Semi-retirement milestone

Coast FIRE Calculator

Coast FIRE is the point where you can stop investing entirely and your portfolio will grow on its own to fund full retirement at a normal age. It's the first major milestone on the path to financial independence.

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What is Coast FIRE?

Coast FIRE is the portfolio size at which — if you never invested another penny — compound growth alone would reach your FIRE number by your target retirement age. Once you hit your Coast number, you only need to earn enough to cover current living expenses. No more aggressive saving required.

Coast FIRE formulaCoast Number = FIRE Number ÷ (1 + r)^years
Where r = annual return rate, years = years until retirement

Example: FIRE number $1,000,000, retirement at 60, current age 35, 7% return.
Coast Number = $1,000,000 ÷ (1.07)^25 = $184,249

Once you have $184,249 invested at 35, compound growth at 7% will turn it into $1,000,000 by age 60 — even if you never add another dollar.

Why Coast FIRE matters

It's the first genuinely meaningful milestone. Before Coast FIRE, every month you don't invest sets you back. After Coast FIRE, you have breathing room — you can take a lower-paying job you love, work part-time, or take career risks without the anxiety of derailing retirement.

FAQs

What's the difference between Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE?
Coast FIRE is a number — the portfolio size where compound growth covers retirement. Barista FIRE is a lifestyle — working part-time or in a low-stress job to cover current expenses while your portfolio grows. They often overlap: people who achieve Coast FIRE may choose barista work to cover bills while coasting to full retirement.
Should I stop investing once I hit Coast FIRE?
Not necessarily. Continuing to invest accelerates your full FIRE date and provides more margin. Many people use Coast FIRE as permission to change careers or reduce hours rather than as a reason to stop investing entirely. It's about having the option, not necessarily exercising it.

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