Here's the part most people skip: the 4% rule was never a "rule" — it was sort of a worst-case scenario that happened to survive in a study of historical US markets. A simple 4% rule calculator takes your nest egg and shows what drawing 4% a year looks like over a real retirement, not an average one. Put in $750k and you'll see it supports roughly $30,000 a year before tax — which is comfortable for some, tight for others, and far more dependent on when you retire than most guides will admit.
Because the rule's real weakness isn't the percentage, it's timing: a bad run in your first few years does more damage than the same run later (sequence-of-returns risk, if you want the textbook term). That's exactly what the calculator below lets you stress-test — just try it, no signup, no bank login, just your numbers. If 4% feels too brave for a long retirement, go with 3.5% and watch what changes (and whether you're happy with it).