If you’re like most people approaching retirement, you’ve probably asked yourself one (or all) of these questions:
- “How do I turn my savings into income?”
- “How much can I safely spend each year?”
- “What if the market drops right after I retire?”
These questions don’t go away once you retire — they often get louder. And for decades, retirees were told to rely on the old “4% rule” as the answer.
But here’s the reality: Your life is not a formula. Your retirement shouldn’t be either.
Today’s retirees face longer lifespans, unpredictable markets, stubborn inflation, and rising healthcare costs. The one-size-fits-all 4% rule simply can’t keep up.
You deserve a withdrawal strategy designed for your life — flexible, personalized, and built to last.
That’s exactly why we created the Redwood Retirement Framework.
A Smarter, More Flexible Way to Withdraw in Retirement
Your retirement isn’t built on numbers alone — it’s built on goals, routines, health, family, purpose, and what you want life to feel like.
The Redwood Retirement Framework takes something that feels complicated and overwhelming…
and turns it into something intuitive.
Instead of thinking in percentages or formulas, you think in buckets — each with a clear purpose in your life.
Let’s walk through them in a way that real people experience them.
1. The Spend Bucket: “Can I actually afford to retire?”
This is the bucket that helps you breathe easier.
It’s the money you’ll use over the next 1–3 years — your groceries, travel, home projects, date nights, grandkids’ birthdays, hobbies.
It’s your paycheck in retirement.
If you’ve ever worried: “What happens if the market drops right after I retire?”
—this bucket is the answer.
It’s intentionally steady. Predictable. Boring (in a good way). When the market goes wild, your life doesn’t have to.
Imagine this: You’re planning a big trip next summer. Markets are volatile. Everyone on TV is yelling about inflation and interest rates. But your trip? Already funded. Safely sitting in your Spend Bucket.
That’s the entire point: Retirement shouldn’t feel fragile.
2. The Grow Bucket: “How do I turn savings into income… forever?”
This is the engine of your retirement.
When clients ask, “How much can I safely spend?” or “How do I replace my paycheck?”
—this bucket does the heavy lifting.
Its job is simple: Replenish your Spend Bucket over time.
It grows. It adjusts. It works behind the scenes, so your lifestyle today doesn’t jeopardize your lifestyle 10 years from now.
Picture this: You pull income from your Spend Bucket. Meanwhile, the Grow Bucket is steadily reloading it — like a conveyor belt supplying what’s next. This rhythm gives you permission to enjoy your life now and trust that there’s more coming.
The Grow Bucket gives you the confidence to ask: “What do I want retirement to look like?” Not, “Will I ever run out?”
3. The Secure Bucket: “Will I be okay in 20 years?”
This is the long view — your future comfort, your healthcare needs, your protection from inflation, your legacy.
Retirees often ask: “How do I make sure I don’t run out of money if I live to 95?” “What happens later if I need more care?”
The Secure Bucket is your answer — your future self’s safety net.
Think of it as your long-term promise: “I’m going to take care of you later.”
It’s slow and steady and designed for decades, not months. It grows quietly in the background, untouched, while your life unfolds in the present.
Why This Works
Traditional withdrawal strategies force retirees to make big decisions during big emotions:
- “Should I sell now?”
- “Should I withdraw less?”
- “Is the market too high?”
- “Is this income sustainable?”
The Redwood Retirement Framework removes that anxiety because:
- Your Spend Bucket covers today
- Your Grow Bucket prepares tomorrow
- Your Secure Bucket protects the future
No panic selling. No guessing. No hoping you “picked the right number.”
Every dollar has a purpose. Every bucket has a job. Your plan becomes a living, adaptable system that moves with your life.
Why Flexibility Is the Real Retirement Superpower
In 2026, retirement planning isn’t about perfection — it’s about adaptability.
Markets rise, fall, and surprise. Life shifts. Taxes change. Your lifestyle evolves.
A rigid withdrawal rule can’t keep up. But a flexible system absolutely can.
With the Redwood Retirement Framework:
- When markets are strong → you refill buckets more aggressively
- When markets dip → you pull from Spend and avoid selling at a loss
- When taxes shift → you adjust which accounts fund your income
- When life happens → your plan adjusts right alongside you
This is modern retirement done right.
Putting It All Together
A smart withdrawal strategy isn’t just math — it’s peace of mind. Through the Redwood Retirement Framework, you gain:
Clarity – You know exactly where your income comes from.
Confidence – You can enjoy life today without worrying about tomorrow.
Control – Your plan adjusts with your life — not the other way around.
Because retirement isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about preparing for it with purpose and confidence.
Schedule your Free Redwood Retirement Analysis and see how your accounts fit into Spend, Grow, and Secure — and how you can retire with more income, less worry, and greater peace of mind.