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.
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.
Year-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.
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.