This post is a collaboration with Nick Maggiulli from Of Dollars and Data . I read Nick’s book, Just Keep Buying , and the thing I loved most was how he backed up all his arguments with data. I was chatting to him on Twitter about why I enjoyed his book, and he said, “If you ever want to collaborate on something (or want me to run a simulation of something for you), let me know.” I had a topic I thought would be perfect to collaborate on, and this article is the result. I’ve always had a problem with the 4% rule for early retirement. It’s not because it’s bad or wrong. It’s because it’s not for early retirement. The 4% Rule: Why It’s Not Ideal for Early Retirement My biggest issue is that it doesn’t account for the flexibility of most early-retirees. It’s for standard retirement, and “traditional” retirees in their 70s or 80s aren’t likely to have as much lifestyle or spending flexibility as someone in their 30s or 40s.…