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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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Market Resilience Amid Rising Yields and Positive Earnings

 

In a display of resilience, the S&P 500 closed marginally higher after a session marked by volatility, as investors navigated the dual forces of climbing Treasury yields and encouraging corporate earnings, particularly from tech behemoths.

  • Treasury Yields Climb: An auction of $70 billion in five-year U.S. Treasury notes drove yields higher, influencing equity markets. The 10-year Treasury note rose to 4.6459%.
  • Tech Giants’ Earnings: Investors’ attention was captured by earnings reports from major technology companies. Meta Platforms saw a dip in after-hours trading, while Microsoft and Alphabet are poised to report later in the week.
  • Tesla’s Surge: Tesla’s stock leapt by 12% as plans to increase production and introduce more affordable models outweighed its weaker quarterly results.
  • Economic Indicators Awaited: Markets are now looking ahead to the first quarter GDP data and March’s personal consumption expenditures, which could signal the Fed’s interest rate trajectory.

Investors remain cautious yet optimistic as they parse through the latest financial data, seeking signs of stability in a fluctuating economic landscape.

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