Rules, life events & withdrawal order ▾
Rebalancing rules
1. Rebalance when any class drifts more than 5% from target
2. Review your allocation at least once a year
3. Use new contributions to rebalance — avoid selling
4. Tax-loss harvest when rebalancing taxable accounts
5. Never rebalance reactively to short-term moves
6. Shift about 5% a year out of stocks as the horizon shrinks
Life event triggers
MarriageCombined financesReview jointly
ChildrenHigher expensesAdd an education fund
Job changeIncome changeIncrease contributions
InheritanceLump inflowInvest per your horizon
Home purchaseCash outflowRebuild cash first
Health eventExpense spikeIncrease bonds and cash
Market crash >20%Portfolio dropsStay the course
5 yrs before targetTransitionShift to withdrawal mix
Entering retirementIncome from portfolioMove to a bucket strategy
Tax-efficient withdrawal order
1stCash / savingsTax-freeUse first
2ndTaxable brokerageCapital gainsManage brackets
3rdTraditional pension / 401kIncome taxMind minimum withdrawals
4thRoth / ISATax-free growthWithdraw last
5thAnnuityVariesCoordinate with pension
6thReal estateCapital gainsSell strategically
Action checklist
Build emergency fund3–6 months of expensesHIGH
Pay off high-interest debtOver 5% APR, before investingHIGH
Max employer matchFree moneyHIGH
Use tax-advantaged accountsPension wrapper / ISAMEDIUM
Increase contributionsLever 1 aboveMEDIUM
Rebalance portfolioLever 2 aboveMEDIUM
Automate contributionsSet up a recurring transferMEDIUM
Save half of every raiseFight lifestyle creepLOW