Core Inputs
Enter your basic financial information
Basic Information
Your current age in years
The age you plan to retire and stop working
How long you expect to live. Use 90-95 to be conservative.
Total value of all your invested assets (retirement accounts + taxable brokerage)
How much you currently save/invest each month
Your expected annual spending in retirement (in today's dollars)
Coast FIRE Number
$137,935
Amount needed today
Progress
73%
Towards Coast FIRE
Years to Retirement
35
Age 30 to 65
Total Retirement Income
$95,786
Annual from all sources
Portfolio Projection to Retirement
Sensitivity Analysis
See how your results change with different return assumptions.
| Scenario | Coast Number | Portfolio at Retirement | Safe Annual Income |
|---|---|---|---|
Conservative 5% return | $267,818 | $1,444,694 | $57,788 |
Base Case 7% return | $137,935 | $2,394,642 | $95,786 |
Aggressive 9% return | $71,923 | $4,050,384 | $162,015 |
Financial Independence Milestones
Coast FIRE Summary
Your path to financial independence
Keep Saving
Save $37,935 more to reach Coast FIRE.
Estimated Coast Age: 34
Retirement Income
To Reach Coast FIRE
Withdrawal Rate
Quick Answer: What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is achieved when your current investments will grow to your retirement target without additional contributions. To calculate your Coast FIRE number, divide your target retirement portfolio by (1 + expected return)^years until retirement. For example, if you need $1.5M at age 65 with a 7% return and you are 35, your Coast FIRE number is approximately $387,000. Our free calculator handles this math automatically and includes Social Security, pension income, healthcare costs, and Monte Carlo simulation.
Key Facts About Coast FIRE
- Coast FIRE formula: Coast Number = Target Portfolio / (1 + return rate)^years to retirement
- The 4% rule suggests you need 25x your annual expenses for traditional FIRE
- Coast FIRE allows you to work lower-stress jobs since you only need to cover current expenses
- 7% real return (after inflation) is the commonly used assumption based on historical S&P 500 data
- Adding Social Security and pension income reduces the portfolio amount needed
- Monte Carlo simulation runs 1,000+ scenarios to show success probability
- Tax-advantaged accounts (401k, IRA) grow without annual tax drag
What if you increased monthly contributions?
See how increasing your savings rate impacts your path to Coast FIRE
Personalized Insights
3 insights based on your inputs
Halfway to Coast FIRE
You've reached 73% of your Coast FIRE number.
Coast Age: 34
At your current savings rate, you'll reach Coast FIRE in 4 years.
Conservative Withdrawal Rate
Your 210.0% withdrawal rate is below the safe 4% rule.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is when you have enough money invested that you no longer need to save more for retirement. Your existing investments will grow to your retirement target on their own through compound growth. You can then "coast" by only earning enough to cover current expenses.
How is the Coast FIRE number calculated?
The Coast FIRE number is calculated by taking your target retirement portfolio and discounting it back to today using your expected investment return rate. The formula is: Coast Number = Target Portfolio / (1 + return rate)^years to retirement.
What is a good withdrawal rate for Coast FIRE?
The traditional "4% rule" suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio annually in retirement. However, many in the FIRE community use 3.5% for more conservative planning, especially for early retirees who need their money to last longer.
Is Coast FIRE realistic if I still contribute?
Yes! If you continue contributing to your investments after reaching your Coast FIRE number, you will either retire earlier, have more money in retirement, or both. The Coast FIRE number is just the minimum needed to reach your goal.
What return rate should I use?
A common assumption is 7% real return (after inflation) for a diversified stock portfolio, based on historical S&P 500 returns. Conservative planners might use 5-6%, while aggressive planners might use 8%. The calculator lets you adjust this.
How does tax drag affect Coast FIRE?
Tax drag refers to the annual taxes paid on dividends and capital gains in taxable accounts. This reduces your effective return rate. For tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k) or IRA, set tax drag to 0%.
What is the difference between Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE?
Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE are similar but distinct concepts. Coast FIRE means your investments will grow to your target without additional savings. Barista FIRE specifically refers to working a part-time job (like a barista) for benefits like health insurance while coasting. Both involve working just enough to cover current expenses.
How much do I need for Coast FIRE at 30?
If you want $1.5M at age 65 with a 7% return, you would need approximately $196,000 at age 30 (35 years of growth). This assumes no additional contributions. Use our calculator to get your personalized number based on your specific retirement target and timeline.
How this works
Given a target retirement corpus, a desired retirement age, and an expected real return, back-solves for the "coast" number — the amount you need invested today to hit the target without further contributions.
What this tool can’t do
When to consult a professional
This is a software engineering tool, not financial advice. Run the math here, then take the result to a certified financial planner, CPA, or your bank before making a decision that materially affects your money.
Sources
- [1]Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)Official sourceconsumerfinance.govAccessed Apr 21, 2026
US consumer finance regulator; authoritative on mortgage disclosures, APR rules, credit cards.
Full-stack software engineer specializing in embedded systems, web architecture, and AI/ML. Founder of Practical Web Tools. Built the gesture-controlled drone IP acquired by KD Interactive (Aura Drone, sold on Amazon).