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You want some ugly math? Look at public pensions. They assume an expected rate of return above seven percent.

What if thatโ€™s not met? In the real world, there are consequences.

Take, for example, a million-dollar portfolio. If you โ€œneedโ€ a return of seventy thousand, or seven percent, what happens if you donโ€™t get it? Youโ€™re underfunded. A more reasonable expectation would be, say, four percent, or forty thousand.

Pensions are invested in a mix of bonds and stocks, so getting stock market returns is basically impossible. In the above example, an actual return of four percent leaves a deficit of thirty-thousand.

Now, I want you to relate this math to your situation. If you have a job that pays thirty thousand, and you can safely get four percent on your money, continuing to work is like having $750,000 invested. Thatโ€™s real money.

Originally posted on Your Survival Guy.ย