Desert Portfolio: how to retire safely

Last Update: 28 February 2023

The Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio invests in 3 asset classes and can be suitable for a retirement plan.

In this post we will find out the most affordable withdrawal strategies for the Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio. All calculations are made on actual historical series.

Key Points

The Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio is allocated for 30% on Stocks.

In the period Jan 1871 - Feb 2023, the portfolio granted a 6.04% annualized return, with a -34.39% maximum drawdown.

Worst case scenario so far, over a 30-year time horizon, you could have withdrawn 3.565% of your initial capital each year, kept withdrawing all the time (adjusting for inflation), and you wouldn't have run out of money before 30 years.

With a 4% withdrawal strategy, you would have lived on your investiment for 30 years in the 90.66% of cases, and for 50 years in the 41.08% of cases

You can implement the portfolio, let it passively follow the market trend, and in the meantime you can periodically withdraw a portion of it for your retirement.

The Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio

The Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio contains 30% Stocks, 60% Bonds, 10% Commodities.

Weight Asset Class Category
30.00 % Total US Stock Market Stocks
60.00 % US Intermediate Term (3-7y) Treasuries Fixed Income
10.00 % Gold Commodities

Over the last 30 years (last update: February 2023), the portfolio has returned 6.36% annualized, with a maximum drawdown of -14.7%.

6.264% has been a safe withdrawal rate.

Let's consider different timeframes, all ending at February 2023: 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 portfolio didn't run out of money during retirement. The portfolio went to zero exaclty at the end of the retirement period.

Learn more about Withdrawal Rate simulation
Swipe left to see all data
Timeframes ending at Feb 2023
Withdrawal Rate (%)
Investment Performances
Timeframe Period from Period to Perpetual Safe Ann.Return(%)
[ Infl.Adj. ]		 Max
Drawdown(%)
20 Years 1 Mar 2003
 28 Feb 2023 3.660 7.638 5.88
[ 3.31 ] 		-14.70
Jan 2022 - Sep 2022
30 Years 1 Mar 1993
 28 Feb 2023 4.202 6.264 6.36
[ 3.77 ] 		-14.70
Jan 2022 - Sep 2022
40 Years 1 Mar 1983
 28 Feb 2023 5.378 6.461 7.53
[ 4.56 ] 		-14.70
Jan 2022 - Sep 2022
50 Years 1 Mar 1973
 28 Feb 2023 3.569 4.177 8.05
[ 3.93 ] 		-14.70
Jan 2022 - Sep 2022
60 Years 1 Mar 1963
 28 Feb 2023 3.271 3.679 7.76
[ 3.73 ] 		-14.70
Jan 2022 - Sep 2022
70 Years 1 Mar 1953
 28 Feb 2023 3.648 3.930 7.49
[ 3.84 ] 		-14.70
Jan 2022 - Sep 2022
Simulations are calculated with actual returns of Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio | Preserved capital and withdrawals are considered adjusted for inflation | Withdrawals happen monthly | Performances are calculated in USD dollars, considering reinvestment of dividends when applicable | Portfolio is rebalanced each month | Inflation is updated at January 2023

Withdrawal Rates Simulation (updated at Feb 2023)

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

Based on how long your retirement is, what would it be an acceptable withdrawal rate, for the Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio?

▼ 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. In this website, you can find PWRs with 100% Capital Protection, or less.

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. In this website, you can find SWRs with 100% Success rate, or less.

Learn more about Withdrawal Rate simulation
Data Sources and Credits

In the table below, we analyze different key withdrawal rates, based on the length of retirement. To focus on a specific timeframe for this portfolio, click on the links in the table.

