Can I Retire Early Calculator
Enter your numbers and find out if early retirement is within reach.
How does this calculator work?
This tool projects your investment portfolio forward year by year, adding your annual contributions and applying compound growth. It then compares the result to your FIRE number — your expenses divided by your safe withdrawal rate.
What is a safe withdrawal rate?
The 4% rule is the most common benchmark. It suggests that withdrawing 4% of your portfolio per year gives a high probability of lasting 30+ years. More conservative planners use 3 to 3.5% for longer retirements.
FAQ
What return rate should I use?
Our default is 5% after inflation. World equities returned 5.2% real from 1900 to 2024 (Dimson-Marsh-Staunton). US-only equities returned 6.6%, which is where the familiar 7% figure comes from.
Should I include Social Security or pension?
If you expect income from Social Security or a pension, reduce your annual expenses by that amount before entering it in the calculator.
What if I plan to work part-time in retirement?
This is Barista FIRE or Coast FIRE territory. Reduce your annual expenses by the part-time income you expect and recalculate.