FIRE Calculator
Calculate your path to Financial Independence and early Retirement
Path to Financial Independence
Understanding FIRE
FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is about accumulating enough wealth that your investments can cover your living expenses indefinitely.
Why Use This Tool?
The path to financial independence is a marathon, not a sprint. This calculator helps you visualize how small changes in your savings rate or investment returns can dramatically accelerate your retirement date, giving you back years of your life.
The 4% Rule
The 4% safe withdrawal rate comes from the Trinity Study, suggesting you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually with low risk of running out of money over 30 years.
- FIRE Number = Annual Expenses x 25 (inverse of 4%).
- More conservative: 3.5% withdrawal (28.5x expenses).
- More aggressive: 4.5% withdrawal (22x expenses).
- Consider adjusting for longer retirement horizons.
Types of FIRE
Different FIRE approaches exist depending on your lifestyle goals and spending levels.
- Lean FIRE: Minimal lifestyle, ~$40k/year expenses.
- Regular FIRE: Moderate lifestyle, ~$60-80k/year.
- Fat FIRE: Comfortable lifestyle, $100k+/year.
- Coast FIRE: Save enough early, then let compounding work.
- Barista FIRE: Part-time work for healthcare/extras.
Savings Rate Matters Most
Your savings rate is the single biggest factor determining how quickly you reach FIRE.
- 10% savings rate: ~51 years to FIRE.
- 25% savings rate: ~32 years to FIRE.
- 50% savings rate: ~17 years to FIRE.
- 75% savings rate: ~7 years to FIRE.