 2024)

During your retirement, tipically you want to divest periodically some amount of money from your invested capital, without running out of money over a long period.

How much would it be an acceptable withdrawal rate, for the US T-Bills (1-3mths) asset class?

▼ Methodology and Definitions
The algorithm calculates the chance of success of a initial withdrawal rate, whose amount in dollars is adjusted monthly for inflation. The algorithm tries a retirement simulation, starting at every possible month in the given period.
For instance, assuming a 20 years retirement, the algorithm will cover each 20 year timeframe starting at every possible month in the given period between the start and end month.

Here's how simulations work (each simulation is based on actual asset class returns, in US dollars):
  • At the beginning, you start with a certain amount of money invested in the portfolio (i.e. the initial invested capital).
  • Each month, money is withdrawn from the portfolio. The withdrawal rate is calculated based on the initial withdrawn, annualized.
  • Each month, portfolio value is updated, based on the asset classes returns (dividends are supposed to be reinvested).
  • Each month, portfolio is rebalanced, to reset to the original weight of the assets (applicable only if portfolio contains at least 2 assets).
  • Each month, the withdrawal is adjusted for inflation (US Inflation is used for simulation).
The Withdrawal Rates calculated here are annualized and refer to the initial capital (not the current!). The first month withdrawal is 1/12 of that annualized withdrawal and it's adjusted for inflation for each subsequent month.

The Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (PWR) is the percentage of the initial portfolio balance that can be withdrawn at the beginning of each month with inflation adjustment, preserving the original invested capital, adjusted for inflation too.

The Safe Withdrawal Rate (SWR) is the percentage of the initial portfolio balance that can be withdrawn at the beginning of each month with inflation adjustment, without the portfolio running out of money.

Learn more about Withdrawal Rate simulation
Data Sources and Credits

Analyzing the available data source, several N-years timeframes have been considered to calculate the withdrawal rates and their success percentage.

For instance, given a 20 years timeframe, the algorithm will cover each 20 year timeframe starting at every possible month in the given period between the start and end month (Nov 2024).

