FIRE Calculator — Financial Independence, Retire Early
Calculate your FIRE number, see when you can achieve financial independence, and visualize your path to early retirement. Adjust your savings rate, return expectations, and spending to find your timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FIRE?
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. It means accumulating enough investments that the returns cover your living expenses indefinitely — so work becomes optional. "Retire" doesn't necessarily mean stop working; it means having the freedom to choose.
How do I calculate my FIRE number?
Your FIRE number is your annual expenses divided by your safe withdrawal rate. At the standard 4% withdrawal rate, multiply your annual expenses by 25. For example, if you spend $50,000/year, your FIRE number is $1,250,000.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule (from the Trinity Study) suggests you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, then adjust for inflation each year, with a very high probability of not running out of money over 30 years. Some conservative planners use 3.5% for longer retirements.
What is a realistic rate of return?
The S&P 500 has historically returned about 10% before inflation, or 7% after inflation. For FIRE planning, using 6-7% is conservative and accounts for inflation. If you include bonds or alternatives, adjust accordingly.
How can I reach FIRE faster?
The two biggest levers are increasing your savings rate and reducing your annual expenses. Cutting $10,000 from your annual spending both adds to your investments AND reduces your FIRE number by $250,000 (at a 4% withdrawal rate). Income growth helps too, but only if you don't inflate your lifestyle.