FIRE Calculator
When can you reach financial independence?
Calculate how long it may take until your portfolio is large enough to cover your expenses through investment returns and withdrawals.
Your inputs
The simulation is currently limited to a maximum age of 120.
Your result
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FIRE progress
Your portfolio currently covers about 2.8 years years of your annual target expenses.
Note: This calculator uses a simplified simulation with an inflation-adjusted return. Taxes, fees, salary increases and volatile market years are not included yet.
Portfolio growth
The chart shows your simulated portfolio development during the accumulation phase and the later withdrawal phase.
Scenario comparison
Compare how different return and inflation assumptions can change your FIRE result. Your savings rate, expenses, withdrawal rate and age inputs stay the same.
Conservative
4% return, 3% inflation
Base case
7% return, 2% inflation
Optimistic
10% return, 2% inflation
Year-by-year overview
The table shows the simulated development year by year. During the accumulation phase, contributions are added. During the withdrawal phase, annual expenses are withdrawn.
Tip: You can scroll the table sideways.
| Year | Age | Phase | Portfolio | Contribution | Withdrawal | Investment growth | Effective withdrawal rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 35 | Accumulation phase | 100.000 € | 0 € | 0 € | 0 € | — |
| 1 | 36 | Accumulation phase | 117.000 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 5.000 € | — |
| 2 | 37 | Accumulation phase | 134.850 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 5.850 € | — |
| 3 | 38 | Accumulation phase | 153.593 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 6.743 € | — |
| 4 | 39 | Accumulation phase | 173.272 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 7.680 € | — |
| 5 | 40 | Accumulation phase | 193.936 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 8.664 € | — |
| 6 | 41 | Accumulation phase | 215.633 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 9.697 € | — |
| 7 | 42 | Accumulation phase | 238.414 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 10.782 € | — |
| 8 | 43 | Accumulation phase | 262.335 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 11.921 € | — |
| 9 | 44 | Accumulation phase | 287.452 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 13.117 € | — |
| 10 | 45 | Accumulation phase | 313.824 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 14.373 € | — |
| 11 | 46 | Accumulation phase | 341.515 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 15.691 € | — |
| 12 | 47 | Accumulation phase | 370.591 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 17.076 € | — |
| 13 | 48 | Accumulation phase | 401.121 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 18.530 € | — |
| 14 | 49 | Accumulation phase | 433.177 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 20.056 € | — |
| 15 | 50 | Accumulation phase | 466.836 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 21.659 € | — |
| 16 | 51 | Accumulation phase | 502.177 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 23.342 € | — |
| 17 | 52 | Accumulation phase | 539.286 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 25.109 € | — |
| 18 | 53 | Accumulation phase | 578.251 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 26.964 € | — |
| 19 | 54 | Accumulation phase | 619.163 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 28.913 € | — |
| 20 | 55 | Accumulation phase | 662.121 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 30.958 € | — |
| 21 | 56 | Accumulation phase | 707.227 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 33.106 € | — |
| 22 | 57 | Accumulation phase | 754.589 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 35.361 € | — |
| 23 | 58 | Accumulation phase | 804.318 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 37.729 € | — |
| 24 | 59 | Accumulation phase | 856.534 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 40.216 € | — |
| 25 | 60 | Withdrawal phase | 911.361 € | 12.000 € | 0 € | 42.827 € | — |
| 26 | 61 | Withdrawal phase | 920.929 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 45.568 € | 4,0 % |
| 27 | 62 | Withdrawal phase | 930.975 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 46.046 € | 3,9 % |
| 28 | 63 | Withdrawal phase | 941.524 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 46.549 € | 3,9 % |
| 29 | 64 | Withdrawal phase | 952.600 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 47.076 € | 3,8 % |
| 30 | 65 | Withdrawal phase | 964.230 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 47.630 € | 3,8 % |
| 31 | 66 | Withdrawal phase | 976.442 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 48.212 € | 3,7 % |
| 32 | 67 | Withdrawal phase | 989.264 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 48.822 € | 3,7 % |
| 33 | 68 | Withdrawal phase | 1.002.727 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 49.463 € | 3,6 % |
| 34 | 69 | Withdrawal phase | 1.016.863 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 50.136 € | 3,6 % |
| 35 | 70 | Withdrawal phase | 1.031.706 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 50.843 € | 3,5 % |
| 36 | 71 | Withdrawal phase | 1.047.292 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 51.585 € | 3,5 % |
| 37 | 72 | Withdrawal phase | 1.063.656 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 52.365 € | 3,4 % |
| 38 | 73 | Withdrawal phase | 1.080.839 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 53.183 € | 3,4 % |
