Financial Independence, Retire Early: how many years until work becomes optional? Spoiler — it's your savings rate that decides, not your stock picks.
Use real (after-inflation) returns — 5% is a sober long-run stock assumption.
Your FI number
$1,500,000
Coast FI number
$271,935
Invested today, untouched, hits FI by 65.
Savings rate
40%
Same income and returns — only the savings rate changes.
| Savings rate | Saved /yr | Years to FI |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $10,000 | 43 yr 1 mo |
| 20% | $20,000 | 32 yr 2 mo |
| 30% | $30,000 | 24 yr 10 mo |
| 40% ← you | $40,000 | 19 yr 3 mo |
| 50% | $50,000 | 14 yr 8 mo |
| 60% | $60,000 | 10 yr 9 mo |
| 70% | $70,000 | 7 yr 5 mo |
Portfolio growth against the $1,500,000 target.
• The 4% rule comes from the Trinity study: 4% of your portfolio in year one, adjusted for inflation after, survived 30 years in most historical US market scenarios. It's a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
• Coast FI is the underrated milestone: once your invested balance can grow into your FI number by 65 with zero new savings, every future dollar is optional. Many people hit Coast FI a decade before full FI.
• This ignores taxes, fees, and Social Security — all three make the real picture better, not worse.