Period: Jan 1871 - Nov 2024
Period: Dec 1924 - Nov 2024
Period: Dec 1974 - Nov 2024
Swipe left to see all data
PWR (%) - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate
SWR (%) - Safe Withdrawal Rate
Preserved Capital (Infl.Adj) 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Success Rate 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 95% 90% 80% 50%
Timeframes 10 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Jan 1908 		0.000
Apr 1933 		1.029
Mar 1941 		4.151
Mar 1941 		7.253
Feb 1941 		8.039 8.933 9.395 10.772
20 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Jun 1900 		0.000
Dec 1930 		0.194
Jun 1933 		1.895
May 1933 		3.258
Nov 1940 		3.631 3.928 5.054 5.646
30 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Sep 1923 		0.000
Jan 1931 		0.318
Apr 1933 		1.246
May 1933 		2.172
May 1933 		2.274 2.663 3.661 3.991
40 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Mar 1911 		0.000
Mar 1932 		0.339
Nov 1940 		0.996
Nov 1940 		1.615
May 1933 		1.706 1.969 2.708 3.123
50 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
May 1927 		0.000
Mar 1931 		0.308
May 1933 		0.792
May 1933 		1.276
May 1933 		1.366 1.555 2.126 2.578
60 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Mar 1932 		0.150
May 1933 		0.466
May 1933 		0.781
May 1933 		1.097
May 1933 		1.195 1.260 1.743 2.259
70 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.034
Apr 1933 		0.271
Apr 1933 		0.509
Apr 1933 		0.747
May 1933 		0.984
May 1933 		1.068 1.106 1.460 1.963
80 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Feb 1933 		0.196
Jun 1933 		0.430
May 1933 		0.663
May 1933 		0.897
May 1933 		0.968 0.988 1.292 1.766
Legend:
SWR 100% Success
95% Success
90% Success
PWR 100% Capital Protection
75%
50% Protection
25%
Swipe left to see all data
PWR (%) - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate
SWR (%) - Safe Withdrawal Rate
Preserved Capital (Infl.Adj) 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Success Rate 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 95% 90% 80% 50%
Timeframes 10 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Dec 1931 		0.000
Apr 1933 		1.029
Mar 1941 		4.151
Mar 1941 		7.253
Feb 1941 		7.837 8.865 9.279 10.290
20 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Apr 1927 		0.000
Dec 1930 		0.194
Jun 1933 		1.895
May 1933 		3.258
Nov 1940 		3.549 3.659 4.577 5.350
30 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Dec 1924 		0.000
Jan 1931 		0.318
Apr 1933 		1.246
May 1933 		2.172
May 1933 		2.245 2.283 2.719 3.744
40 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Mar 1928 		0.000
Mar 1932 		0.339
Nov 1940 		0.996
Nov 1940 		1.615
May 1933 		1.678 1.708 2.004 2.995
50 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
May 1927 		0.000
Mar 1931 		0.308
May 1933 		0.792
May 1933 		1.276
May 1933 		1.352 1.366 1.516 2.353
60 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Mar 1932 		0.150
May 1933 		0.466
May 1933 		0.781
May 1933 		1.097
May 1933 		1.163 1.185 1.217 1.845
70 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.034
Apr 1933 		0.271
Apr 1933 		0.509
Apr 1933 		0.747
May 1933 		0.984
May 1933 		1.035 1.061 1.083 1.399
80 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Feb 1933 		0.196
Jun 1933 		0.430
May 1933 		0.663
May 1933 		0.897
May 1933 		0.936 0.952 0.972 1.077
Legend:
SWR 100% Success
95% Success
90% Success
PWR 100% Capital Protection
75%
50% Protection
25%
Swipe left to see all data
PWR (%) - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate
SWR (%) - Safe Withdrawal Rate
Preserved Capital (Infl.Adj) 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Success Rate 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 95% 90% 80% 50%
Timeframes 10 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Nov 2000 		0.702
Aug 2012 		3.593
Jul 2012 		6.431
Dec 2008 		9.060
Dec 2008 		9.196 9.351 9.564 10.681
20 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Dec 1996 		0.021
Jul 2002 		1.548
Jul 2002 		3.057
Dec 2002 		4.535
Dec 2003 		4.595 4.626 5.016 5.756
30 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Aug 1991 		0.634
Aug 1992 		1.645
Aug 1992 		2.631
Dec 1994 		3.589
Dec 1994 		3.641 3.667 3.787 4.233
Legend:
SWR 100% Success
95% Success
90% Success
PWR 100% Capital Protection
75%
50% Protection
25%
Simulations are calculated with actual returns of US T-Bills (1-3mths) Asset Class | Preserved capital and withdrawals are considered adjusted for inflation | Withdrawals happen monthly | Performances are calculated in USD dollars, considering reinvestment of dividends when applicable | Inflation is updated at November 2024

Withdrawals and Success Rate

If you had implemented a specific Withdrawal Strategy with the US T-Bills (1-3mths) asset class, which would have been the success rate so far?

Simulations follow the same rules mentioned before. Withdrawals are expressed as yearly rates and refer to the initial capital. After that, withdrawal amount is monthly adjusted for inflation.

Success rates are calculated over all the past timeframes available in the data source. To focus on a specific withdrawal rate, click on the links in the table.

