Ken Fisher 99 Retirement Tips: Pdf
Tip #81: Don't leave your kids guessing. Write a "Letter of Instruction" explaining why you made certain investments. Without context, a surviving spouse or child might panic-sell everything at the worst time.
Tip #88: Roth conversions in low-income years. If you retire at 65 but don't take Social Security until 70, you have a 5-year window of low taxable income. Convert Traditional IRA funds to Roth during these years.
Tip #95: Long-term care insurance—buy it young. Fisher suggests buying LTC insurance in your mid-50s. Waiting until 65 makes it prohibitively expensive or medically disqualifying. ken fisher 99 retirement tips pdf
Tip #99: Remember the "Go-Go Years." The final tip is a philosophical gut punch: "You are not saving for your funeral. You are saving for your life. Spend it."
Tip #29: Use the 4% rule as a starting point, not a jail sentence. The famous "4% rule" (withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one, adjust for inflation thereafter) works for average retirements. But Fisher adds: Be flexible. If the market crashes 30%, skip the inflation adjustment for a year. Tip #81: Don't leave your kids guessing
Tip #34: Pay off your mortgage? Not so fast. If you have a 3% mortgage and your portfolio earns 7%, you lose money by paying off the house early. The PDF suggests keeping cheap debt in retirement.
Tip #41: Delay Social Security aggressively. For every year you delay Social Security past your full retirement age (up to age 70), your benefit grows by roughly 8%. Fisher calls this the best "risk-free" return available, especially for married couples. Tip #29: Use the 4% rule as a
If you have spent any time researching retirement planning, you have likely come across the name Ken Fisher. The founder of Fisher Investments is a polarizing figure in the financial world—known as much for his massive advertising budget as for his "Debunkery" style of investment advice.
Among his many publications, one resource stands out for its accessibility and straightforward approach: the "99 Retirement Tips" guide.
While originally marketed as a physical book or PDF download to prospective clients, the advice contained within remains a staple of the Fisher investment philosophy. If you are looking for a no-nonsense roadmap to your golden years, here is a breakdown of the core themes found in Ken Fisher’s 99 tips, and why they matter for your portfolio.