What is the 4% Rule in FIRE retirement planning?

The 4% Rule states that you can safely withdraw 4% of your total invested portfolio in your first year of retirement (adjusted for inflation thereafter) with a 95%+ probability that your capital will last 30+ years.

Coast FIRE is the milestone where you have accumulated enough invested capital that compound growth alone will reach your full retirement target by age 65 without needing another penny in future contributions.

Compound Interest & FIRE Retirement Calculator

Simulate exponential wealth accumulation, 4% safe withdrawal retirement income, inflation purchasing power, and financial independence dates.

Deposit & Investment Parameters

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FIRE Strategy Presets

Projected Compound Wealth

Ending Portfolio Balance

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Total Growth / Interest +$0

Out-of-Pocket Deposits $0

Inflation-Adjusted Value $0

4% Rule Annual Safe Retirement Paycheck $0.00 / yr

4% Rule Monthly Safe Paycheck $0.00 / mo

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Deposit Growth Multiplier 0.00x

Compound Interest & FIRE Planning FAQs

What is the difference between Nominal and Real (Inflation-Adjusted) Returns?

Nominal returns are the raw dollar numbers on your statement (e.g., $1,000,000 in 20 years). Real returns deduct the impact of compounding inflation to show what that $1,000,000 can actually buy in today's purchasing power terms.

Why is the first $100k the hardest milestone in investing?

In early years, out-of-pocket savings drive 90%+ of portfolio growth. After reaching $100k, annual compound returns start generating more capital each year than your annual contributions, triggering the self-sustaining compounding flywheel.