What FIRE means and how this calculator works

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. The core idea is accumulating enough investment assets that passive growth can cover living expenses indefinitely. This calculator simulates monthly compounding on your current savings plus ongoing contributions until your portfolio reaches a target amount you define. If the target is not reached within 70 years, the calculator shows your balance at that point.

Important caveats

A fixed annual return assumption is a simplification. Sequence-of-returns risk, inflation, taxes, and healthcare costs are not modeled here. The target amount you choose (often based on the 4% withdrawal rule) involves its own assumptions about spending and longevity. Treat these projections as one data point in a broader planning process.

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