Retirement
Retirement math is spending, a portfolio, and a withdrawal rule. Benchmarks tell you where similar households stood. A plan tells you whether your date still works.
Guides
What is a FIRE number?
A FIRE number is annual spending divided by the withdrawal rate you are willing to use.
The 4% rule
The 4% rule is a starting withdrawal rate from historical research, not a promise.
Sequence-of-returns risk
Early losses hurt more once you are withdrawing than while you are still contributing.
Can I afford to retire early?
Early retirement holds if spending, the portfolio, and the years without a paycheck all fit.
How much should I have saved by age?
Age targets are multiples of income or survey medians. They are context, not a grade.
Types of investment accounts
Workplace plans, IRAs, HSAs, and taxable brokerage accounts tax different dollars.
Roth vs. traditional
If the tax rate is the same now and later, the after-tax result is the same on equal pre-tax dollars.
Maxed out my 401(k): now what?
After the workplace deferral limit, look at an HSA, an IRA, and then a taxable account.
Investment returns and planning
A planning return is an assumption. Historical averages are context, not a contract.
Tools
- FIRE number calculator
- Years to FI calculator
- Safe withdrawal calculator
- Retirement calculator
- Sequence of returns calculator
- Net worth percentile calculator
- Savings rate calculator
- 401(k) match calculator
- Roth vs. traditional calculator
- Compound growth calculator