Retiring in 1942: the best year to start the 4% rule

Retiring in 1942 with $2M and a 4% inflation-adjusted withdrawal, the portfolio grew to $410.5M after 50 years. Its worst year was 1974, when the S&P 500 lost 20.7% including dividends. A 1942 retiree started in the middle of World War II, near the market low of April 1942, and then rode the long postwar boom.