Can $500,000 Really Last in Retirement?

In this video, I break down what $500,000 can actually do in real retirement scenarios and why the same number can lead to calm confidence for one person… and constant stress for another.

Most people approaching retirement focus on the balance they’ve saved. But the real question isn’t the number, it’s how much predictable monthly income that number can reliably create, and in what order.

In this video, we examine three real-world retirement scenarios using the same $500,000 and explore why the results differ so dramatically depending on timing, income sources, taxes, and decision sequencing.

You’ll learn:

• Why $500,000 often feels uncomfortable even when it might be enough
• The hidden risks behind rules of thumb like the 4% rule
• How taxes and inflation quietly change what your money can actually do
• Why Social Security timing changes everything
• How the order of withdrawals matters more than investment returns
• When $500,000 can work — and when it clearly can’t
• Why predictability matters more than perfection in retirement

This isn’t motivational advice and it isn’t generic planning.
It’s about building a system that reduces uncertainty — so you can stop guessing and start making confident decisions with the money you’ve already earned.
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0:00 – Same $500,000, Two Very Different Reactions
0:44 – Why $500,000 Feels Uncomfortable
1:31 – The Math Reality of $500,000
2:38 – Same Number, Three Different Retirements
2:48 – Scenario A: With Social Security
3:22 – Scenario B: Retiring Before Social Security
3:57 – Scenario C: Income-Focused Retirement
4:47 – The Biggest Mistake People Make With $500,000
6:30 – When $500,000 Can Actually Be Enough
9:04 – Time, Health, and the Zone of Regret
11:02 – Final Answer + What To Do Next
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📌 If you’re over 55 and want clarity around your own retirement income without product sales or asset transfers, you can learn more here:
👉 www.theretirementguy.com