🔥 FIRE Calculator

Financial Independence, Retire Early — Calculate your path to freedom

👤 Your Situation
Retirement accounts, brokerage, etc. (not home equity)
Historical S&P 500 average: ~10% nominal (before inflation)
Real return will be ~7% after 3% inflation adjustment
🎯 Your FIRE Style
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Lean FIRE
Minimal lifestyle, lower expenses
3.5% withdrawal
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Regular FIRE
Maintain current lifestyle
4% withdrawal
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Fat FIRE
Comfortable, larger cushion
3% withdrawal
The withdrawal rate determines how much you can safely spend each year in retirement.

What is FIRE?

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. It's a movement focused on extreme savings and investment to retire far earlier than traditional retirement age.

The goal is to accumulate enough assets that your investment returns can cover your living expenses indefinitely — typically using the "4% rule" as a guideline.

🎯 Your FIRE Number
You need to save
$0
to live on $0/year forever
Savings Rate
0%
Annual Savings
$0
Monthly Savings
$0
Current Progress
0%
Progress to FIRE $0 / $0
0%
🔥 You'll reach FIRE in
0
years
0
months
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📈 Year-by-Year Projection
Age Year Total Invested Portfolio Value
💡 FIRE Tips
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Savings Rate is Key

Your savings rate matters more than investment returns. Save 50%+ to retire in ~17 years.

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Cut the Big 3

Housing, transportation, and food are usually 70% of spending. Optimize these first.

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Increase Income

There's no limit to earning. Side hustles and career growth accelerate FIRE dramatically.

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Stay the Course

Market crashes happen. Stay invested, keep contributing, and don't panic sell.

📚 Understanding FIRE

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. It's a movement and lifestyle strategy focused on extreme savings and investment to achieve financial independence—the point where your investment income covers all your expenses—at a much younger age than traditional retirement.

The core FIRE philosophy is simple: save aggressively (often 50-70% of income), invest in low-cost index funds, and reach a portfolio size that can sustain your lifestyle indefinitely. Once you hit your "FIRE number," work becomes optional. You can continue working if you love it, pursue passion projects, volunteer, or fully retire.

The math behind FIRE:

  • The 4% Rule: Research suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually without running out of money over 30+ years. This means you need 25x your annual expenses to retire.
  • Your FIRE Number: Annual expenses × 25 = minimum portfolio needed. If you spend $40,000/year, your FIRE number is $1,000,000.
  • Time to FIRE: Depends on your savings rate. At 50% savings rate, you can reach FIRE in about 17 years. At 70%, it's closer to 8-10 years.

FIRE isn't about deprivation—it's about intentional spending on what matters and eliminating waste to buy back your most valuable asset: time.

🎯 How to Use This Calculator

Our FIRE calculator helps you determine your financial independence target and timeline. Here's how to get accurate projections:

  1. Enter your current age – This establishes your timeline to traditional retirement and helps project your FIRE age.
  2. Input annual expenses – Use your actual spending (track it if you don't know). Be honest—this is the most important number for calculating your FIRE target. Include everything: housing, food, insurance, entertainment, travel.
  3. Enter annual income – Your total gross or take-home income. This, combined with expenses, determines your savings rate.
  4. Add current savings/investments – Include all retirement accounts (401k, IRA), taxable brokerage accounts, and other investments. Don't include home equity unless you plan to sell.
  5. Set expected investment return – Historical stock market returns are ~7% after inflation. Use 6-7% for conservative estimates, or 5% if you want extra safety margin.
  6. Adjust your withdrawal rate – The classic 4% rule works for most. Use 3.5% for extra safety or longer retirement horizons (retiring in your 30s-40s). Some use 3% for "bulletproof" security.

The calculator shows your FIRE number, estimated FIRE age, and how adjusting expenses or savings rate affects your timeline.

