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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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Dow Leads Gains Amid Earnings Surge

 

In today’s stock market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) took the lead, rising approximately 0.3%. The broader market also saw positive movement, with the S&P 500 (^GSPC) climbing around 0.2%. Even the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) managed to erase earlier session losses and finish in the green.

Investors are closely monitoring earnings season, which is now halfway done. The question on everyone’s mind: Can strong earnings results reignite the stock rally?

Here are some notable highlights from today’s market:

  1. Spotify (SPOT): Shares of the music streaming giant surged after the company provided robust guidance.

  2. Eli Lilly (LLY): The pharmaceutical company’s stock popped as its 2024 profit forecast exceeded estimates.

  3. New York Community Bank (NYCB): Unfortunately, investor concerns over the health of this commercial real estate lender caused its shares to plummet by more than 22%.

Additionally, comments from Federal Reserve officials added to the market chatter. Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester emphasized caution in moving interest rates down too soon, while Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari acknowledged positive inflation data but stressed that the Fed isn’t fully prepared to tackle higher prices yet.

As the market navigates these dynamics, investors remain vigilant about the possibility of interest rate cuts and the impact on their portfolios. 

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