One of the most common pieces of retirement advice is that you will only need 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement income. Fisher challenges this aggressively in his tips.
Before we dissect the ken fisher 99 retirement tips pdf, we must understand the source.
Ken Fisher is not your average financial talking head. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of Fisher Investments, a multi-billion dollar independent money management firm. With a track record spanning over 50 years, Fisher is known for three distinct traits:
The "99 Retirement Tips" originated as a response to the confusing, often predatory advice given to seniors. Fisher realized that most retirees don't need a 300-page textbook; they need a quick-reference, battle-tested checklist. Hence, the PDF was born. It is designed to be printed, folded, and referenced during moments of market panic or life transition. ken fisher 99 retirement tips pdf
Why a PDF? Unlike a blog post or a video, a PDF implies permanence and authority. It feels like a manual. Fisher’s team designed it to be shared freely, understanding that a printed list on a refrigerator has more power than a fleeting social media ad.
One of the most controversial sections of the ken fisher 99 retirement tips pdf suggests that many retirees live too frugally. Fisher argues that the "go-go years" (ages 65-75) are when you should spend on travel, hobbies, and health. Waiting until you are 85 to spend money defeats the purpose of saving.
Tip #81: Don't leave your kids guessing. Write a "Letter of Instruction" explaining why you made certain investments. Without context, a surviving spouse or child might panic-sell everything at the worst time. One of the most common pieces of retirement
Tip #88: Roth conversions in low-income years. If you retire at 65 but don't take Social Security until 70, you have a 5-year window of low taxable income. Convert Traditional IRA funds to Roth during these years.
Tip #95: Long-term care insurance—buy it young. Fisher suggests buying LTC insurance in your mid-50s. Waiting until 65 makes it prohibitively expensive or medically disqualifying.
Tip #99: Remember the "Go-Go Years." The final tip is a philosophical gut punch: "You are not saving for your funeral. You are saving for your life. Spend it." The "99 Retirement Tips" originated as a response
While we cannot republish the entire PDF here for copyright reasons, we can summarize the most powerful, actionable tips that appear in nearly every version of Fisher’s list.
Fisher is famous for telling investors to ignore financial headlines. A significant portion of his tips addresses behavioral finance—specifically, how our brains trick us into making bad money moves.
You cannot understand the list without understanding three pillars that support every tip.
Fisher is a staunch proponent of global investing. While many American investors suffer from "home bias" (investing only in US stocks), Fisher’s tips frequently highlight the necessity of owning international assets.