FIRE Calculator — Financial Independence, Retire Early
How much do you need to never have to work again, and when will you get there? Enter your spending, savings and investments to get your FI number and the year you could reach financial independence.
Years to financial independence
How to use the FIRE calculator
- Enter what you expect to spend each year once you stop working.
- Choose a withdrawal rate. 4% is the classic rule; 3–3.5% is more conservative for early retirees.
- Enter what you have invested, what you save each year, and an after-inflation return.
The math behind FIRE
Your FI number is annual spending divided by the withdrawal rate: at 4%, that is 25 times your spending. The 4% guideline comes from research on historical US market returns, which found that a balanced portfolio usually survived 30 years of inflation-adjusted withdrawals at that rate. Early retirees planning for 40–50 years often use 3–3.5%.
The years to FI depend mostly on your savings rate: the share of income you save. Higher savings both grows the portfolio faster and lowers the spending it has to support. Using a real (after-inflation) return keeps everything in today's dollars.
Coast FI is the point where your current investments would grow to your FI number by traditional retirement age without adding another dollar. After that, you only need to earn enough to cover current spending. Remember to plan for healthcare costs, taxes on withdrawals and market downturns early in retirement.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a FI number?
The portfolio size whose safe withdrawals cover your yearly spending: spending divided by your withdrawal rate.
Is 4% safe?
It held up for 30-year retirements in historical US data. For longer retirements or more certainty, many use 3–3.5%.
What return should I use?
A real (after-inflation) return; 4–5% is a common conservative assumption for a stock-heavy portfolio.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is a planning estimate based on your assumptions.