| 39 | 74 | Withdrawal phase | 1.098.881 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 54.042 € | 3,3 % |
| 40 | 75 | Withdrawal phase | 1.117.825 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 54.944 € | 3,3 % |
| 41 | 76 | Withdrawal phase | 1.137.716 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 55.891 € | 3,2 % |
| 42 | 77 | Withdrawal phase | 1.158.602 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 56.886 € | 3,2 % |
| 43 | 78 | Withdrawal phase | 1.180.532 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 57.930 € | 3,1 % |
| 44 | 79 | Withdrawal phase | 1.203.559 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 59.027 € | 3,0 % |
| 45 | 80 | Withdrawal phase | 1.227.737 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 60.178 € | 3,0 % |
| 46 | 81 | Withdrawal phase | 1.253.124 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 61.387 € | 2,9 % |
| 47 | 82 | Withdrawal phase | 1.279.780 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 62.656 € | 2,9 % |
| 48 | 83 | Withdrawal phase | 1.307.769 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 63.989 € | 2,8 % |
| 49 | 84 | Withdrawal phase | 1.337.157 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 65.388 € | 2,8 % |
| 50 | 85 | Withdrawal phase | 1.368.015 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 66.858 € | 2,7 % |
| 51 | 86 | Withdrawal phase | 1.400.416 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 68.401 € | 2,6 % |
| 52 | 87 | Withdrawal phase | 1.434.437 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 70.021 € | 2,6 % |
| 53 | 88 | Withdrawal phase | 1.470.159 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 71.722 € | 2,5 % |
| 54 | 89 | Withdrawal phase | 1.507.667 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 73.508 € | 2,4 % |
| 55 | 90 | Withdrawal phase | 1.547.050 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 75.383 € | 2,4 % |
| 56 | 91 | Withdrawal phase | 1.588.402 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 77.352 € | 2,3 % |
| 57 | 92 | Withdrawal phase | 1.631.822 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 79.420 € | 2,3 % |
| 58 | 93 | Withdrawal phase | 1.677.414 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 81.591 € | 2,2 % |
| 59 | 94 | Withdrawal phase | 1.725.284 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 83.871 € | 2,1 % |
| 60 | 95 | Withdrawal phase | 1.775.548 € | 0 € | 36.000 € | 86.264 € | 2,1 % |
How does the FIRE calculator work?
The FIRE calculator helps you simulate your path to financial independence. FIRE stands for “Financial Independence, Retire Early” and describes the goal of building enough invested assets to cover your expenses through investment returns and controlled withdrawals.
First, the calculator estimates your personal FIRE number. It divides your desired annual expenses by your selected withdrawal rate. For example, if you need €3,000 per month, that equals €36,000 per year. With a withdrawal rate of 4%, the required portfolio would be around €900,000.
Then the calculator simulates the accumulation phase. Your current portfolio grows each year with the expected real return and is increased by your annual savings. Once your portfolio reaches your FIRE number, the withdrawal phase begins.
In the withdrawal phase, the calculator simulates how your portfolio develops while you withdraw your annual expenses. This helps you see not only when you might become financially independent, but also whether your portfolio could last until the selected end age.
Key formulas
FIRE number
Annual expenses ÷ withdrawal rate
Accumulation phase
Portfolio × return + annual savings
Withdrawal phase
Portfolio × return − annual expenses
The calculator currently uses a simplified inflation-adjusted simulation. Taxes, fees, volatile market years and individual pension benefits are not included.
Frequently asked questions about the FIRE calculator
What does FIRE mean?
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. It describes the goal of building enough assets so that your living expenses can be covered by investment returns and withdrawals.
What is the FIRE number?
The FIRE number is the amount of invested assets you may need to cover your annual expenses at a chosen withdrawal rate. With €36,000 in annual expenses and a 4% withdrawal rate, the FIRE number is €900,000.
What does the 4% rule mean?
The 4% rule is a common rule of thumb in the FIRE community. It suggests that you might withdraw around 4% of your portfolio in the first year. Whether this rate is realistic depends on returns, inflation, taxes, fees and your desired safety margin.
Why does the calculator include inflation?
Inflation reduces the purchasing power of your money. The calculator therefore uses a simplified real return, meaning expected return minus inflation, to give a more realistic estimate of purchasing power.
Can my portfolio keep growing after FIRE?
Yes, that is possible. If your real return is higher than your actual withdrawal rate over the long term, your portfolio can continue to grow despite withdrawals. If withdrawals are higher than real returns, your portfolio will decrease over time.
Is this FIRE calculator financial advice?
No. This calculator is for orientation and educational purposes only. It does not replace investment advice, tax advice or personal financial planning. The results depend heavily on your assumptions.
Compare other FIRE calculators
Try different versions of financial independence calculators and compare your results.