A safe withdrawal rate is the percentage of your retirement savings you can withdraw each year without running out of money over a typical retirement period. The most widely cited benchmark is 4%, meaning if you have $1 million saved, you could withdraw $40,000 in your first year and adjust for inflation annually. This figure comes from historical research studying market returns and inflation over long retirement periods, though it's not a guarantee. Your personal safe withdrawal rate depends on factors like your retirement age, expected lifespan, investment mix, and other income sources. Many financial planners suggest being flexible, spending less in down markets and more in strong ones, to make your savings last.