Coast FIRE Calculator
When will compounding
do more of the work for you?
There may be a point where you've invested enough to stop contributing to your retirement accounts and still retire on track. Find out how it works and when you may be able to start coasting.
Coast FIRE (FIRE stands for "financial independence, retire early") is the point at which your savings have gotten big enough that compounding can grow your portfolio to your target retirement number — without another dollar of contributions.
Once you hit your Coast FIRE number, you may be able to stop making monthly contributions to your retirement accounts and instead let the balance grow on its own to reach your target. Coasting isn't the same as retiring (you'll still need to earn enough to cover your living expenses), but the retirement savings part? Compounding handles it.
The earlier you hit your Coast number, the more freedom you might gain: freedom to take a lower-paying job you love, work less, spend more on experiences or simply stop grinding toward a savings goal you've already met.
Your inputs
The age you want to stop working — the calculator will show when you can start coasting.
Such as your 401(k), IRAs or brokerage accounts — not your emergency fund.
What you're currently saving for retirement each month.
This drives your retirement target (expenses × 25). Think about what you'll actually spend — housing, travel, healthcare, lifestyle — in today's dollars. Many retirees spend 70%–80% of their pre-retirement income.
Your retirement target (expenses × 25)
$2,500,000
Based on a 4% safe withdrawal rate.
Returns vary and depend on how you invest. The S&P 500 has averaged ~10% historically; 7% could account for inflation and fees. If you want extra margin of safety, consider 5%–6%.
Your results are ready
Unlock your Coast FIRE number
Share a few details to see when you can start coasting and your Coast FIRE number.
The calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are hypothetical estimates based on the information you provide and should not be construed as investment, tax, or legal advice, or as a guarantee of future results. NWWP is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. See the General Disclosure.
Things to watch for
How to help protect your Coast FIRE plan
📉 Don't overestimate your returns
Markets don't move in straight lines. If you're planning to coast, build in a buffer rather than assuming the historical average will carry you. If the math still works at a lower return, you have better margin of safety.
💸 Don't let lifestyle creep raise your target
Once you decide you can stop saving for retirement, spending often rises to fill the gap. Remember: A bigger lifestyle means a bigger retirement number. Coast FIRE works when expenses stay roughly stable. The moment your annual spending target rises, so does everything else in this model.
🎲 Don't coast on a fragile income
Coasting is not the same as retiring. Coast FIRE assumes you still earn enough to cover your living expenses right up until retirement. So a long layoff, a health event or a big life change could disrupt that. Strong Coast plans include an emergency fund and may even include some continued (even small) investing as a buffer.
🎯 Stick to your priorities
Deciding at 40 that you want to retire at 55 instead of 65 changes everything in this model. Coast FIRE locks in your timeline. If your goals shift, your Coast number shifts, too. Think of this less as a one-time calculation and more as something to revisit every few years.