Period: Jan 1871 - Feb 2023
Swipe left to see all data
PWR (%) - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate
SWR (%) - Safe Withdrawal Rate
Preserved Capital 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Success Rate 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 95% 90% 80% 50%
Timeframes 20 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.000
Aug 1898 		0.259
Jul 1901 		1.826
Jul 1901 		3.392
Jul 1901 		4.557
Apr 1911 		5.062 5.242 5.592 7.118
30 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.674
Jul 1890 		1.780
Jul 1890 		2.588
May 1901 		3.076
May 1901 		3.565
May 1901 		3.886 4.012 4.276 5.197
40 Years
Worst Period (from) 		1.392
Apr 1940 		1.840
Apr 1940 		2.287
Apr 1940 		2.728
Mar 1937 		3.126
Feb 1937 		3.301 3.417 3.627 4.246
50 Years
Worst Period (from) 		1.910
Feb 1899 		2.152
Feb 1899 		2.353
Feb 1937 		2.544
Feb 1937 		2.736
Feb 1937 		2.951 3.068 3.268 3.836
60 Years
Worst Period (from) 		2.091
Feb 1899 		2.234
Jan 1899 		2.353
Feb 1937 		2.462
Feb 1937 		2.570
Feb 1937 		2.764 2.856 3.026 3.621
70 Years
Worst Period (from) 		2.102
Jul 1901 		2.211
Jul 1901 		2.319
Jul 1901 		2.418
Feb 1937 		2.485
Feb 1937 		2.641 2.715 2.869 3.337
Legend:
SWR 100% Success
95% Success
90% Success
PWR 100% Capital Protection
75%
50% Protection
25%
Period: Mar 1923 - Feb 2023
Swipe left to see all data
PWR (%) - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate
SWR (%) - Safe Withdrawal Rate
Preserved Capital 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Success Rate 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 95% 90% 80% 50%
Timeframes 20 Years
Worst Period (from) 		0.759
Oct 1961 		2.003
Mar 1937 		3.002
Mar 1937 		4.000
Mar 1937 		4.997
Feb 1937 		5.300 5.513 5.868 7.154
30 Years
Worst Period (from) 		1.379
May 1940 		2.001
May 1940 		2.622
May 1940 		3.231
Jan 1940 		3.757
Feb 1937 		3.983 4.288 4.486 5.247
40 Years
Worst Period (from) 		1.392
Apr 1940 		1.840
Apr 1940 		2.287
Apr 1940 		2.728
Mar 1937 		3.126
Feb 1937 		3.284 3.431 3.857 4.350
50 Years
Worst Period (from) 		1.966
Dec 1936 		2.162
Feb 1937 		2.353
Feb 1937 		2.544
Feb 1937 		2.736
Feb 1937 		2.897 3.004 3.329 3.914
60 Years
Worst Period (from) 		2.135
Mar 1937 		2.244
Feb 1937 		2.353
Feb 1937 		2.462
Feb 1937 		2.570
Feb 1937 		2.705 2.793 3.043 3.728
70 Years
Worst Period (from) 		2.219
Feb 1937 		2.285
Feb 1937 		2.352
Feb 1937 		2.418
Feb 1937 		2.485
Feb 1937 		2.610 2.658 2.824 3.566
Legend:
SWR 100% Success
95% Success
90% Success
PWR 100% Capital Protection
75%
50% Protection
25%
Period: Mar 1973 - Feb 2023
Swipe left to see all data
PWR (%) - Perpetual Withdrawal Rate
SWR (%) - Safe Withdrawal Rate
Preserved Capital 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Success Rate 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 95% 90% 80% 50%
Timeframes 20 Years
Worst Period (from) 		3.224
Jan 1999 		3.950
Mar 1973 		4.602
Mar 1973 		5.255
Mar 1973 		5.908
Mar 1973 		6.799 6.970 7.248 7.923
30 Years
Worst Period (from) 		3.551
Mar 1973 		3.895
Mar 1973 		4.239
Mar 1973 		4.583
Mar 1973 		4.927
Mar 1973 		5.339 6.037 6.217 6.682
Legend:
SWR 100% Success
95% Success
90% Success
PWR 100% Capital Protection
75%
50% Protection
25%
Simulations are calculated with actual returns of Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio | Preserved capital and withdrawals are considered adjusted for inflation | Withdrawals happen monthly | Performances are calculated in USD dollars, considering reinvestment of dividends when applicable | Portfolio is rebalanced each month | Inflation is updated at January 2023

