FIRE, Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE
FIRE means financial independence, retire early. Your FIRE number is the portfolio that can pay your yearly spending forever at a safe withdrawal rate. At the common 4% rate it is 25 times your yearly spending, so $60,000 a year needs $1.5 million. The FIRE number calculator also shows how many years your savings take to get there.
| Type | What it means | Example at 4% |
|---|---|---|
| FIRE | Investments pay all your spending | $60,000 a year needs $1.5 million |
| Coast FIRE | You have enough invested that growth alone reaches FIRE by retirement | $40,000 a year at 65: about $181,000 invested at 30, at a 5% real return |
| Barista FIRE | Part-time work covers part of your spending, so you need less invested | $60,000 spending with $24,000 of part-time pay needs $900,000 |
The 4% rule, briefly
The 4% rule comes from a 1998 study, often called the Trinity study, that tested withdrawals from stock and bond portfolios over 30-year periods. Taking 4% of the starting balance and raising it with inflation lasted the full 30 years in most historical periods. A longer retirement may call for a lower rate, which is why every calculator here lets you change it.
Trump Accounts for children
Trump Accounts are new savings accounts for children under 18. Eligible US citizens born from 2025 through 2028 can get a one-time $1,000 deposit from the federal government. Families can add up to $5,000 a year, and employers can add up to $2,500 a year tax-free within that limit. The Trump Account calculator projects the balance at 18 and at 65.
Questions
What is a good FIRE number?
It depends on your spending. Divide what you spend in a year by your withdrawal rate: at 4% that is 25 times your yearly spending.
What return should I assume?
These calculators use a real return, after inflation, so results are in today's dollars. They start at 5%, but that is only an assumption, not a forecast: try a few rates to see the range.
What is the difference between Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE?
Coast FIRE means you can stop saving and let growth carry you to FIRE by retirement, while still working to pay your bills. Barista FIRE means part-time income covers part of your spending, so the portfolio you need is smaller.
Who gets the $1,000 Trump Account deposit?
Eligible US citizen children born from 2025 through 2028, once the account is set up and the deposit is claimed.
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