--- title: 💰 Why Top Advisors Are Ditching the 4% Rule for Smarter, More Secure Income Plans description: Discover why top advisors are shifting from the 4% rule to smarter income plans using Fixed Indexed Annuities for more secure, lifelong retirement income. image: https://synergyannuity.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Jun%202%2c%202025%2c%2011_08_30%20AM.png --- [Skip to content](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/why-top-advisors-are-ditching-the-4-rule-for-smarter-more-secure-income-plans#main-content) ![Synergy Logo-#](https://synergyannuity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Synergy%20Logo-%23.png?width=150&height=101&name=Synergy%20Logo-%23.png) - [Home](https://synergyannuity.com/) - [About](https://synergyannuity.com/about) - [Contact](https://synergyannuity.com/contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://synergyannuity.com/) - [About](https://synergyannuity.com/about) - [Contact](https://synergyannuity.com/contact) - [Contact us](https://synergyannuity.com/contact) [Contact us](https://synergyannuity.com/contact) Jun 9, 2025, 10:30:01 AM # 💰 Why Top Advisors Are Ditching the 4% Rule for Smarter, More Secure Income Plans ![Picture of Eric Estrada](https://synergyannuity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EE%20Head%20shot%202.jpg?width=50&name=EE%20Head%20shot%202.jpg) [Eric Estrada](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/author/eric-estrada) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/why-top-advisors-are-ditching-the-4-rule-for-smarter-more-secure-income-plans) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/why-top-advisors-are-ditching-the-4-rule-for-smarter-more-secure-income-plans) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/why-top-advisors-are-ditching-the-4-rule-for-smarter-more-secure-income-plans) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/why-top-advisors-are-ditching-the-4-rule-for-smarter-more-secure-income-plans) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/why-top-advisors-are-ditching-the-4-rule-for-smarter-more-secure-income-plans) Morningstar recently updated its safe withdrawal rate — now suggesting 3.7% is the new benchmark for retirees who want their money to last. For a $5 million portfolio, that means drawing $185,000 per year. But even that “safe” rate comes with risk. What if you could lock in half of that income **with only a quarter of the portfolio** — and guarantee it for life? That’s the power of today’s **Fixed Indexed Annuities with income riders**. #### 🔒 Real Income, Real Security By allocating just 27% of the portfolio to a top-performing FIA, clients can lock in over **$92,000 of annual income — for life.** That means: - ✅ Less stress about markets - ✅ More freedom to grow other assets - ✅ More room to plan for health care, LTC, or legacy With a base level of retirement income secured, your clients can take a more confident, longer-term approach with the rest of their money. #### 📊 Smarter Portfolios, Not Just Safer This isn’t about abandoning investment portfolios. It’s about giving clients **permission to grow** without fear. Monte Carlo simulations show better retirement outcomes when guaranteed income is layered in. And unlike outdated views of annuities, **you don’t need to allocate the entire portfolio**. A strategic portion gets the job done — and opens up planning options for: - Long-term care coverage - Asset-based protection strategies - Legacy enhancement using fixed life insurance #### 🚀 Want to Show Clients How? We can help you build a personalized income plan — complete with side-by-side comparisons, Monte Carlo modeling, and illustrations of how annuities improve the outcome. Let’s talk about your next case. [FIA](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/tag/fia) ## Related posts [![](https://synergyannuity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Jun%209%2c%202025%2c%2001_26_31%20PM.png?height=200&name=ChatGPT%20Image%20Jun%209%2c%202025%2c%2001_26_31%20PM.png)](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/turning-retirement-income-into-long-term-care-protection) [LTC](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/tag/ltc), [FIA](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/tag/fia) ## [Turning Retirement Income Into Long-Term Care Protection](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/turning-retirement-income-into-long-term-care-protection) ![Picture of Eric Estrada](https://synergyannuity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EE%20Head%20shot%202.jpg?width=50&name=EE%20Head%20shot%202.jpg) [Eric Estrada](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/author/eric-estrada) Jun 18, 2025, 12:00:00 PM The Problem: Most retirees know they need income — but very few are actually planning for what... [Read more](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/turning-retirement-income-into-long-term-care-protection) [![](https://synergyannuity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pink%20piggy%20bank%20broken%20with%20money-1.jpeg?height=200&name=Pink%20piggy%20bank%20broken%20with%20money-1.jpeg)](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/accessible-income-protection-solutions-for-every-financial-plan) ## [Accessible Income Protection Solutions for Every Financial Plan](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/accessible-income-protection-solutions-for-every-financial-plan) ![Picture of Eric Estrada](https://synergyannuity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EE%20Head%20shot%202.jpg?width=50&name=EE%20Head%20shot%202.jpg) [Eric Estrada](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/author/eric-estrada) Feb 5, 2024, 8:05:35 AM The importance of having an income protection plan extends beyond high-earning professionals such... [Read more](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/accessible-income-protection-solutions-for-every-financial-plan) [![](https://synergyannuity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Jun%202%2c%202025%2c%2011_15_22%20AM.png?height=200&name=ChatGPT%20Image%20Jun%202%2c%202025%2c%2011_15_22%20AM.png)](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/turn-retirement-anxiety-into-income-certainty) [FIA](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/tag/fia) ## [🔐 Turn Retirement Anxiety Into Income Certainty](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/turn-retirement-anxiety-into-income-certainty) ![Picture of Eric Estrada](https://synergyannuity.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EE%20Head%20shot%202.jpg?width=50&name=EE%20Head%20shot%202.jpg) [Eric Estrada](https://synergyannuity.com/news-you-can-use/author/eric-estrada) Jun 4, 2025, 11:30:01 AM Retirement is supposed to be a reward — but for many clients, it’s a source of stress. No more... 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