FIRE Calculator
Estimate when you could reach financial independence — the point where a safe withdrawal from your portfolio covers your expenses — all in today's dollars.
What this calculator shows
It finds your FI number (annual expenses ÷ withdrawal rate), then projects your portfolio forward in today's dollars to estimate the year — and optionally the age — you reach it. Returns and the withdrawal rate are your assumptions, not forecasts or advice.
Inputs
Everything is in today's dollars. Adjust the assumptions and the timeline updates instantly.
About $3,333 per month.
What you have invested today.
Added at the end of each month, in today's dollars.
Assumption, not advice (2-6%).
Nominal; converted to a real rate using inflation.
Keeps everything in today's dollars.
Optional — adds your estimated FI age.
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Results
Your FI number and the projected path to reach it, in today's dollars.
FI number
$1,000,000
Annual expenses ÷ withdrawal rate.
Years to FI
25.8
Until financial independence.
Age at FI
56
Estimated age you reach FI.
Portfolio at FI
$1,002,396
Value at the crossing point.
Contributions to FI
$465,000
Monthly added over time.
Investment growth to FI
$487,396
Growth earned.
Supported monthly withdrawal
$3,333
$40,000 per year
This model assumes steady returns in today's dollars. It does not simulate market crashes, volatility, or the timing risk of withdrawals (sequence-of-returns risk). Real outcomes will differ.
Path to FI
Your projected portfolio against your FI number over time, in today's dollars.
Contributions vs growth
How much of your portfolio is your own money versus compounding growth, up to FI.
Insights
What your assumptions mean for the finish line — and the trade-offs behind the numbers.
Your path to FI
Under these assumptions, you could reach financial independence in 25.8 years — around age 56.
Your FI number
Your FI number is $1,000,000 — your annual expenses divided by a 4% withdrawal rate (about 25× your yearly spending).
What it supports
At FI, a 4% withdrawal supports about $40,000/year ($3,333/month) in today's dollars.
Contributions vs growth
Growth makes up 48.6% of your portfolio at FI; your contributions make up the rest.
Investing more
Adding $100/month may move FI earlier by about 0.9 years.
Return after inflation
Your 7% nominal return is about 4.4% after 2.5% inflation.
Shown in today's dollars
These results are in today's dollars, so the goal and the projection are directly comparable.
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Try the Coast FIRE CalculatorYear-by-year projection
How your portfolio grows toward your FI number each year, in today's dollars.
| Year | Age | Portfolio value | Contributions | Growth | % of FI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | $70,555 | $18,000 | $2,555 | 7.1% |
| 2 | 32 | $92,011 | $36,000 | $6,011 | 9.2% |
| 3 | 33 | $114,410 | $54,000 | $10,410 | 11.4% |
| 4 | 34 | $137,793 | $72,000 | $15,793 | 13.8% |
| 5 | 35 | $162,201 | $90,000 | $22,201 | 16.2% |
| 6 | 36 | $187,682 | $108,000 | $29,682 | 18.8% |
| 7 | 37 | $214,281 | $126,000 | $38,281 | 21.4% |
| 8 | 38 | $242,048 | $144,000 | $48,048 | 24.2% |
| 9 | 39 | $271,034 | $162,000 | $59,034 | 27.1% |
| 10 | 40 | $301,292 | $180,000 | $71,292 | 30.1% |
| 11 | 41 | $332,879 | $198,000 | $84,879 | 33.3% |
| 12 | 42 | $365,852 | $216,000 | $99,852 | 36.6% |
| 13 | 43 | $400,274 | $234,000 | $116,274 | 40% |
| 14 | 44 | $436,206 | $252,000 | $134,206 | 43.6% |
| 15 | 45 | $473,716 | $270,000 | $153,716 | 47.4% |
| 16 | 46 | $512,873 | $288,000 | $174,873 | 51.3% |
| 17 | 47 | $553,748 | $306,000 | $197,748 | 55.4% |
| 18 | 48 | $596,419 | $324,000 | $222,419 | 59.6% |
| 19 | 49 | $640,962 | $342,000 | $248,962 | 64.1% |
| 20 | 50 | $687,461 | $360,000 | $277,461 | 68.7% |
| 21 | 51 | $736,002 | $378,000 | $308,002 | 73.6% |
| 22 | 52 | $786,674 | $396,000 | $340,674 | 78.7% |
| 23 | 53 | $839,570 | $414,000 | $375,570 | 84% |
| 24 | 54 | $894,789 | $432,000 | $412,789 | 89.5% |
| 25 | 55 | $952,431 | $450,000 | $452,431 | 95.2% |
| 26 | 56 | $1,012,605 | $468,000 | $494,605 | 100% |
How this calculator works
This is an educational model, not a forecast. It compounds your portfolio monthly at an inflation-adjusted (real) return, adds contributions at the end of each month, and keeps everything in today's dollars.
What financial independence means
It's the point where your investments, not your job, can cover your spending.
What the FI number is
Your annual expenses divided by your withdrawal rate. At 4%, that is 25× your yearly spending.
What a safe withdrawal rate is
A rule of thumb for how much you might withdraw each year. It is an assumption, not a guarantee.
Why we use today's dollars
Real (inflation-adjusted) returns keep a future goal comparable to what you spend today, and assume your contributions hold their purchasing power.
Expected return is not guaranteed
Markets vary, and the order of returns near retirement (sequence risk) matters. This model does not simulate that.
Why small changes matter
Expenses, savings rate, return, and withdrawal rate can each move the FI date by years. Try adjusting one at a time.
This is one of several educational models on Rionux. See how we model these projections across all our tools.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about FIRE, your FI number, and withdrawal rates.
What is FIRE?
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early — having enough invested that the income it can support covers your expenses, so paid work becomes optional. Reaching it depends far more on your savings rate and spending than on income alone.
How is my FIRE number calculated?
Your FIRE number is your annual expenses divided by your withdrawal rate. At a 4% withdrawal rate, that is 25× your yearly spending. This calculator works in today's dollars, so the target stays a fixed, understandable number.
How many years until I reach FIRE?
The tool projects your portfolio forward from your current value, contributions, and expected return until it reaches your FIRE number, and reports the years (and optional age) to get there. Every input is an assumption you can adjust.
What withdrawal rate should I use?
The 4% rule is a common starting point from historical research, but it is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee. A lower rate is more conservative and needs a larger portfolio; a higher rate is riskier. Test different rates to see how sensitive your target is.
Are the results in today's dollars?
Yes. Everything is modelled in real (inflation-adjusted) terms, so your FIRE number and the income it supports are expressed in today's purchasing power rather than inflated future dollars.
Does it account for market crashes or sequence-of-returns risk?
No. This is a steady-return model — it assumes the same return every year. Real markets are volatile, and the order of returns matters a great deal near retirement. Treat the results as education, and build in a margin of safety.
Keep going
Continue your journey
Related tools and guides to help you decide what to explore next.
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Portfolio Allocation Calculator
Split your money across assets and see your weighted return, concentration, and long-term growth after inflation.
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Educational use only
Educational purposes only. Calculator results are estimates based on assumptions and user inputs. They are not financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.