Tools · When Can I Retire?

When could you actually retire?

Put in what you've saved, what you add, and what you spend — and see the age your money sets you free. This is the FIRE math, made personal.

Last updated: June 2026

Figuring out when you can actually retire combines everything else on this site into one answer: given what you've already saved, what you keep contributing, and what you'll spend, what age does your invested portfolio cross your FIRE number (using the 4%-rule-style math from the FIRE number calculator)? It's the same underlying compounding and withdrawal-rate logic, solved for a target date rather than a target dollar amount.

How it's calculated

The calculation first determines your FIRE number (annual spending ÷ withdrawal rate, e.g., ×25 at 4%), then projects your current invested savings forward with monthly contributions and an assumed real rate of return until the projected balance crosses that number — the age at which that happens is your retirement age. It's the inverse operation of coast FIRE, which instead asks what balance today needs zero further contributions to reach the same target.

Why it matters

Small changes compound into large timeline shifts: increasing monthly contributions, even modestly, or trimming planned retirement spending both pull the crossing point earlier, often by more years than intuition suggests, because of how compounding and the 25x multiplier interact (a spending cut reduces the target and frees up more money to contribute, a double effect).

Common pitfalls

Using an overly optimistic return assumption (ignoring historical volatility, sequence-of-returns risk, fees, and taxes) makes the projected date look earlier than it will likely turn out to be in practice. It's also easy to forget that planned retirement spending, healthcare costs before an age like 65 (see the healthcare gap calculator), and inflation over a multi-decade projection all need to be estimated in today's dollars consistently, or the crossing-point age will be distorted by mixing nominal and real figures.

4% is the classic rule; 3.25–3.5% is safer for a long early retirement.

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Can I quit sooner? → Coast FIRE
A simplified projection at a constant real return — real markets and life vary. Education, not financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

When can I retire?
When your invested savings reach roughly 25× your annual expenses — where a safe 4% withdrawal covers your costs. This tool projects the years of saving and growth to get there, and the age you reach it.
How is my retirement number calculated?
Target = annual expenses ÷ your safe withdrawal rate (e.g. expenses × 25 at 4%). The tool grows your current savings plus annual contributions at your expected return until the balance hits that target.
How can I retire early?
Two levers dominate: spend less (which lowers your target and raises your savings rate) and invest the difference for growth. Cutting expenses helps twice over.
What return should I assume?
A common planning assumption is 5–7% real (after inflation) for a diversified, stock-heavy portfolio, though future returns are uncertain. Lower is safer — set your own above.