The "You Can't Count on 7%" Series of Posts

Here is a series of posts that start out with some gloomy news. But it ends up with a very positive message.

You Can’t Count on 7%

Too many people have been lulled into believing that they can always get 6.5% to 7.0% (plus inflation) from stocks. What can you really count on? It certainly isn’t 7%. Not by year 30. Not today.

You Can’t Count on 7%

You Can’t Count on 7%: Application

Let’s say that you want to invest in stocks. Let us say that you have a lump sum to invest and that you can leave it untouched for 30 years? Does it make sense to “wait for better prices?” What should you do?

You Can’t Count on 7%: Application

You Can’t Count on 7%: Dollars

While putting this together, I discovered that I had focused entirely on the downside. I had omitted the most important condition: what happens if you are just a little bit lucky, but well within a reasonable range of outcomes? What is the upside?

You have seen lots of numbers. Now let’s look at dollars.

You Can’t Count on 7%: Dollars

Since You Can’t Count on 7%

Those earlier articles were fine for investors who already have a large balance and lots of time. What about people who want to retire ten years from now? What is their payoff for waiting? How about those who are just starting out? What should they do?

Since You Can’t Count on 7%

I Don’t Want to Wait

You want to retire early. You don’t want to wait another decade. Maybe, you won’t have to. Maybe, you can retire a lot sooner.

I Don’t Want to Wait
I Don’t Want to Wait, But..