How to Retire Early? 3 Custom FIRE Plans for you

Use FIRE Calculator to create your personalized early retirement plan across 3 strategies: conservative, balanced, and aggressive.

Retire at 40? Sounds way too early, right?

It sounds impossible, but once you hit your number, you can walk away from work anytime.

Relax — that number is likely much lower than you think.

Stop waiting until 60 to start living. Today, we'll show you the simplest way to calculate your early retirement plan.

01 The Simple Retirement Plan Calculator

Answer 6 simple questions, and get 5 different levels of personalized FIRE retirement plans instantly.

The questions focus on two things: your current financial situation and your goals for growing it.

You'll enter your annual income, how much of it you're willing to save and invest, and your current investment balance — including both invested and investable assets.

Then, input your expected annual income growth and your estimated investment return rate.

Try FIRE Retirement Calculator now — it's free, fast, and 100% private.

In just one second, this FIRE calculator gives you three customized retirement strategies.

Conservative, balanced, and aggressive — based on annual returns of 4%, 5.5%, and 7%.

You can always customize the return rate later based on your own assumptions.

The results will clearly show you how many years it will take to reach each level of financial freedom — plus the minimum portfolio value you'll need for each.

Once your savings surpass that number, you can retire early.

Even without working, your wealth engine will generate enough passive income to support the life you want.

02 How Do You Actually Achieve Financial Freedom?

Do you want to retire earlier than most people?

Then keep reading — this is where your journey begins.

In the previous section, you calculated your personalized FIRE number across 5 levels of financial freedom.

Now the big question: how do you actually get there?

The key is building your wealth engine — one that generates lifelong passive income.

"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." — Benjamin Franklin

It's time to build your retirement plan.

Use the FIRE retirement calculator to create your first real retirement plan — version 1.0.

This plan is well within your reach — you can absolutely achieve it.

But here's the key: you have to be honest with yourself.

A photographer, a real estate agent, and a Wall Street analyst all have different goals and lifestyles.

Your plan only works if it reflects your real starting point and your actual dreams.

Some people think they need $2 million, some $10 million, and some even $100 million to retire.

But how much do you really need to retire and live the life you want?

Trick question.

Because the answer isn't about how much — it's about who you are.

In the game of life, you don't win by hoarding wealth.

You win by living on your terms.

Do what you can. Do it well. Do it for as long as it takes.

So don't compare yourself to coworkers, neighbors, or social media.

Your only job is to build a retirement plan that fits your life — and stick to it. That's success.

Simple. Real. Powerful.

"The only person you need to outperform is who you were yesterday."

Use the FIRE calculator based on your real numbers and real expectations.

Experiment freely — this calculator is built with flexibility and margin of safety.

Why does the "aggressive" plan assume just 7.7% returns?

Because over 40 years (1972–2012), the U.S. stock market averaged 10% annually. Using 7.7% gives you breathing room.

If you own real estate, don't include it in your retirement assets.

Think of your home as a safety net. You may live in it, sell it later, or downsize — but it's your foundation, not your retirement fuel.

The calculator is highly flexible, too.

You can tweak six key inputs to shape a retirement strategy that truly fits you.

Whether you go with a conservative or aggressive estimate — it's all valid.

You'll quickly realize how a tiny percentage change, compounded over time, can shift your retirement timeline by years.

It might shave off years — or add them — depending on your choices.

Small numbers today decide how long you'll need to work tomorrow.

Why does this FIRE calculator include a safety margin and flexibility?

Because only then will the numbers be realistic — and trustworthy.

These numbers aren't inflated — they're built to last. They'll serve you now and in the future.

"Prediction is power. The passive react to change. The proactive create it."

Once you have a result, go back — tweak your inputs and test other outcomes.

What you plan today is what you'll earn tomorrow. That's the power of clarity.

Your ideal future — visible, measurable, achievable — is right there on your screen.

This isn't about where you invest or how much — it's about forecasting your financial future.

You'll see what happens with 5%, 7%, or even 15% annual returns.

Decide to save more tomorrow? You'll retire sooner. It's that simple.

Stick to one asset allocation strategy at a time.

In upcoming posts, I'll walk you through an all-weather strategy that works in bull and bear markets.

Between 1984 and 2013, it delivered nearly 10% average annual returns — with only 4 down years, one of which was just a 0.03% dip.

So experiment boldly. Find the FIRE number that feels right — and go after it.

You'll gain the confidence and courage to hit that target — and live the life you actually want.

Neither overreaching nor playing it too safe — you'll find your balance, and your freedom.

03 The Only Thing Blocking Your Freedom Is You

When it comes to money, 80% of your problems are psychological.

The rest? Simple math.

Look at your FIRE number. Then at the number of years it might take to get there.

Whether that makes you excited or discouraged — it's okay.

The most important thing is to stay motivated.

"Aim for the best, you might reach the middle. Aim for the middle, you might fall short. Aim low — you're bound to fail."
(Chinese proverb)

Keep working toward the life you dream of. Even if you don't fully get there, you'll still be far better off than you are now.

Your future isn't decided by external forces.

It's decided by your own determination.

Disappointment either pushes you forward — or holds you back.

Choose forward.

Lots of people make plans. Very few actually stick with them.

Why?

Because when they finally calculate how much they need to retire early, they get scared by the gap.

Instead of facing that fear, they avoid it.

"If I don't know the number, I don't have to face the truth."

But the fact that you clicked on this article says something.

The fact that you've read this far says even more.

You're not like most people. You're already walking a path few dare to choose.

It's never "too late" to start.

The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second-best time is now.

There's no ahead or behind.

Stop comparing yourself to others. Start asking yourself what you really want.

Want something? Go after it. Get it. Own it.

And if you can't help but compare — then use that fire to fuel you.

Let the frustration push you harder, help you reach your FIRE number even faster.

Technology and AI are changing the game.

Today, we live in an era of infinite leverage and access.

You no longer need perfect credentials.

Just an idea and the will to build something people value.

Anyone who creates value for the world will eventually build wealth.

You have that power, too.

You can build what you want. Achieve your dreams. Provide for your family.

Remember: it was never about the money.

It was always about freedom. About choice.

The ability to live life on your own terms —

Not on society's schedule, not by your boss's rules, not based on someone else's timeline.

If you become stronger, smarter, kinder, more capable — your dream is worth fighting for.

"Thinking creates problems. Doing creates answers."

"Pessimists may be right, but optimists are usually the ones who win."

You won't always be happy because of what you get.

But you'll always grow stronger — and more fulfilled — by who you become.

If you improve just a little each day, you'll feel it.

Growth is joy.

Most people overestimate what they can do in a year…

And wildly underestimate what they can do in 10.

Compounding doesn't lie.

Want it? Then go get it.

If this first version of your FIRE plan feels too slow — don't worry.

It's not your final plan. It's your starting line.

"If a ship doesn't know its destination, no wind is favorable."— Seneca

04 The Infinite Game

In life, there are two types of games:

Finite games — and infinite ones.

Finite games are played within fixed rules and boundaries.

Infinite games are played with the boundaries.

You bend the rules. Redefine the edges. Explore what's possible.

And life?

Life is the only truly infinite game.