Period: Jan 1871 - Nov 2024
Period: Dec 1924 - Nov 2024
Period: Dec 1974 - Nov 2024
Swipe left to see all data
Withdrawal
Rate
10 Years
10 Years
20 Years
20 Years
30 Years
30 Years
40 Years
40 Years
50 Years
50 Years
60 Years
60 Years
70 Years
70 Years
80 Years
80 Years
% Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile
2.00 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
2.172%
89.77
82.85
80% Succ.
2.126%
67.82
50% Succ.
2.259%
44.94
36.04
2.50 %
100.00
100.00
91.80
90% Succ.
2.663%
83.85
80% Succ.
2.708%
63.62
50% Succ.
2.578%
30.94
27.48
28.94
3.00 %
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
3.258%
87.37
67.11
50% Succ.
3.123%
28.45
24.02
24.40
24.44
3.50 %
100.00
97.26
95% Succ.
3.631%
83.47
80% Succ.
3.661%
34.21
22.04
21.81
20.24
18.92
4.00 %
100.00
89.68
49.33
20.83
19.87
18.09
16.47
15.77
4.50 %
100.00
88.81
28.09
18.06
15.79
14.36
13.39
11.37
5.00 %
100.00
81.65
80% Succ.
5.054%
21.37
14.84
12.26
11.70
9.82
8.11
5.50 %
100.00
60.14
50% Succ.
5.646%
18.01
11.70
9.86
8.33
6.85
5.86
6.00 %
100.00
36.26
15.26
10.23
6.81
5.67
5.16
4.28
6.50 %
100.00
27.80
10.95
7.68
4.73
3.99
3.57
2.25
7.00 %
100.00
100% Succ.
7.253%
22.51
9.68
5.12
3.37
2.48
1.09
0.00
7.50 %
99.02
18.22
7.39
3.80
1.84
0.00
0.00
0.00
8.00 %
95.08
14.55
5.65
2.49
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Swipe left to see all data
Withdrawal
Rate
10 Years
10 Years
20 Years
20 Years
30 Years
30 Years
40 Years
40 Years
50 Years
50 Years
60 Years
60 Years
70 Years
70 Years
80 Years
80 Years
% Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile
2.00 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
2.172%
80.58
80% Succ.
2.004%
64.39
50% Succ.
2.353%
42.62
4.16
0.00
2.50 %
100.00
100.00
85.49
80% Succ.
2.719%
69.35
50% Succ.
2.995%
44.59
0.00
0.00
0.00
3.00 %
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
3.258%
77.65
48.40
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
3.50 %
100.00
95.42
95% Succ.
3.549%
70.75
50% Succ.
3.744%
8.18
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
4.00 %
100.00
82.73
22.59
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
4.50 %
100.00
81.27
80% Succ.
4.577%
8.56
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
5.00 %
100.00
71.28
50% Succ.
5.350%
1.55
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
5.50 %
100.00
43.60
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
6.00 %
100.00
16.23
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
6.50 %
100.00
8.84
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
7.00 %
100.00
100% Succ.
7.253%
2.39
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
7.50 %
98.43
95% Succ.
7.837%
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
8.00 %
92.14
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Swipe left to see all data
Withdrawal
Rate
10 Years
10 Years
20 Years
20 Years
30 Years
30 Years
% Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile
2.00 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
2.50 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
3.00 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
3.50 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
3.589%
4.00 %
100.00
100.00
67.22
50% Succ.
4.233%
4.50 %
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
4.535%
29.88
5.00 %
100.00
80.61
80% Succ.
5.016%
5.39
5.50 %
100.00
69.81
50% Succ.
5.756%
0.00
6.00 %
100.00
29.92
0.00
6.50 %
100.00
14.96
0.00
7.00 %
100.00
2.77
0.00
7.50 %
100.00
0.00
0.00
8.00 %
100.00
0.00
0.00
Simulations are calculated with actual returns of US T-Bills (1-3mths) Asset Class | Preserved capital and withdrawals are considered adjusted for inflation | Withdrawals happen monthly | Performances are calculated in USD dollars, considering reinvestment of dividends when applicable | Inflation is updated at November 2024

Related Pages

Asset Class Main Page:
US T-Bills (1-3mths) Asset Class

For the US T-Bills (1-3mths) Asset Class, we have prepared a report for each available timeframe:
10-Year    20-Year    30-Year    40-Year    50-Year    60-Year    70-Year    80-Year   

if you want to learn more about the statistics of a specific withdrawal rate, we suggest these in particular:
2%    2.5%    3%    3.5%    4%    4.5%    5%   

Website Homepage:
BestRetirementPortfolio.com