WealthCoast FIRE Calculator 2026 (Canada)
Coast FIRE Calculator
FIRE target (FIRE number)
FIRE number = expenses x 25 (the 4% rule)
For illustration only. Hypothetical return, not guaranteed — markets go up and down. No personalized buy or sell advice.
How Coast FIRE works
The concept is straightforward: rather than targeting full financial independence today, you calculate what amount you need right now so that compound growth alone will carry your portfolio to your retirement goal, with no further contributions needed.
The formula is:
Coast FIRE number = FIRE number / (1 + r)^n
where FIRE number = annual expenses x 25 (the 4% rule), r is the real annual return (after inflation), and n is the number of years to retirement. A real return is used so that the FIRE number represents your target in today's dollars.
If your current portfolio (PV) exceeds the Coast FIRE number: you can stop contributing for retirement. Otherwise, the calculator shows the gap to close and projects your portfolio's trajectory to retirement.
The 4% rule and the FIRE number
The FIRE number (your target nest egg) is based on the 4% rule: a diversified portfolio can sustain a 4% annual withdrawal indefinitely with a very high probability of never running out. So if you plan to spend $60,000 per year in retirement, your FIRE number is $60,000 x 25 = $1,500,000. This is a practical benchmark, not a guarantee.
Worked example
Suppose: age 35, retirement at 60 (25 years of growth), $150,000 already invested, real return of 5%, target spending of $60,000/year. FIRE number = $1,500,000. Coast FIRE number = $1,500,000 / (1.05)^25 = approximately $443,000. With $150,000 today, the gap is about $293,000 to reach. Once that gap is closed, your portfolio grows to the target on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is the point at which your portfolio is large enough to grow on its own to your retirement target, with no additional contributions. You can then coast to retirement: cover only your current living expenses without needing to save anything extra for the future.
How do you calculate the Coast FIRE number?
Coast FIRE number = FIRE number / (1 + r)^n, where FIRE number = annual expenses x 25 (the 4% rule), r is the expected real annual return (after inflation), and n is the number of years to retirement. If your current portfolio exceeds this number, you have reached Coast FIRE.
What is the difference between Coast FIRE and regular FIRE?
Regular FIRE means your portfolio is already large enough to fund your retirement today (you can withdraw 4% per year indefinitely). Coast FIRE means your portfolio, with no additional contributions, will grow to that level by retirement. You still need to work to cover living expenses, but you no longer need to save for the future.
What real return should I use in the Coast FIRE calculation?
A real return of 5% is a common, conservative assumption for a diversified equity portfolio over the long term, after deducting inflation (~2%) and low management fees. Some planners use 4% to be more conservative. These are estimates for illustrative purposes only — past performance does not guarantee future results.
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