Practice the FIRE Path Before You Commit
Simulate the path to financial independence. Practice saving 50%+ of your income, investing aggressively, and building the portfolio that lets you retire early — all without risking your actual savings.
Financial Independence, Retire Early
FIRE is a movement built on a simple idea: save and invest aggressively so your investment returns cover your living expenses — making work optional. It's not about being lazy. It's about having the freedom to choose how you spend your time.
Four paths to FIRE. Test every one.
Each FIRE strategy has different requirements, timelines, and tradeoffs.CapitalLab lets you simulate each one with your income, expenses, and risk tolerance.
Lean FIRE
The minimalist path. Cut expenses to the bone, save aggressively, and retire on $25k–$40k/year. Requires significant lifestyle simplification but gets you to FIRE fastest.
- Annual expenses under $40,000
- Aggressive saving on modest income
- Minimal lifestyle, maximum freedom
- Fastest path but least margin for error
Fat FIRE
Retire early without compromising your lifestyle. Requires higher income or longer timeline, but you maintain the standard of living you're accustomed to.
- Annual expenses of $100k–$200k
- Requires high income or longer accumulation
- Full lifestyle with no cutbacks
- Most comfortable but hardest to achieve
Barista FIRE
Build enough investments to cover most expenses, then work a part-time or low-stress job to cover the gap. Combines partial financial independence with enjoyable work.
- Part-time work covers remaining expenses
- Lower savings target than full FIRE
- Provides healthcare through employer
- Great transition step toward full FIRE
Coast FIRE
Save enough early that compound growth alone will fund your traditional retirement. Then you only need to earn enough to cover current expenses — no more saving required.
- Front-load savings in your 20s–30s
- Compound growth does the heavy lifting
- Only need to cover current expenses
- Lowest ongoing stress of any FIRE path
Your savings rate determines everything
The core math of FIRE is elegantly simple. Your savings rate — not your income — is the biggest factor in how quickly you reach financial independence. Someone saving 50% of a $60k salary reaches FIRE faster than someone saving 10% of a $200k salary.
The 25x Rule
Save 25 times your annual expenses. If you spend $40,000/year, your FIRE number is $1,000,000. Spend $60,000/year? You need $1,500,000.
The 4% Rule
Once you hit your number, withdraw 4% per year. Historically, a diversified portfolio survives 30+ years at this withdrawal rate, adjusted for inflation.
CapitalLab Lets You Test It
Run the 4% rule through 20 years of market volatility, life events, and inflation. See if your portfolio actually survives — or if you need to adjust.
Savings Rate vs. Years to FIRE
Assuming 7% real investment returns and expenses remaining constant.CapitalLab simulates realistic market conditions including volatility and life events.
Typical outcomes for each FIRE strategy
These are representative outcomes from CapitalLab simulations. Your results will vary based on salary, expenses, investment choices, and market conditions.
Lean FIRE
Fat FIRE
Barista FIRE
Coast FIRE
Reaching FIRE is only half the battle. Staying there is the real test.
The biggest risk in FIRE isn't getting there — it's running out of money 20 years later. CapitalLab lets you simulate life after FIRE so you know your portfolio can handle whatever comes next.
Market Downturns
What happens when the market drops 30% in year 2 of your retirement? CapitalLab simulates bear markets, recessions, and recovery periods so you can stress-test your withdrawal strategy.
Unexpected Life Events
Medical emergencies, family changes, and surprise expenses don't stop when you retire. Practice handling $10k–$50k surprises without derailing your financial independence.
Inflation & Rising Costs
Your expenses in year 1 of FIRE won't be the same in year 15. CapitalLab models inflation and rising costs so you can plan for the long-term purchasing power of your portfolio.
Real Estate as a FIRE Buffer
Rental properties provide inflation-protected income that complements stock withdrawals. Practice building a portfolio that generates cash flow independent of market conditions.
Simulate your path to financial independence.
FIRE isn't just a dream — it's a math problem you can solve. Run your numbers through 20 years of simulation and discover exactly what it takes to make work optional.