Achieve Financial Freedom with Coast FIRE

Calculate your path to financial independence and discover when you can stop saving and let compound interest do the work.

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Coast FIRE Calculator

Enter your financial details to calculate your Coast FIRE number and timeline

Coast FIRE Calculator

Please choose a Current Age of 100 or less, and a Current Age < Retirement Age.
Please choose a Retirement Age of 100 or less, and a Current Age < Retirement Age.
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What is Coast FIRE?

Coast FIRE is a milestone on your journey to financial independence where you have enough money invested that compound growth alone will fund your retirement.

Plant the Seed

Reach your Coast FIRE number by saving and investing aggressively in your early years.

Let It Grow

Once you hit Coast FIRE, compound interest does the heavy lifting for your retirement fund.

Enjoy Freedom

Reduce financial stress knowing your retirement is secured, even if you stop saving.

Benefits of Coast FIRE

Discover why Coast FIRE is becoming the preferred path to financial independence

Reduced Financial Stress

Knowing your retirement is secured provides immense peace of mind and reduces anxiety about your financial future.

Career Flexibility

Take career risks, pursue passion projects, or negotiate better work-life balance without jeopardizing retirement.

More Achievable Timeline

Reach financial milestones faster than traditional FIRE, making the goal feel more attainable.

Better Work-Life Balance

Stop the extreme saving phase earlier and enjoy life while still young, knowing retirement is handled.

Coast FIRE vs Traditional FIRE

Understanding the key differences between Coast FIRE and traditional Financial Independence approaches

Traditional FIRE

  • Save 50-70% of income
  • Retire in 10-15 years
  • Extreme lifestyle restrictions
  • High stress to maintain savings rate
  • Risk of burnout

Coast FIRE

  • Save 20-40% of income initially
  • Reach milestone in 5-10 years
  • Sustainable lifestyle changes
  • Reduced financial pressure
  • Balanced approach to life

Complete Coast FIRE Guide

Everything you need to know to start your Coast FIRE journey

Step-by-Step Process

1
Calculate Your Number

Use our calculator to determine your Coast FIRE target based on your retirement goals.

2
Optimize Your Savings

Maximize your savings rate through budgeting, side hustles, and expense reduction.

3
Invest Wisely

Build a diversified portfolio with low-cost index funds for long-term growth.

4
Reach Coast FIRE

Hit your target and enjoy the freedom of knowing your retirement is secured.

Investment Strategies for Coast FIRE

Asset Allocation

Maintain an aggressive portfolio (80-90% stocks) during accumulation phase for maximum growth potential.

Low-Cost Investing

Use index funds with expense ratios under 0.2% to minimize fees and maximize compound growth.

Automatic Investing

Set up automatic contributions to remove emotion and ensure consistent investing habits.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Underestimating Expenses

Be realistic about retirement expenses. Include healthcare, inflation, and lifestyle changes in your calculations.

Overestimating Returns

Use conservative return estimates (6-8%) rather than optimistic projections to avoid shortfalls.

Stopping Too Early

Consider continuing some savings even after Coast FIRE for extra security and earlier retirement options.

Ignoring Risk Management

Maintain emergency funds and appropriate insurance coverage even after reaching Coast FIRE.

Coast FIRE by the Numbers

Key statistics about the Coast FIRE movement

7%

Average annual stock market return (inflation-adjusted)

25x

Traditional FIRE multiplier (25x annual expenses)

10-15

Years to reach Coast FIRE for most people

4%

Safe withdrawal rate for retirement

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to the most common Coast FIRE questions

What exactly is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is the point where you have enough money invested that it will grow to support your retirement without any additional contributions. You can "coast" from this point forward, knowing your retirement is secured through compound growth.
How is Coast FIRE different from regular FIRE?
Traditional FIRE requires saving enough to retire immediately (typically 25x annual expenses). Coast FIRE only requires enough to fund retirement at a normal retirement age (65-67), making it much more achievable in the short term.
What happens after I reach Coast FIRE?
After reaching Coast FIRE, you have several options: continue saving to retire earlier, reduce your savings rate and enjoy life more, pursue passion projects, or take career risks knowing your retirement is secure.
Is Coast FIRE safe enough for retirement planning?
Coast FIRE is based on historical market returns and conservative withdrawal rates. However, it's wise to continue some level of saving even after reaching Coast FIRE for additional security and flexibility.
What investment returns does Coast FIRE assume?
Most Coast FIRE calculations use 7-9% annual returns, based on historical stock market performance. Our calculator defaults to 9% but allows you to adjust based on your risk tolerance and investment strategy.
Should I still save after reaching Coast FIRE?
While not required, continuing to save provides extra security, allows for earlier retirement, and protects against market volatility or higher-than-expected expenses in retirement.
How do I calculate my Coast FIRE number?
Use our calculator above! Input your current age, desired retirement age, annual expenses, current savings, and expected returns. The calculator will show you exactly how much you need to reach Coast FIRE.
What if the stock market crashes after I reach Coast FIRE?
Market crashes are temporary, but they can delay your timeline. This is why many people continue saving at a reduced rate after Coast FIRE, and why using conservative return estimates is important.