Is the Retirement Safe Withdrawal Rate Below 4% or Almost 6%?

The No. 1 financial goal for most Americans is retirement. Once they retire, their primary goal becomes not running out of money. Host Robert Brokamp discusses the pros, cons, and tradeoffs of various withdrawal strategies with Christine Benz, director of personal finance at Morningstar and co-author of a new report on retirement income. Also in this episode:-Prepare for lower taxes in 2026 by having less withheld from your paycheck and contributing more to your investments-A recent Washington Post article argues that bigger houses lead to lower levels of happiness-The percentage of the global stock market that comes from U.S. stocks is near an all-time high, but non-U.S. stocks made up for lost ground in 2025-Listeners share their tips and tricks for staying on top of their investments and spending Host: Robert BrokampGuest: Christine BenzEngineer: Bart Shannon Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stock market was all over the map this week but the biggest news was the U.S. government potential spending $1.5 trillion on defense. Of course, there are strings attached, which investors don’t like, but this could be an opportunity long-term. We also touched on Alphabet potentially becoming the most valuable company in the world and what moonshots we’re interested in. Travis Hoium, Jason Moser, and Lou Whiteman discuss: - Pulse of the market - $1.5 trillion for defense - Alphabet passes Apple - Crowdstrike’s acquisition Companies discussed: Crowdstrike (CRWD), Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Joby Aviation (JOBY), Archer Aviation (ACHR), AST Spacemobile (ASTS), Rocket Lab (RKLB). Host: Travis Hoium Guests: Jason Moser, Lou Whiteman Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, We’re not talking about the holdiays. We’re talking about making stock investing predictions for 2026. This week, the team each give their 2026 hot takes on specific parts of the stock market along with three stocks on their radar Tyler Crowe, Matt Frankel, and Jon Quast discuss: - Which AI company will reign supreme in 2026 - The case for the solar industry’s outperformance - The long overdue revival of the housing market - Stocks on our radar Companies discussed: GOOG, FSLR, TSLA, GEV, GRBK, FND, ARRY, PLD Host: Tyler Crowe Guests: Matt Frankel, Jon Quast Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CES is always an exciting time in tech because new productions – both realistic and crazy – are introduced. This year, Uber and NVIDIA stole the headlines and we discuss what else we learned from the announcements at CES. Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Rachel Warren discuss: - Uber and Lucid’s big reveal - NVIDIA’s autonomy model - Lego’s smart blocks - Duds at CES Companies discussed: Uber (UBER), NVIDIA (NVDA), Apple (AAPL). Host: Travis Hoium Guests: Lou Whiteman, Rachel Warren Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Flippen is joined by Motley Fool analyst Asit Sharma and Head of AI Donato Riccio to break down our 2026 AI Investor Outlook Report and what it means for investors heading into the new year. In particular, we discuss: - What real investors are doing: 9 in 10 AI investors plan to hold or add to AI stocks - What changes are coming in 2026: faster, cheaper models, and accelerating adoption - How to invest without over-indexing your portfolio to a volatile sector Companies discussed: ALAB, MU, NVDA, AMD, PSTG, MSFT, AMZN, GOOGL Access the The Motley Fool 2026 AI Investor Outlook Report here: fool.com/research/ai-investor-outlook Host: Emily Flippen, Donato Riccio, Asit Sharma Producer: Anand Chokkavelu Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first full trading week of 2026 got off to a caffeinated start. Today on Motley Fool Money, Rick Munarriz, with analysts Nick Sciple and Jon Quast, dive into the investing implications behind the capturing of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. There’s also a look at the bounce-back potential of Duolingo and Lululemon in 2026, as well as predictions for Disney in the coming year. They unpack: - What the shake-up in Venezuela means for investors. - Reasons why Duolingo and Lululemon can bounce back after plummeting 46% each in 2025. - How likely are Rick’s four predictions for Disney in 2026 to pan out. Companies discussed: CVX, XOM, MELI, DUOL, LULU, DIS, WBD, NFLX Host: Rick Munarriz, Jon Quast, Nick Sciple Producer: Anand Chokkavelu Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cloud security company Zscaler has racked up big returns for investors since going public in 2018. Motley Fool co-founder and CEO Tom Gardner, Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer Andy Cross, Motley Fool Chief Technology Officer Gaspare Bonventre, and Motley Fool Head of Cybersecurity Jeff Lovett recently talked with Jay Chaudhry about entrepreneurship, AI, and the business of Zscaler.  Host: Tom Gardner, Andy Cross, Gaspare Boventre, Jeff Lovett  Guest: Jay Chaudhry  Producer: Bart Shannon, Mac Greer  Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, "TMF") do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Saturday episode of each month this year, we will focus on a key component of a financial plan – including spending, investing, insurance, retirement planning, estate planning, and taxes. If you follow along with us throughout 2026, you will end this year in the best financial shape possible — perhaps in the best shape you’ve ever been.First up is a healthy helping of “financial truth serum.” Robert Brokamp speaks with Foolish colleague and Certified Financial Planner Amanda Kish about the five steps to documenting all you own, all you owe, and where your money is going: 1. Choose a when and how2. Complete your full financial inventory3. Track your spending for 30 days4. Calculate your personal net worth5. Establish your “Financial Baseline Summary”Have your own tips, tricks, tools, and recommendations for tracking your net worth, spending, and progress? Email them to [email protected] by Tues., Jan. 6, and we may read your suggestions the following episode. Host: Robert BrokampGuest: Amanda KishEngineer: Bart Shannon Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, "TMF") do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the new year bring to investors? We discussed the AI trade, how the economy is faring, and why commodities may not be place to look for opportunities today. Travis Hoium, Emily Flippen, and Lou Whiteman discuss: - The AI trade- How the economy is doing- What stocks will go up and down- Stocks on our radar Companies discussed: NVIDIA (NVDA), Target (TGT), Chipotle (CMG), Intel (INTC), Lululemon (LULU), Nike (KNE), Tesla (TSLA), Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Palantir (PLTR), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Airbnb (ABNB), Honeywell (HON), Novonordisk (NOVO). Host: Travis HoiumGuests: Emily Flippen, Lou WhitemanEngineer: Bart Shannon Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another profitable year is in the books for investors. Whether you invested in 2025 or are looking to get started, this episode is for you! Our hosts discuss some of the reasons why people struggle to make those New Year's resolutions work, and share tips on how they've built frameworks that can help you build a plan that works for you. Never made a resolution? Neither has one of today's hosts! Companies discussed: LMND, NVDA, AMD, CELH, SHOP, DG Host: Jason Hall, Jon Quast, Dan Caplinger Producer: Anand Chokkavelu Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices