Coast FIRE is the point where your investments alone can grow enough to fund your full retirement. Once you hit your Coast FIRE number, you may no longer need additional retirement contributions and can focus on covering your living expenses.
How much you expect to spend each year in today's dollars. Include housing, food, healthcare, travel — everything.
Total across 401(k), IRA, brokerage accounts, and similar. Don't include your home or cash savings.
The gap between these two ages is how long your money has to grow on its own.
These are standard default assumptions. You can leave them as they are, or adjust them if you want a more conservative or aggressive estimate.
How much you withdraw each year in retirement. The 4% rule is a commonly used retirement-planning guideline.
After inflation. The 7% default reflects a long-term historical real return assumption. Use a lower rate for a more conservative projection.
(total nest egg needed)
invested savings
retirement
at retirement
How this works: Your FIRE number = annual spending ÷ safe withdrawal rate. Your Coast FIRE number = FIRE number ÷ (1 + real annual return)years. Because the return is already after inflation, the result is expressed in today's dollars — no additional inflation adjustment needed.
What Is Coast FIRE and How Do You Calculate Your Coast FIRE Number?
Coast FIRE means you have already saved enough money that your investments can potentially grow to fund your retirement in the future.
Once you reach your Coast FIRE number, you may no longer need to make additional retirement contributions. Your investments keep growing while you focus on covering your current living expenses.
How Does a Coast FIRE Calculator Work?
This Coast FIRE calculator estimates how much you need invested today for your existing retirement savings to potentially grow into the amount needed at retirement, without requiring additional contributions.
The calculation uses your current age, target retirement age, expected annual retirement spending, expected real investment return, and withdrawal rate. These assumptions determine your estimated retirement target and how much money would need to be invested today to reach that target through investment growth.
The result is your estimated Coast FIRE number. You can compare this number with your current retirement savings to see whether you may have already reached Coast FIRE or how much more you may need to invest.
Coast FIRE Number vs FIRE Number
FIRE means you have enough money to retire today.
Coast FIRE means you have enough invested that your money may grow to support retirement later, even if you stop making retirement contributions.
Many people reach Coast FIRE years before reaching full FIRE.
Still have questions? Here are some quick answers about Coast FIRE and retirement planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Coast FIRE number?
Your Coast FIRE number is the amount you need invested today so your portfolio can potentially grow to your retirement goal without additional contributions.
How do I know if I have reached Coast FIRE?
If your current investments are equal to or greater than your Coast FIRE number, you have reached Coast FIRE.
What return rate should I use?
A reasonable long-term real return assumption depends on your portfolio, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Consider testing several return assumptions to see how they affect your Coast FIRE number.
Does Coast FIRE mean I can stop working?
Not necessarily. It means your retirement savings may already be on track, but you still need income for your current expenses.
Is Coast FIRE easier than FIRE?
For most people, yes. Coast FIRE is usually reached much earlier than full financial independence.
Want to compare your Coast FIRE goal with full financial independence? Try our FIRE Calculator to estimate your FIRE number and how long it may take to reach it.
For educational purposes only. Not financial advice. Consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
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