Chapter 05 · Financial freedom
FIRE calculator: your number and years to financial independence
Work out how much you need and how many years it takes, including taxes in retirement.
Assumptions
Everything is in real (inflation-adjusted) money with monthly contributions and compounding.
Past returns are no guarantee of future results. This is a model, not advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a FIRE number?
The invested wealth from which you can withdraw your annual spending indefinitely. At a 4% withdrawal rate it is 25× annual spending.
Can a savings account get me to FIRE?
With the average savings rate at 0.37% and inflation at 3.7%, the real return on savings was -3.33% in September 2026 — savings alone shrink in real terms.
How are taxes handled?
Enter your expected effective tax rate on withdrawals. Roth withdrawals may be tax-free; traditional 401(k)/IRA withdrawals are taxed as income; taxable accounts pay capital gains tax on gains. Your FIRE number grows so that after-tax withdrawals still cover your spending.
End of the journey
You've completed all five chapters.
Every month a new briefing appears with the latest figures.