FI Number Calculator
Estimate the portfolio size that could support your lifestyle — and see when you could reach financial independence.
Your Plan
Adjust the inputs below to model your path to FI.
Social Security & Pension Income
Offset your FI number with expected retirement income sources.
Your FI Number
Based on a 4% withdrawal rate
Supports about $48,000/year at a 4% withdrawal rate
Every dollar counts. Focus on increasing the gap between income and expenses. Use the sliders to explore scenarios.
| Year | Age | Contributions | Growth | Total | % of FI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 | $0 | $0 | $50,000 | 4% |
| 2027 | 36 | $18,000 | $4,203 | $72,203 | 6% |
| 2028 | 37 | $36,000 | $10,012 | $96,012 | 8% |
| 2029 | 38 | $54,000 | $17,541 | $121,541 | 10% |
| 2030 | 39 | $72,000 | $26,917 | $148,917 | 12% |
| 2031 | 40 | $90,000 | $38,271 | $178,271 | 15% |
| 2032 | 41 | $108,000 | $51,747 | $209,747 | 17% |
| 2033 | 42 | $126,000 | $67,498 | $243,498 | 20% |
| 2034 | 43 | $144,000 | $85,690 | $279,690 | 23% |
| 2035 | 44 | $162,000 | $106,497 | $318,497 | 27% |
| 2036 | 45 | $180,000 | $130,110 | $360,110 | 30% |
| 2037 | 46 | $198,000 | $156,732 | $404,732 | 34% |
| 2038 | 47 | $216,000 | $186,579 | $452,579 | 38% |
| 2039 | 48 | $234,000 | $219,884 | $503,884 | 42% |
| 2040 | 49 | $252,000 | $256,899 | $558,899 | 47% |
| 2041 | 50 | $270,000 | $297,891 | $617,891 | 51% |
| 2042 | 51 | $288,000 | $343,147 | $681,147 | 57% |
| 2043 | 52 | $306,000 | $392,976 | $748,976 | 62% |
| 2044 | 53 | $324,000 | $447,709 | $821,709 | 68% |
| 2045 | 54 | $342,000 | $507,699 | $899,699 | 75% |
| 2046 | 55 | $360,000 | $573,327 | $983,327 | 82% |
| 2047 | 56 | $378,000 | $645,001 | $1,073,001 | 89% |
| 2048 | 57 | $396,000 | $723,157 | $1,169,157 | 97% |
What this means
At your current plan, you could reach financial independence around age 57 with a portfolio of $1,200,000. That could support about $48,000/year in spending (in today's dollars).
The biggest levers for an earlier FI date
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Go Deeper With Your FI Plan
Your FI number is just the start. These tools map the full path.
Coast FI Calculator
Calculate the exact age where your existing investments will grow to cover retirement — without saving another dollar. Then decide: keep working full-time, or downshift to part-time.
- Age-by-age projections based on your actual portfolio
- Visual timeline from today to full FI
- Barista FI scenarios with part-time income modeling
Social Security Optimizer
See exactly how much more you'll earn by delaying benefits. Compare claim-at-62 vs 67 vs 70 with breakeven analysis so you can make a confident decision.
- Side-by-side monthly benefit comparison
- Breakeven age calculation between claim strategies
- Lifetime benefit totals by life expectancy
Debt Payoff Planner
Compare the Snowball (smallest balance first) vs. Avalanche (highest interest first) methods. See which gets you debt-free faster and how much interest you'll save.
- Snowball vs. Avalanche timeline comparison
- Total interest savings between strategies
- Month-by-month payoff schedule
Free forever — no credit card required
Coast FI Timeline
Stop saving at 38, still retire at 60
Monthly Benefit by Claim Age
Payoff Strategy Comparison
Snowball
4.2 yr
Avalanche
3.8 yr
Preview — create free account to use
What Is a FI Number?
Your FI number is Annual Expenses × 25. Once your investments reach this amount, the 4% withdrawal rate covers your lifestyle — forever.
Slide to explore — how much do you spend monthly?
Every $100/month you cut permanently reduces your FI number by $30,000
Now That You Know Your Number
Your FI number is the destination — now you need the route. Start with our deep dive on calculating your FI number to understand the assumptions behind the math, then learn how to build the portfolio that gets you there with low-cost index funds.
