The 4% Rule at CAPE 40: What 1,509 Retirements Since 1871 Show, and the TIPS Alternative
A 4% inflation-adjusted withdrawal from a 60/40 portfolio lasted 30 years in 96.8% of 1,509 monthly starts since 1871, and every failure began between 1964 and 1969. The first ten years of returns explain 75% of the outcome. No finished retirement began at today's CAPE of 40.6, but at 25 September 2026 real yields a 30-year TIPS ladder pays about 5% a year with no market risk.















