There’s a great deal of planning that goes into retirement, especially when it comes to deciding if, when and how to tap into your nest egg. Assessing your retirement fund is more than just covering your expenses. It can also affect your taxes, long-term income and investment growth.
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Whether you’re approaching retirement age or considering withdrawals earlier than planned, here are several things to consider before tapping into your retirement funds.
Before tapping into your retirement funds, ask yourself how much you actually need and if it’s necessary.
According to the 2025 Annual Retirement Study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement, 64% of Americans worry more about running out of money than death. Kelly LaVigne, vice president of consumer insights at Allianz Life, noted that a strong retirement strategy can help address how long savings need to last.
Once funds are withdrawn from retirement accounts, it may be difficult or impossible to replace them. Modest withdrawals, if repeated over time or taken earlier than planned, can also shorten a portfolio’s life span.
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What are your predictable sources of income outside of your retirement accounts? This could be Social Security, pensions, part-time work or other income streams.
Social Security is often the baseline for guaranteed retirement income, helping cover essential expenses. While $2,071 per month, which is the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit for January 2026, per the Social Security Administration, doesn’t replace a full paycheck, it can help you reduce the amount you need to withdraw from retirement savings.
The next question is how your investment mix affects how much you can safely withdraw each year.
A common rule of thumb when it comes to retirement spending is the 4% rule. Using this strategy, you add up your investments and withdraw 4% of that total in your first year of retirement, then adjust that amount each subsequent year for inflation.
According to Charles Schwab, following this formula should give you a high probability of not outliving your money during a 30-year retirement.
During your working years, financial planning is about balancing retirement savings with budgeting and other financial goals, according to Northwestern Mutual. But when you retire, it’s no longer about building your nest egg but how you generate income from these savings.
