Free tool
FIRE calculator: your financial independence
This FIRE calculator tells you your FIRE number (how much you need to live off your investments) and in how many years you reach financial independence, based on what you save and your return. Quick answer: under the 4% rule, your FIRE number is your annual spending multiplied by 25.
Your FIRE number
$600,000
You reach it in
26.8 years
To live off your investments spending $2,000/mo at a withdrawal rate of 4%, you need to build up $600,000 (the well-known rule of multiplying your annual spending by 25 at 4%).
Estimate based on a constant return, for educational purposes. It does not account for inflation, taxes or sequence of returns. This is not financial advice.
What FIRE is and how to calculate your FIRE number
FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) means reaching a level of wealth that generates enough to cover your expenses without depending on a salary. The key figure is your FIRE number: the capital that, once invested, can sustain your lifestyle indefinitely. Hitting it does not mean you are forced to stop working, it means you get to choose whether you work.
The most common way to estimate it is the 4% rule: if you can live by withdrawing 4% of your portfolio per year, your FIRE number is your annual spending × 25. For example, $48,000/year of spending → $1.2M. The more conservative your withdrawal rate (3% to 3.5%), the bigger the number, but also the bigger your margin of safety in bad markets.
The other factor is time: thanks to compound interest, contributing steadily and letting your portfolio compound dramatically speeds up the journey. That is why saving early and staying invested is the most powerful lever you have.
How much you need to retire: the 4% rule
The question of how much you need to retire does not depend on your salary, it depends on your spending. The 4% rule comes from the Trinity study: looking at diversified portfolios over 30 years, withdrawing 4% in the first year (then adjusting for inflation each year) survived in the large majority of historical scenarios.
In numbers: divide your annual spending by the withdrawal rate. At 4% you multiply by 25; at 3.5%, by about 28.6; at 3%, by 33. A lower rate demands more capital but offers better protection against a poor sequence of returns (suffering big drops right as you start to withdraw).
Example: FIRE number and years to financial independence
Imagine you spend $48,000 a year and take home $80,000 after tax, so you can save $32,000 (a 40% savings rate). Your FIRE number under the 4% rule is 48,000 × 25 = $1.2M.
If you invest that $32,000 a year at an average return of 7%, you would reach $1.2M in roughly 18 to 19 years thanks to compound growth. Push the savings rate up to 50% (spending less and earning more) and the timeline drops to about 15 years. The twin levers of FIRE are clear: spending less lowers your number and saving more shortens your time.
How to get closer to your FIRE by investing with criteria
Your FIRE number only holds up if your portfolio is built on quality and you do not overpay for it. With DeepTicker you can judge whether a company is good using the DeepTicker Score and its fundamentals, made simple, so your path to financial independence is not derailed by poor decisions. Start with the stock screener, the best stocks by quality, or the investing guide.
Your FIRE plan needs good investments. DeepTicker tells you whether a stock is good and whether it is fairly priced.
Start for free →Frequently asked questions
What is the FIRE number and the 4% rule?
Your FIRE number is the amount of invested wealth that would let you live off your portfolio. The 4% rule (from the Trinity study) suggests you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in the first year, adjusted for inflation thereafter, with a low chance of running out of money over 30 years. That works out to roughly 25 times your annual spending.
How much do I need to retire early with FIRE?
It depends on your annual spending, not your salary. Using the 4% rule, multiply your annual spending by 25: if you spend $48,000 a year you need about $1.2M; if you spend $36,000, about $900,000. For more of a cushion, use a 3.5% rate (about 28.6x) or 3% (about 33x).
Is the 4% rule realistic?
It is a guideline, not a guarantee. It has held up reasonably well for diversified portfolios over 30 years, but the outcome depends on the sequence of returns, inflation and taxes. Many people prefer a more conservative rate (3% to 3.5%) for a wider margin of safety.
How many years will it take me to reach FIRE?
It is driven mostly by your savings rate (the share of your income you save and invest). With a high savings rate (40% to 60%) and a reasonable return, many people get there in 12 to 20 years. The calculator estimates your timeline by combining your savings, your expected return and compound growth.
Does the calculator account for inflation?
It shows nominal figures. To stay conservative, use a real return (subtract expected inflation, for example 7% − 2.5% ≈ 4.5%) and keep your spending in today’s dollars.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is an educational tool with simplified assumptions. Investment and planning decisions are your own responsibility.
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Educational content by DeepTicker. This is not financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell. Investing involves risk of loss.