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Time to Financial Independence
The single most powerful lever in your FI timeline isn't your investment return — it's your savings rate. This calculator runs the real FIRE math: how long until your portfolio can sustain your lifestyle indefinitely?
The most important number here. Try moving it — watch the years drop.
Use a real (after-inflation) return for inflation-adjusted results.
4% = 25× expenses. Lower = more conservative.
Years to financial independence
24 yr
- Annual savings$30,000
- Annual expenses (lifestyle to sustain)$70,000
- FI target (25× annual expenses)$1,750,000
- Expense ratio (1 − savings rate)70%
FI target = annual expenses ÷ withdrawal rate (the "4% rule" = 25× expenses). Years calculated using the future-value-of-annuity formula. Classic result: 50% savings rate → ~17 years at 5% real return (Shockingly Simple Math). Assumes no starting portfolio, constant income, and steady returns — reality is lumpier.