FIRE Calculator
Chart your path to Financial Independence, Retire Early. See how your savings rate, investment returns, and expenses affect when you can achieve freedom from mandatory work.
Your Numbers
When you plan to stop working (defaults to FIRE age)
Current Account Balances
Total: $50,000
Annual Contributions
Total: $30,000/year
After inflation (historical avg ~7%)
Historical avg ~2-3%
Your FIRE Number
$1,500,000
25x your annual expenses @ 4% withdrawal rate
Reach FIRE at age
47
17 years from now
Money lasts until age
95+
Spending at 85
$97,080
Wealth Growth Timeline
Coast FIRE
38
8 years away
$487K needed
Lean FIRE
42
12 years away
$1M needed
FIRE
47
17 years away
$1.5M needed
Fat FIRE
55
25 years away
$3.75M needed
Early Retirement Bridge
Before 59.5, you'll need brokerage funds or Roth contributions to cover expenses.
RMDs at Age 73
At 73, you must take Required Minimum Distributions from traditional accounts.
Inflation Impact on Spending
At FIRE
$60,000
At Age 73
$84,150
At Age 85
$97,080
Important Warnings
Withdrawal Strategy: Calculations assume a tax-efficient strategy: brokerage before 59.5, traditional 59.5-72 to fill lower brackets, and RMD-first at 73+. Roth is preserved as long as possible since it has no RMDs and grows tax-free.
What-If Analysis
Save $500/mo more
Retire 2 years earlier
1% higher returns
Retire 1.5 years earlier
* Based on the 4% safe withdrawal rule. Actual results vary based on market conditions, inflation, and spending patterns. This is for educational purposes only.
Understanding FIRE Milestones
Coast FIRE
You have enough saved that, even if you never contribute another dollar, your investments will grow to your FIRE number by traditional retirement age (65).
What it means: You can take a lower-paying job, work part-time, or pursue passion projects without worrying about retirement savings.
Lean FIRE
You have 25x minimal living expenses (~$40K/year = $1M). You can retire now if you live frugally.
What it means: Financial independence on a budget. Great for those who value freedom over luxury.
Regular FIRE
You have 25x your current annual expenses. You can maintain your current lifestyle indefinitely without working.
What it means: True financial independence. Work becomes optional, not mandatory.
Fat FIRE
You have 25x a comfortable lifestyle ($150K+/year = $3.75M+). You can retire with significant spending flexibility.
What it means: Retire in style with room for travel, hobbies, helping family, and unexpected expenses.
The 4% Rule Explained
The "4% rule" comes from the Trinity Study (1998), which found that a 4% annual withdrawal rate from a diversified portfolio would have survived 95% of all 30-year periods in history, even including the Great Depression.
How it works: If you need $60,000/year to live, you need $60,000 ÷ 0.04 = $1,500,000 invested. Each year, you withdraw 4% (adjusted for inflation), and historically your portfolio would last 30+ years.
Note: Some financial planners now recommend a 3.5% withdrawal rate for earlier retirees or those wanting extra safety margin. This calculator uses the traditional 4% rule.