Original age table
Coast FIRE number by age
Compare illustrative Coast FIRE numbers from age 25 to 60 for a $1.5 million target at a 5% real return and retirement at 65.
A Coast FIRE number is the amount invested today that could grow to a future FIRE target without additional retirement contributions. Age matters because compounding has more years to work.
The table holds the target, retirement age, and real return constant so you can see the age effect clearly. It is not a forecast.
Age 25–60 Coast FIRE table
| Current age | Years to 65 | Illustrative Coast number |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 40 | $213,069 |
| 30 | 35 | $271,935 |
| 35 | 30 | $347,066 |
| 40 | 25 | $442,954 |
| 45 | 20 | $565,334 |
| 50 | 15 | $721,526 |
| 55 | 10 | $920,870 |
| 60 | 5 | $1,175,289 |
Formula
Coast number = future FIRE target ÷ (1 + real return) ^ years. The formula is intentionally simple: it assumes a constant return and ignores the path markets take.
Stress the assumptions before reducing contributions
- Lower the real-return assumption from 5% to 4% or 3%.
- Raise the spending target by 10%–20%.
- Test a later or earlier retirement age.
- Keep emergency savings and near-term goals separate from the Coast portfolio.
Frequently asked questions
- What age is best for Coast FIRE?
- There is no best age. Earlier ages benefit from more compounding time, while later ages reduce uncertainty about spending and career plans.
- Does Coast FIRE mean I can retire now?
- No. Coast FIRE normally means current investments may fund a later retirement target while work still covers current living expenses.
- Does the Coast number include future contributions?
- The basic definition assumes no additional retirement contributions. A two-phase plan can model continued contributions before a later coast period.
Keep planning
Educational illustration only — not financial, investment, tax, legal, medical, or insurance advice. Calculations use simplified assumptions and do not predict future returns or benefits.