Retire Early
Retirement is not an age. It's a number.
Forget everything you've been told about working until 65. Your retirement date isn't set by your birthday — it's set by the gap between what you earn and what you spend.
The Mindset Shift
Three ideas that change everything about how you think about retirement
The idea of retiring at 65 was invented in 1935 with the Social Security Act — when average life expectancy was just 61. It was never meant to be a universal truth.
The real question isn't "when can I retire?"
It's "how much do I need?"
Early retirement doesn't mean sitting on a beach doing nothing. It means reaching a point where work is optional.
Many early retirees start businesses, volunteer, create art, travel, or keep working — but on their terms. The point is having the freedom to choose.
You control two things: what you earn and what you spend. The gap between them is your freedom timeline.
Your Number
The one calculation that determines when you can retire
Your retirement number is the amount of invested assets you need so the returns cover your living expenses indefinitely. The formula is simple:
Monthly Expenses × 12 × 25
= Your Number
Track monthly spending
$3,500/mo
Annualize it
$42,000/yr
Multiply by 25
$1,050,000
That's it. When your invested assets hit this number, work becomes optional. This comes from the 4% safe withdrawal rate — you can read the full explanation in our FIRE guide.
Here's the insight most people miss: a higher savings rate doesn't just mean you invest more — it simultaneously reduces how much you need. It attacks from both sides.
*Assuming 7% real returns, 4% withdrawal rate, starting from $0
"What about inflation?"
The 7% return assumption already accounts for inflation — it's a "real" (inflation-adjusted) return. The historical stock market average is ~10% nominal, minus ~3% inflation.
"What about healthcare?"
This is the biggest real concern. Options include ACA marketplace plans, health sharing ministries, part-time work with benefits (Barista FIRE), or budgeting $500-1,500/mo for premiums until Medicare at 65.
"What about kids?"
Kids increase your expenses, which increases your number — but the math still works. Many families pursuing early retirement include childcare and education costs in their annual expense calculation.
For detailed strategies on each of these, check the FIRE Roadmap.
The Profiles
Three paths to early retirement — find the one closest to yours
The Steady Saver
Teacher
Income
$55k
Expenses
$30k/yr
Savings Rate
45%
FIRE Number
$750k
Starts at 25 → Financially independent by 40
15 years
You don't need a six-figure salary. A modest income with controlled expenses gets you there.
The Accelerator
Software Engineer
Income
$130k
Expenses
$50k/yr
Savings Rate
62%
FIRE Number
$1.25M
Starts at 28 → Financially independent by 38
10 years
High income is a superpower — but only if you don't inflate your lifestyle to match.
The Late Starter
Couple, combined income
Income
$95k
Expenses
$55k/yr
Savings Rate
42%
FIRE Number
$1.38M
Starts at 37 → Financially independent by 55
18 years
Starting "late" still beats the conventional retirement age by a decade. It's never too late.
Profiles are fictional illustrations using simplified assumptions: 7% real returns, 4% withdrawal rate, starting from $0.
What's Your Number?
Retirement isn't a distant age on a calendar. It's a number you can calculate today and start working toward tomorrow.
Read the full FIRE guide