FIRE Calculator — Financial Independence, Retire Early
Calculate how many years until you reach financial independence using the FIRE method. Enter current savings, monthly contribution, return rate, and annual expenses to get your FIRE number and a portfolio vs. target chart.
How to use this tool
- Enter current portfolio value, monthly savings, annual investment return, annual expenses in retirement and safe withdrawal rate in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your years to fire and the full breakdown beneath it.
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. The core formula: accumulate 25x your annual expenses (assuming a 4% safe withdrawal rate). Once your portfolio hits that number, you can live off investment returns indefinitely.
FIRE Number: Annual Expenses ÷ Safe Withdrawal Rate
Frequently asked questions
- What is the safe withdrawal rate?
- Research (the 'Trinity Study') suggests a 4% withdrawal rate historically survived 30+ year retirement periods. More conservative retirees use 3-3.5%.
- What is Lean FIRE vs. Fat FIRE?
- Lean FIRE targets minimal expenses (~$25-40k/yr). Fat FIRE targets a comfortable lifestyle ($80-100k+/yr). Choose based on your target lifestyle.