SmartFinanceTools

FIRE Calculator

Find your FIRE number and retirement age based on the 4% rule. Choose your FIRE type, adjust your income and expenses, and see your path to financial independence.

Inputs

18 yrs65 yrs
$20,000$500,000
$10,000$300,000
$0$2,000,000
1.0%15.0%

FIRE Target

$1,000,000

FIRE Age

Age 44

14 years away

Savings Rate

50.0%

$40,000/yr saved

Annual Savings

$40,000

Withdrawal Rate

4.0%

at target

Net Worth Growth to FIRE

Sensitivity Analysis

+-5% savings rateAge 45 (15 yrs)
+5% savings rateAge 43 (13 yrs)
+10% savings rateAge 43 (13 yrs)

Smart Insights

A 50% savings rate puts you in the top tier of FIRE pursuers. At this pace you reach FIRE at age 44.

At 7% real return, your portfolio grows after inflation. The 4% rule assumes ~7% nominal, ~4% real return long-term.

Your FIRE target is 4.0% withdrawal rate. Below 4% is considered safe; the lower, the more cushion against sequence-of-returns risk.

AI Financial Advisor

Get personalized insights and optimization tips based on your inputs.

How This Calculator Works

Enter your current age, income, expected post-FIRE expenses, current net worth, and expected real return. The calculator uses the 4% rule to compute your FIRE target, then simulates year-by-year portfolio growth until you hit it. The sensitivity table shows how small changes in savings rate dramatically shift your retirement date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FIRE movement?

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. It is a lifestyle movement focused on extreme savings and investment to accumulate enough wealth to retire far earlier than traditional retirement age — often in one's 30s or 40s.

What is the 4% rule?

The 4% rule (also called the Safe Withdrawal Rate) states that you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually in retirement with a very high probability of the portfolio lasting 30+ years. This means your FIRE number is 25× your annual expenses.

What is the difference between LeanFIRE, FIRE, and FatFIRE?

LeanFIRE targets a minimal budget lifestyle (often under $40k/year) and uses a 20× multiplier. Standard FIRE uses the 4% rule (25×). FatFIRE targets a more comfortable or luxurious lifestyle and uses a conservative 3% withdrawal rate (33× multiplier).

Should I use nominal or real returns?

This calculator uses real (inflation-adjusted) returns. A common assumption is 7% real return for a stock-heavy portfolio (the S&P 500's historical real return). Using real returns means your FIRE target and results are already in today's dollars.

How does savings rate affect FIRE timeline?

Savings rate is the single biggest lever. Someone saving 10% of income might take 40+ years to retire; saving 50% cuts that to under 20 years. The sensitivity analysis in this calculator shows exactly how much time each 5% increase in savings rate saves.