Withdrawals and Success Rate

If you had implemented a specific Withdrawal Strategy with the Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio, 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 - Feb 2023
Swipe left to see all data
Withdrawal
Rate
20 Years
30 Years
40 Years
50 Years
60 Years
70 Years
% Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile
2.00 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
2.485%
2.50 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
2.736%
100.00
100% Succ.
2.570%
99.70
95% Succ.
2.641%
3.00 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
3.126%
92.91
90% Succ.
3.068%
82.57
80% Succ.
3.026%
66.77
50% Succ.
3.337%
3.50 %
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
3.565%
87.01
80% Succ.
3.627%
65.69
50% Succ.
3.836%
56.10
50% Succ.
3.621%
45.69
4.00 %
100.00
90.66
90% Succ.
4.012%
62.29
50% Succ.
4.246%
41.08
31.07
28.47
4.50 %
100.00
100% Succ.
4.557%
69.26
41.05
23.47
19.78
18.95
5.00 %
96.47
95% Succ.
5.062%
54.12
50% Succ.
5.197%
30.29
15.65
12.65
11.14
5.50 %
82.67
80% Succ.
5.592%
41.99
22.42
10.27
7.86
7.40
6.00 %
70.64
35.04
15.00
6.68
4.52
2.84
6.50 %
59.99
25.63
9.73
3.83
0.72
0.00
7.00 %
52.74
50% Succ.
7.118%
15.75
6.46
0.65
0.00
0.00
7.50 %
38.75
9.88
3.12
0.00
0.00
0.00
8.00 %
28.42
6.41
0.30
0.00
0.00
0.00
Period: Mar 1923 - Feb 2023
Swipe left to see all data
Withdrawal
Rate
20 Years
30 Years
40 Years
50 Years
60 Years
70 Years
% Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile % Success Percentile
2.00 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
2.485%
2.50 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
2.736%
100.00
100% Succ.
2.570%
99.17
95% Succ.
2.610%
3.00 %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
3.126%
90.02
90% Succ.
3.004%
82.12
80% Succ.
3.043%
70.08
3.50 %
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
3.757%
88.90
80% Succ.
3.857%
74.38
50% Succ.
3.914%
65.70
50% Succ.
3.728%
52.08
50% Succ.
3.566%
4.00 %
100.00
94.53
90% Succ.
4.288%
70.87
50% Succ.
4.350%
42.10
22.25
18.56
4.50 %
100.00
100% Succ.
4.997%
78.60
42.58
13.31
10.40
11.63
5.00 %
99.79
95% Succ.
5.300%
56.12
50% Succ.
5.247%
25.94
7.65
2.70
0.55
5.50 %
90.32
90% Succ.
5.513%
41.85
19.56
2.00
0.00
0.00
6.00 %
75.34
34.01
10.54
0.00
0.00
0.00
6.50 %
62.75
23.54
4.16
0.00
0.00
0.00
7.00 %
53.59
50% Succ.
7.154%
11.89
2.64
0.00
0.00
0.00
7.50 %
37.88
4.99
1.66
0.00
0.00
0.00
8.00 %
25.49
2.26
0.28
0.00
0.00
0.00
Period: Mar 1973 - Feb 2023
Swipe left to see all data
Withdrawal
Rate
20 Years
30 Years
% Success Percentile % Success Percentile
2.00 %
100.00
100.00
2.50 %
100.00
100.00
3.00 %
100.00
100.00
3.50 %
100.00
100.00
4.00 %
100.00
100.00
4.50 %
100.00
100.00
100% Succ.
4.927%
5.00 %
100.00
98.34
95% Succ.
5.339%
5.50 %
100.00
100% Succ.
5.908%
94.19
6.00 %
98.89
90.46
90% Succ.
6.037%
6.50 %
96.12
95% Succ.
6.799%
61.00
50% Succ.
6.682%
7.00 %
88.37
80% Succ.
7.248%
32.78
7.50 %
68.70
50% Succ.
7.923%
17.01
8.00 %
47.09
7.88
Simulations are calculated with actual returns of Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio | Preserved capital and withdrawals are considered adjusted for inflation | Withdrawals happen monthly | Performances are calculated in USD dollars, considering reinvestment of dividends when applicable | Portfolio is rebalanced each month | Inflation is updated at January 2023

Related Pages

For the Gyroscopic Investing Desert Portfolio, we have prepared a report for each available timeframe:
20-Year    30-Year    40-Year    50-Year    60-Year    70-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

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