Coast FIRE: when your savings can do the rest
There's a point where the money you've already invested will grow into a full retirement on its own. Here's how to find that point, then run your own numbers in the calculator at the end of this step.
Your FIRE number
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. Your FIRE number is how much you need invested to cover your yearly spending for good. Divide your annual spending in retirement by a safe withdrawal rate. At 4%, $30,000 a year means $750,000.
Coasting to the finish
Coast FIRE is the point where you could stop contributing entirely and compound growth would still carry your portfolio to your FIRE number by retirement age. The earlier you invest, the smaller that number is, because time does most of the work.
What it gives you
Hitting Coast FIRE doesn't mean you stop working. It means your paycheck only has to cover today. That opens real choices: a lower-paying job you love, more time with family, or putting new savings toward other goals like your first property.
When can you stop saving for retirement?
Coast FIRE is the point where what you've already invested will grow into your full retirement number on its own. Play with the inputs to see when you get there.
FIRE number
$750,000
In today's dollars
Coast FIRE number
$183,163
Needed today at 30
Coast FIRE age
50
Net worth at 67: $896,054
Insight
Keep investing $500 a month and you reach Coast FIRE at 50. After that, your portfolio can grow to $750,000 by 67 on its own, so contributions become optional.