A lot of FI discussions focus on the number 25x, 30x, safe withdrawal rates, historical returns. But I’ve been thinking more about durability than just averages.
Two people can hit the same FI number and feel completely different about retiring. One sees statistical safety. The other sees fragility.
Beyond the math, what makes a portfolio feel structurally durable to you?
Is it:
- Lower volatility?
- Income-producing assets?
- Geographic diversification?
- A larger cash buffer?
- Flexible spending?
- Paid-off housing?
- Something else entirely?
I’m less interested in maximizing return and more interested in minimizing the chance that one bad sequence-of-returns period forces a return to work.
For those who’ve crossed the line what actually made you confident enough to act?
What makes a portfolio “durable” enough to actually pull the trigger on FI?
byu/Beneficial-Ad-9986 infinancialindependence
Posted by Beneficial-Ad-9986