Bloggers and advisors constantly warn about the “Sequence of Returns Risk”—the fear that retiring right before or during a market crash will drain your savings too quickly.

This fear often leads retirees to make poor investment choices, resulting in:

🚨 Inferior portfolios

📉 Lower returns

❌ A less reliable retirement

But how real is this risk? And do the conventional solutions—like investing in bonds or following the 4% Rule—actually work?

Is it true that “sequence of returns risk” has been debunked for long-term equity investors?

In my latest podcast episode you’ll learn

• What is “Sequence of Returns Risk”?

• What solutions are typically recommended?

• What is the actual risk of running out of money with a bad sequence of returns?

• Why don’t the typical solutions work?

• How long did it take to recover from the biggest crashes?

• How can you get the maximum reliable retirement income?

• What should you do if your risk tolerance is lower?

• What is “Your Personal Rule” for you to use instead of the “4% Rule”?

• What solution to “Sequence of Returns Risk” actually works?

• What dynamic spending rules are suggested by actuaries & advisors?

• What is Ed’s dynamic spending rule?

• How is it customized for you?

Recently, I posted a video “New Study Supports 100% Equity Investing for Life” that went semi-viral with 14,000 YouTube views & 1,000 podcast downloads.

There is an interesting active debate mainly on YouTube, and a bit on my blog with a lot of comments and questions. Let’s look at them and join the debate.

The evidence from the study to invest 100% in equities for life is certainly unconventional, so the comments revealed interesting insights.

This is an important topic. I have many posts on my blog over almost 20 years about how much better your Financial Plan and retirement income are with a high equity allocation.

I have posts about other studies, including my own. I believe people with a high enough risk tolerance who will stay invested through market crashes should invest 100% in equities. This is unconventional wisdom – but studies show it works!

In my latest podcast episode and blog post you'll discover:

• What did the study actually say?

• What did most of the comments agree on?

• Does the study support 100% equities right through retirement?

• Won’t many people panic and sell?

• How does the recommendation of 67% international look for US vs. non-US investors?

• Do international stocks provide good diversification?

• Would this work in some time periods but not others?

• Would it work for narrower equity indexes, such as the NASDAQ?

• Is this study new?

• Isn’t the risk of running out of money in retirement similar for 100%, 80% & 60% equities?

• Isn’t it better to keep some cash?

Why do so many Canadians struggle to achieve financial freedom, even with a solid financial plan?

Why do they retire with less than they hoped for, despite diligently saving and investing?

The answer often boils down to two things: suboptimal investments and a misguided focus on risk.

In my latest podcast episode, we’ll uncover why good investment performance is essential for your financial success and show you how to take control of your portfolio.

We’ll also address common misconceptions about risk in the investment industry and uncover the secrets to thinking like a successful investor.

You’ll learn:

• Why is good performance important for your life?

• What rate of return do you need to become financially independent?

• What are the 4 performance drags that reduce investment returns?

• What is the Asset Allocation Loss Ratio (AALR)?

• Why is it easy to outperform financial advisors?

• What is wrong with the investment industry definition of “risk”?

• Why is it easy to outperform robo-advisors?

• Why is it easy to outperform index investors?

• How can you learn to think properly about investing?

• What are the secrets to outperforming?