Can I retire early?

How to read your results

Your FIRE number is the amount of invested assets needed to sustain your annual spending indefinitely, using the withdrawal rate you set. At the standard 4% rate, your FIRE number is simply 25 times your annual spending — because withdrawing 4% per year of a portfolio that grows faster than that (historically) means the principal lasts indefinitely.

Years to FI is calculated using your current savings, your annual savings rate (income minus spending), and your expected investment return, compounding annually until your invested assets reach your FIRE number.

What this calculator doesn't include

• Social Security — if you'll receive Social Security, your actual FIRE number could be lower since SS covers part of your spending later in life.
• Healthcare before Medicare — early retirees need to budget for health insurance until age 65; this is often underestimated.
• Sequence of returns risk — a market downturn in your first few retirement years is more damaging than the same downturn later. Consider a more conservative withdrawal rate if retiring very early.
• Lifestyle changes — spending often changes in retirement (less commuting cost, more travel, etc.) — revisit this calculator periodically.

The three flavors of FIRE

Lean FIRE — retiring on a minimal budget, often under $40,000/year in spending. Requires the smallest FIRE number but the least cushion.

Fat FIRE — retiring with a comfortable or even lavish budget, often $100,000+/year. Requires a much larger FIRE number but more flexibility.

Barista FIRE — reaching a partial FIRE number and working part-time or a lower-stress job to cover the gap, rather than fully retiring.