How to calculate years to financial independence (FIRE)
Enter savings, annual expenses, income, and savings rate — see years until you can retire on the 4% rule.
Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) boils down to one question: when can your portfolio cover annual spending? The FIRE Calculator projects years to reach your target using savings rate and the 4% withdrawal rule.
How it works
- Current savings — invested assets today.
- Annual expenses — what you need per year in retirement.
- Income & savings rate — how much you add each year.
The 4% rule
A common FIRE target is 25× annual expenses (4% safe withdrawal rate). Once savings reach that number, many planners treat the portfolio as self-sustaining — though your risk tolerance may differ.
Inflation and returns
This calculator uses a single expected return assumption. For purchasing power over decades, pair it with the Inflation Calculator.