FIRE / Financial Independence
Financial independence, retire early — savings rates, withdrawal strategies, coast FIRE, barista FIRE, and the path to FI.
Sequence of returns risk — my first-decade strategy
Just hit 25x my annual expenses. FI number: $875,000. Current NW: $892k. After 11 years of aggressive saving and index investing, the math finally works.
Variable withdrawal strategies vs fixed 4% rule
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
The 4% rule — still valid or outdated thinking?
Fat FIRE vs Lean FIRE: I'm aiming somewhere in the middle — $75k/yr. Enough to travel, eat well, and not stress about every purchase.
Running the numbers: how much do I actually need to retire at 40?
The 4% rule assumes a 30-year retirement. FIRE at 40 means potentially 50+ years of portfolio withdrawals. I'm using 3.5% as my number and holding 5 years of expenses in bonds as buffer.
Running the numbers: how much do I actually need to retire at 40?
Fat FIRE vs Lean FIRE: I'm aiming somewhere in the middle — $75k/yr. Enough to travel, eat well, and not stress about every purchase.
One more year syndrome is real and I can't shake it
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
Safe withdrawal rate deep dive: what the Trinity study actually says
Geographic arbitrage is the FIRE cheat code nobody talks about enough. Same dollar goes 3x further in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe. Currently in Lisbon, spending $2,800/month.
The 4% rule — still valid or outdated thinking?
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
Officially FI as of today — sharing my complete journey
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
Barista FIRE: working part-time at $40k/yr in retirement
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
Coast FIRE: the middle path I didn't know I needed
Fat FIRE vs Lean FIRE: I'm aiming somewhere in the middle — $75k/yr. Enough to travel, eat well, and not stress about every purchase.
Coast FIRE: the middle path I didn't know I needed
Geographic arbitrage is the FIRE cheat code nobody talks about enough. Same dollar goes 3x further in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe. Currently in Lisbon, spending $2,800/month.
Variable withdrawal strategies vs fixed 4% rule
Geographic arbitrage is the FIRE cheat code nobody talks about enough. Same dollar goes 3x further in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe. Currently in Lisbon, spending $2,800/month.
Running the numbers: how much do I actually need to retire at 40?
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE — where do you fall?
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
Hit 50% savings rate this month — new personal record
Fat FIRE vs Lean FIRE: I'm aiming somewhere in the middle — $75k/yr. Enough to travel, eat well, and not stress about every purchase.
Running the numbers: how much do I actually need to retire at 40?
Geographic arbitrage is the FIRE cheat code nobody talks about enough. Same dollar goes 3x further in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe. Currently in Lisbon, spending $2,800/month.
Running the numbers: how much do I actually need to retire at 40?
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
One more year syndrome is real and I can't shake it
Just hit 25x my annual expenses. FI number: $875,000. Current NW: $892k. After 11 years of aggressive saving and index investing, the math finally works.
The 4% rule — still valid or outdated thinking?
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
What's your FI number and how did you calculate it?
The 4% rule assumes a 30-year retirement. FIRE at 40 means potentially 50+ years of portfolio withdrawals. I'm using 3.5% as my number and holding 5 years of expenses in bonds as buffer.
Officially FI as of today — sharing my complete journey
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
Geographic arbitrage: 18 months living abroad on $30k/yr
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
Sequence of returns risk — my first-decade strategy
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
Hit 50% savings rate this month — new personal record
Just hit 25x my annual expenses. FI number: $875,000. Current NW: $892k. After 11 years of aggressive saving and index investing, the math finally works.
My FIRE timeline if I stay in HCOL vs move to LCOL
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
Hit 50% savings rate this month — new personal record
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
Hit 50% savings rate this month — new personal record
Just hit 25x my annual expenses. FI number: $875,000. Current NW: $892k. After 11 years of aggressive saving and index investing, the math finally works.
Coast FIRE: the middle path I didn't know I needed
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
Healthcare before Medicare: my actual costs and strategy
Fat FIRE vs Lean FIRE: I'm aiming somewhere in the middle — $75k/yr. Enough to travel, eat well, and not stress about every purchase.
One more year syndrome is real and I can't shake it
Just hit 25x my annual expenses. FI number: $875,000. Current NW: $892k. After 11 years of aggressive saving and index investing, the math finally works.
Officially FI as of today — sharing my complete journey
Fat FIRE vs Lean FIRE: I'm aiming somewhere in the middle — $75k/yr. Enough to travel, eat well, and not stress about every purchase.
Officially FI as of today — sharing my complete journey
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE — where do you fall?
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
One more year syndrome is real and I can't shake it
Geographic arbitrage is the FIRE cheat code nobody talks about enough. Same dollar goes 3x further in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe. Currently in Lisbon, spending $2,800/month.
Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE — where do you fall?
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
My FIRE timeline if I stay in HCOL vs move to LCOL
Fat FIRE vs Lean FIRE: I'm aiming somewhere in the middle — $75k/yr. Enough to travel, eat well, and not stress about every purchase.
Coast FIRE: the middle path I didn't know I needed
Fat FIRE vs Lean FIRE: I'm aiming somewhere in the middle — $75k/yr. Enough to travel, eat well, and not stress about every purchase.
Sequence of returns risk — my first-decade strategy
Geographic arbitrage is the FIRE cheat code nobody talks about enough. Same dollar goes 3x further in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe. Currently in Lisbon, spending $2,800/month.
Sequence of returns risk — my first-decade strategy
Coast FIRE changed my mental model. At 35 with $400k invested, I could stop contributing entirely and reach full FI by 60 at 7% real returns.
Geographic arbitrage: 18 months living abroad on $30k/yr
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
Hit 50% savings rate this month — new personal record
Just hit 25x my annual expenses. FI number: $875,000. Current NW: $892k. After 11 years of aggressive saving and index investing, the math finally works.
Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE — where do you fall?
The 4% rule assumes a 30-year retirement. FIRE at 40 means potentially 50+ years of portfolio withdrawals. I'm using 3.5% as my number and holding 5 years of expenses in bonds as buffer.
Geographic arbitrage: 18 months living abroad on $30k/yr
The 4% rule assumes a 30-year retirement. FIRE at 40 means potentially 50+ years of portfolio withdrawals. I'm using 3.5% as my number and holding 5 years of expenses in bonds as buffer.
Geographic arbitrage: 18 months living abroad on $30k/yr
Just hit 25x my annual expenses. FI number: $875,000. Current NW: $892k. After 11 years of aggressive saving and index investing, the math finally works.
Officially FI as of today — sharing my complete journey
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
The 4% rule — still valid or outdated thinking?
Geographic arbitrage is the FIRE cheat code nobody talks about enough. Same dollar goes 3x further in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe. Currently in Lisbon, spending $2,800/month.
The 4% rule — still valid or outdated thinking?
The 4% rule assumes a 30-year retirement. FIRE at 40 means potentially 50+ years of portfolio withdrawals. I'm using 3.5% as my number and holding 5 years of expenses in bonds as buffer.
Hit 50% savings rate this month — new personal record
Healthcare is the hidden FIRE variable. At 41, I'm paying $487/month for a bronze plan (ACA). Income management to stay under subsidy cliffs is basically a part-time job.
Hit 50% savings rate this month — new personal record
Fat FIRE vs Lean FIRE: I'm aiming somewhere in the middle — $75k/yr. Enough to travel, eat well, and not stress about every purchase.