Dividends vs. the 4% Rule: What Happens to a $500,000 Portfolio Over 20 Years

A $500,000 nest egg looks simple on paper until retirement turns it into a machine that has to produce income for decades. One path harvests dividends and tries to leave the shares intact. The other follows the 4% rule, selling pieces of the portfolio each year to fund withdrawals. Same starting capital, very different ride.... Dividends vs. the 4% Rule: What Happens to a $500,000 Portfolio Over 20 Years