Retirement · FIRE
FIRE calculator (Australia)
Work out your financial independence number, your current savings rate, and the year you could retire — using real (after-inflation) returns and the safe withdrawal rate of your choice.
Projection
| Year | Age | Balance | % to FIRE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 32 | $120,000 | 8% |
| 1 | 33 | $177,200 | 12% |
| 2 | 34 | $237,832 | 16% |
| 3 | 35 | $302,102 | 20% |
| 4 | 36 | $370,228 | 25% |
| 5 | 37 | $442,442 | 29% |
| 6 | 38 | $518,988 | 35% |
| 7 | 39 | $600,128 | 40% |
| 8 | 40 | $686,135 | 46% |
| 9 | 41 | $777,303 | 52% |
| 10 | 42 | $873,941 | 58% |
| 11 | 43 | $976,378 | 65% |
| 12 | 44 | $1,084,961 | 72% |
| 13 | 45 | $1,200,058 | 80% |
| 14 | 46 | $1,322,062 | 88% |
| 15 | 47 | $1,451,385 | 97% |
| 16 | 48 | $1,588,469 | 100% |
Related calculators
Project the growth side with our compound interest calculator, model your super at retirement, or boost the savings rate by checking salary sacrifice to super.
Frequently asked questions
What is FIRE?
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early — a movement built on saving aggressively and investing the difference so passive returns can cover your living expenses.
How much do I need to retire in Australia?
A common rule of thumb is 25× your annual expenses (the inverse of a 4% safe withdrawal rate). If you spend $60,000 a year, you'd target $1.5m invested outside super.
Is the 4% rule safe in Australia?
The original Trinity study was based on US data. Australian researchers often suggest 3.5–4% is reasonable for a 30-year horizon, with flexibility to spend less in down years.
Should I include super in my FIRE number?
If you're aiming to retire before preservation age (currently 60), you generally need a 'bridge' portfolio outside super, plus super to pick up later. Many Australian FIRE plans split between the two.
What savings rate gets me to FIRE fastest?
Higher is faster — non-linearly. At a 7% real return, 50% savings rate gets you there in roughly 17 years; 65% in around 11 years.
A note on the 4% rule
The 4% rule comes from US research on 30-year retirements. Australian-specific work suggests 3.5–4% is a sensible default. If you're retiring at 40, model 3.25–3.5% to be safe; if you have flexibility to cut expenses in bad years, you can push higher.