The Coast FIRE vs regular FIRE calculator compares two financial independence strategies. Coast FIRE shows the amount you need to save now so investments grow to your FIRE number without additional contributions. Regular FIRE shows the monthly savings needed to reach full financial independence.
Coast FIRE vs Regular FIRE Explained
Coast FIRE uses reverse compound interest: instead of calculating forward growth, you calculate how much you need today that will grow to your FIRE number. Formula: Coast FIRE number = FIRE Number ÷ (1 + return)^years. At 32, with a $1.5M FIRE target at 55 and 7% return: $1,500,000 ÷ 1.07^23 ≈ $290,000.
What Happens After Coast FIRE
Once you've reached your Coast FIRE number, you can technically stop saving for retirement and just cover your current expenses. Many people use this milestone to take lower-paying but more fulfilling work, work part-time, start a side business, or simply reduce financial stress while still years away from full retirement.
FAQ
What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is when you've saved enough that, even without contributing another dollar, your investments will grow to your retirement number by your target retirement age. You can 'coast' — covering just your current expenses without saving more. Many people use this as a waypoint toward full FIRE.
What is regular FIRE?
Regular FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is when your portfolio is large enough to support withdrawals indefinitely, typically using a 4% safe withdrawal rate. FIRE number = annual expenses × 25. At this point, work becomes truly optional.
Which is better: Coast FIRE or regular FIRE?
Neither is objectively better — they serve different goals. Coast FIRE lets you reduce financial stress sooner by lowering the bar to a point where time does the work. Regular FIRE gives you full optionality to stop working entirely. Many pursue Coast FIRE as a milestone on the path to full FIRE.
How long does it take to reach Coast FIRE?
It depends on your savings rate and return assumptions. At a 10% savings rate, it might take 15-20 years to reach Coast FIRE. At 30-40% savings rates (common in the FIRE community), you might reach Coast FIRE in 7-12 years. The younger you reach it, the less you need due to longer compound growth runway.