local_fire_department RETIREMENT TOOLS

FIRE Calculator

Calculate your "Financial Independence, Retire Early" number and timeline.

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How It Works: The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) calculator uses the 4% safe withdrawal rule to determine how much you need to save to retire comfortably.

Key Inputs:
  • Annual Spending: Your expected yearly expenses in retirement.
  • Current Net Worth: Total assets minus liabilities today.
  • Annual Savings: How much you save each year.
  • Return Rate: Expected annual investment return (typically 7-10%).
  • Withdrawal Rate: Safe withdrawal percentage (4% is standard based on Trinity Study).


Formula: FIRE Number = Annual Expenses รท Safe Withdrawal Rate. Timeline calculated by projecting net worth growth with annual contributions and compound returns until reaching FIRE number.
Your FIRE Number
$1,500,000
Time to FIRE
16 years

The 4% Rule: Is It Still Safe?

The cornerstone of the FIRE movement is the 4% Rule, derived from the Trinity Study. It states that you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, and adjust that amount for inflation every subsequent year, with a 95% chance of not running out of money for 30 years.

LeanFIRE vs. FatFIRE

Not all retirements look the same.

LeanFIRE ($40k/yr)

Minimalist living. Requires ~$1M portfolio. Focuses on extreme frugality to retire ASAP (often in 30s).

FatFIRE ($100k+/yr)

Upper-middle class lifestyle. Requires ~$2.5M+ portfolio. Allows for travel, dining out, and luxuries.

Sequence of Returns Risk

The biggest danger to early retirees is a market crash right after they quit their job. If the market drops 20% in Year 1, selling 4% of your portfolio actually depletes a much larger chunk of your shares, making it hard to recover. This is why many aim for a safer 3.5% withdrawal rate or keep a 2-year cash cushion.

Disclaimer: The Trinity Study assumes a mix of stocks and bonds. Past market performance guarantees nothing.