Question 1

What is Coast FIRE?

Accepted Answer

Coast FIRE is the point where your invested savings are large enough that compound growth alone will reach your full FIRE number by your target retirement age — without any additional contributions. Once you hit your Coast FIRE number, you only need to earn enough to cover current living expenses.

Question 2

How is the Coast FIRE number calculated?

Accepted Answer

The Coast FIRE number is your FIRE target divided by (1 + expected annual return) raised to the power of years until retirement. It represents the present value of your FIRE number, discounted back at your expected rate of return. For example, if your FIRE number is $1,250,000, your return is 8%, and you have 30 years, your Coast FIRE number is $1,250,000 / 1.08^30 ≈ $124,200.

Question 3

What is the difference between Coast FIRE and regular FIRE?

Accepted Answer

Regular FIRE means you have saved enough to withdraw from your portfolio and never work again. Coast FIRE means you have saved enough that you no longer need to save — compound growth will do the rest — but you still need to work to cover current expenses until your actual retirement age.

Coast FIRE Calculator

Assumptions

Coast FIRE Number

FIRE Number

Status

Savings Growth: Saving vs Coasting

Year-by-Year Projection