Estimate your financial independence number and the time needed to reach it from spending, assets, monthly investing, and real return.
How the FIRE number is estimated
FIRE means financial independence, retire early. A common starting estimate divides annual spending by an assumed withdrawal rate. All amounts here use today’s purchasing power, so the return input should be after inflation.
FIRE number = monthly spending × 12 ÷ withdrawal rate Real return = (1 + nominal return) ÷ (1 + inflation) − 1
What the timeline assumes
The calculator grows current assets and equal end-of-month investments at one fixed real return. Actual markets vary, and the result does not model taxes, sequence-of-returns risk, pensions, healthcare, or withdrawals after retirement.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 4% withdrawal rate guaranteed to be safe?
No. It is an editable planning assumption, not a guarantee for every market, portfolio, or retirement length.
Why use a real return?
Spending and the FIRE target are expressed in today’s purchasing power, so investment growth should also be measured after inflation.
Does reaching the number mean I can retire?
No. Personal taxes, benefits, healthcare, longevity, and market risk still require a fuller plan.