🔥 Types of FIRE

Lean FIRE

Retiring with a smaller portfolio by maintaining very low expenses (under $40,000/year for individuals). Requires ongoing frugality but allows earlier retirement. FIRE number: $600,000-$1,000,000. Best for: Minimalists who prioritize time over spending.

Traditional FIRE

The standard approach: replace your current income and maintain your current lifestyle without working. Typical FIRE number: $1,000,000-$2,000,000. The balanced approach for most FIRE aspirants.

Fat FIRE

Retiring with a larger portfolio to support a more luxurious lifestyle ($100,000+ annual spending). FIRE number: $2,500,000+. Requires higher income or longer accumulation phase but offers more financial cushion and lifestyle flexibility.

Barista FIRE / Coast FIRE

Semi-retirement where you work part-time to cover current expenses while your investments grow untouched to full FIRE. "Barista" for benefits (health insurance through part-time work). Lets you escape the 9-5 earlier while investments compound.

💡 Which FIRE is Right for You?

Consider your personality, spending preferences, and life goals. Many people aim for traditional FIRE initially, then realize they want Fat FIRE's cushion or Lean FIRE's earlier timeline. Your target can evolve as your priorities become clearer.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 4% rule still valid?

The original Trinity Study found a 4% withdrawal rate was sustainable 95% of the time over 30 years. For longer retirements (40-50+ years), consider 3.5% or 3.25% for extra safety. The rule also assumes flexibility—cutting spending slightly during market downturns increases success rates significantly.

What about healthcare before Medicare (age 65)?

This is the biggest challenge for early retirees. Options include: ACA marketplace plans (subsidies available at lower income levels), healthcare sharing ministries, spousal coverage, part-time work with benefits (Barista FIRE), or moving to a country with universal healthcare. Budget $500-$1,500/month per person until Medicare eligibility.

How do I access retirement accounts early without penalties?

Several strategies exist: Roth IRA contributions (not earnings) can be withdrawn anytime tax-free. Roth conversion ladders allow penalty-free access to converted amounts after 5 years. Rule of 55 for 401(k) access. SEPP/72(t) substantially equal periodic payments. Taxable brokerage accounts have no restrictions.

What if the market crashes right when I retire?

"Sequence of returns risk" is real. Mitigate it by: keeping 2-3 years of expenses in cash/bonds, reducing spending during downturns, maintaining some income flexibility (part-time work option), and having a slightly lower withdrawal rate initially. Most market crashes recover within 3-5 years.

Do I need to live frugally forever?

Not necessarily. Many FIRE practitioners find that after cutting wasteful spending, they're happier with less. Others use "buckets" for fun spending. And your expenses often naturally decrease—no commuting costs, more time to cook, fewer work clothes. Plus, Social Security eventually supplements your portfolio.

What will I do with all that free time?

This is the most important question! FIRE gives you time to pursue passions, spend time with family, travel, volunteer, start a business, or work on projects you love without financial pressure. Many FIRE'd individuals are busier and more fulfilled than during their working years. Have a purpose ready.

Is FIRE realistic for average incomes?

Challenging but possible. Lower income means focusing more on expense reduction and potentially targeting Lean FIRE. Geographic arbitrage (moving to lower cost-of-living areas) helps significantly. A $50,000 income with 30% savings rate and low expenses can still reach FIRE, just over a longer timeline. Every dollar saved accelerates your journey.

💡 Accelerating Your FIRE Journey
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Increase Your Savings Rate

Savings rate matters more than investment returns. Going from 15% to 30% can cut decades off your timeline. Track every dollar and optimize ruthlessly.

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Optimize the Big Three

Housing, transportation, and food are typically 70%+ of spending. House hack, drive used cars, and cook at home. These moves alone can fund FIRE.

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Increase Income Strategically

Side hustles, career growth, or a higher-paying job accelerate savings. The key: invest every raise and bonus rather than inflating your lifestyle.

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Geographic Arbitrage

Work remotely from lower cost-of-living areas, or plan to relocate in retirement. Your $1M portfolio supports a very different lifestyle in Portugal vs. San Francisco.