When investing in the stock market, what's a good ratio of money to keep in the stocks vs the money you take out (from gains) if the long term goal is to grow the portfolio?

It would make the most sense to make the pile grow faster by taking nothing out, that would mean leaving 100% of the gains for reinvestment.

But suppose a percentage is taken out for spending purposes, what would the ideal percentage be?

This post has been edited by Polaris: Aug 31 2008, 11:19 AM