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The 4% Rule Just Dropped to 3.9% — But Your RRIF Doesn't Care

  Published August 5, 2026 Morningstar's newest research says retirees can safely start withdrawing 3.9% a year. Ottawa's RRIF rules don't ask what's "safe" — they just tell you how much to take out, whether the math agrees or not. For years, the shortcut retirees leaned on was simple: take out 4% of your portfolio in your first year of retirement, bump it up with inflation every year after, and your savings should last three decades. Morningstar's 2026 State of Retirement Income report just trimmed that number to 3.9%. On its own, that's a small adjustment. On a $500,000 portfolio, it's the difference between withdrawing $19,500 or $20,000 in year one. But for Canadians, the number that actually controls the withdrawal isn't Morningstar's — it's the Canada Revenue Agency's. And once your RRSP becomes a Registered Retirement Income Fund, the CRA's required minimum can blow right past whatever a "safe" withdrawal rate i...

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Intermittent Fasting: A Simple and Effective Way to Improve Your Health

 


Intermittent fasting is a popular eating pattern that involves cycling between periods of eating and fasting. It can have various benefits for your body and brain, such as weight loss, reduced inflammation, improved cell repair, and enhanced cognitive function.

There are different ways to practice intermittent fasting, such as:

1 Alternate-day fasting: Eat a normal diet one day and either completely fast or have one small meal (less than 500 calories) the next day.

2. 5:2 fasting: Eat a normal diet five days a week and fast two days a week.

3.  Daily time-restricted fasting: Eat normally but only within an eight-hour window each day. For example, skip breakfast but eat lunch around noon and dinner by 8 p.m.

According to several studies, intermittent fasting can help you lose weight and visceral fat, which is the harmful fat that accumulates around your organs. This is because intermittent fasting lowers your insulin levels, increases your human growth hormone (HGH) levels, and boosts your metabolism, all of which facilitate fat burning.

Intermittent fasting can also improve your heart health by lowering your blood pressure, resting heart rate, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels. Moreover, intermittent fasting can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in your body, which are linked to various chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.

Intermittent fasting may also enhance your brain function by improving your memory, learning, and mood. This is because intermittent fasting stimulates the growth of new brain cells, increases the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and protects your brain from damage and aging.

Intermittent fasting is generally safe and effective for most people, but it may not be suitable for everyone. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, or have any medical condition, you should consult your doctor before trying intermittent fasting. You may also experience some side effects such as hunger, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, or headaches when you start intermittent fasting, but they usually go away within a month.

Intermittent fasting is a simple and effective way to improve your health and well-being. By following an eating pattern that suits your lifestyle and preferences, you can enjoy the benefits of intermittent fasting without feeling deprived or stressed.



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