24. Annuities (S2.2)

Dear Financial Adviser, My spouse and I are each 62 and hope to retire in three years. After retirement we will receive $7,500 per month after taxes from our employers’ pension plans and $1,500 per month after taxes from Social Security. Unfortunately our monthly living expenses are $15,000. Our social obligations preclude further economies.

We have $1,000,000 invested in a high-grade, tax-free municipal-bond mutual fund. The return on the fund is 3.5% per year. We plan to make annual withdrawals from the mutual 48 Part One Value fund to cover the difference between our pension and Social Security income and our living expenses. How many years before we run out of money?

Sincerely, Luxury Challenged Marblehead, MA You can assume that the withdrawals (one per year) will sit in a checking account (no interest) until spent. The couple will use the account to cover the monthly shortfalls.