FIRE calculator for the United States
American FIRE plans have an unusual advantage and an unusual obstacle: excellent tax-advantaged accounts, and healthcare that must be funded privately before Medicare. Both belong in the number below.
Open an investment account
We explain exactly what to compare before you open anything - costs, protection and the traps.
The account order most US plans follow
The usual sequence is: contribute enough to a 401(k) to capture the full employer match, fill an HSA if eligible, then an IRA, then the rest of the 401(k) up to the annual limit, and finally a taxable brokerage account.
The taxable account matters more for FIRE than for ordinary retirement, because it is the bridge that funds the years before penalty-free access to retirement accounts begins.
Healthcare is a line item, not a footnote
Premiums and out-of-pocket costs for a family buying cover independently can run into five figures a year. Add a realistic annual number to the spending figure above before reading your FI number - it moves the target by hundreds of thousands.
Because the FI number is annual spending divided by the withdrawal rate, every 1,000 of extra annual spending adds 25,000 to the pot at 4%.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 4% rule?
A planning guideline from studies of historical US market data suggesting that withdrawing 4% of a portfolio in year one, then adjusting for inflation, survived most thirty-year periods. It is a starting point, not a guarantee.
How do I access retirement accounts before 59 and a half?
Common routes include a Roth conversion ladder, substantially equal periodic payments, and simply spending from a taxable account first. Each has conditions - confirm current rules before relying on one.
Should I use 4% or something lower?
Retirements longer than thirty years are usually planned at 3.25-3.5%. Change the withdrawal rate above and watch the FI number move.
Does this account for Social Security?
No. Any Social Security you expect reduces the spending your portfolio must cover from that age onward, which makes the plan easier than shown here.
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