Want to accelerate the timeline? Travel rewards let you redirect thousands in vacation spending back toward investments. And if your FI number feels impossibly large, try the Coast FIRE Calculator — you may have already invested enough for compound growth to do the rest.
Which FIRE Is Right for You?
There is no one-size-fits-all. Choose the level that matches your values and lifestyle.
Lean FIRE
Minimal spending, maximum freedom. You have optimized expenses aggressively and are comfortable living simply. Geographic arbitrage — low cost-of-living areas or countries — makes this very achievable.
Best for: Minimalists, frugality enthusiasts, international expats
Regular FIRE
A comfortable middle-class lifestyle without the paycheck. Occasional travel, dining out, hobbies, and a modest home. This is where most ChooseFI community members aim.
Best for: Most FI seekers, families, suburban homeowners
Fat FIRE
All the freedom with zero lifestyle compromises. Premium healthcare, frequent travel, higher-cost-of-living areas. Requires either very high income, long timeline, or entrepreneurial success.
Best for: High earners, entrepreneurs, those in expensive metros
Coast FI
You have invested enough that compound growth will carry you to traditional retirement age without another dollar added. You only need to cover current expenses — no more saving required.
Best for: Early starters, those wanting less pressure, career changers
Try the Coast FIRE CalculatorBarista FIRE
Your investments cover most expenses and a low-stress part-time job fills the gap. Named after the strategy of working at places like Starbucks for health benefits.
Best for: Those who want a safety net, healthcare coverage seekers
Strategies to Reach FI Faster
Toggle common optimizations and watch your FI number drop in real time.
Your Impact
That is less you need to invest. At a 50% savings rate, this could mean retiring months sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
A good FI number is 25 times your annual expenses. For someone spending $40,000 per year, that is $1,000,000. For $60,000 per year, it is $1,500,000. Your FI number is personal and depends entirely on the lifestyle you want to maintain.
Multiply your annual expenses by 25. This is based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate from the Trinity Study, which showed that withdrawing 4% of your portfolio annually has historically sustained a 30+ year retirement.
The 4% rule remains a widely accepted starting point backed by decades of historical data. Some financial planners suggest using 3.5% for added safety, while others argue that flexible spending strategies allow for higher withdrawal rates. The key is having a plan and adjusting as needed.
Social Security can reduce the amount you need to save. If you expect $20,000 per year from Social Security, your portfolio only needs to cover the gap. However, many in the FI community prefer to plan without it as a conservative approach and treat it as a bonus.
Lean FIRE targets $25,000 to $40,000 per year in spending ($625K to $1M portfolio). Regular FIRE targets $40,000 to $70,000 ($1M to $1.75M). Fat FIRE targets $100,000+ ($2.5M+). The right choice depends on your desired lifestyle and cost of living.
How this calculator works
This calculator uses a standard compound growth model. Your FI number is calculated by dividing annual expenses by your chosen safe withdrawal rate. The projection compounds your current investments monthly with your contributions and expected return rate until the portfolio reaches the target.
The safe withdrawal rate is based on the Trinity Study and subsequent research showing historical portfolio survival rates over 30+ year periods. All projections use nominal returns and do not adjust for inflation.
Learn more about our methodologyPopular questions
A good FI number is 25 times your annual expenses. For someone spending $40,000 per year, that is $1,000,000. For $60,000 per year, it is $1,500,000. Your FI number is personal and depends entirely on the lifestyle you want to maintain.
Multiply your annual expenses by 25. This is based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate from the Trinity Study, which showed that withdrawing 4% of your portfolio annually has historically sustained a 30+ year retirement.
The 4% rule remains a widely accepted starting point backed by decades of historical data. Some financial planners suggest using 3.5% for added safety, while others argue that flexible spending strategies allow for higher withdrawal rates. The key is having a plan and adjusting as needed.
Social Security can reduce the amount you need to save. If you expect $20,000 per year from Social Security, your portfolio only needs to cover the gap. However, many in the FI community prefer to plan without it as a conservative approach and treat it as a bonus.
Lean FIRE targets $25,000 to $40,000 per year in spending ($625K to $1M portfolio). Regular FIRE targets $40,000 to $70,000 ($1M to $1.75M). Fat FIRE targets $100,000+ ($2.5M+). The right choice depends on your desired lifestyle and cost of living.
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