FIRE with Conservative 5% Return Assumption
Calculate your FIRE timeline using a conservative 5% investment return with $3,000 monthly savings and $50,000 annual expenses.
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.
Using a conservative 5% return assumption gives a more cautious but reliable FIRE timeline for risk-averse planners.
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.