FIRE – Financial Independence Retire Early explained (how FIRE works). The goal of F.I.R.E. – Financial Independence, Retire Early – is to save and invest very aggressively (around 50–75% of your income) so you can retire sometime in your 30s or 40s. FIRE is a movement of people devoted to a program of extreme savings and investing with the objective to allow them to retire much earlier than traditional budgets and retirement plans would permit. Watch this free finStream video, so you can hear from Jason Hull, someone who did it. Jason and his wife retired in their 40’s. FIRE is a lifestyle movement and financial strategy focused on achieving financial independence and early retirement through aggressive saving, investing, and frugal living. The goal of FIRE is to accumulate enough wealth to sustain a desired lifestyle without needing to rely on traditional employment for income.

Here’s how the FIRE concept typically works:

Financial Independence: The first step in the FIRE journey is achieving financial independence, which means having enough savings and investments to cover living expenses indefinitely without needing to work for a traditional employer. This is often calculated based on the concept of the “safe withdrawal rate,” which is the percentage of one’s investment portfolio that can be withdrawn each year without running out of money.

Aggressive Saving and Investing: FIRE proponents typically prioritize saving a large percentage of their income, often 50% or more, in order to accumulate wealth rapidly. This often involves cutting expenses, living frugally, and avoiding debt in order to maximize savings. The saved money is then invested in assets such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and other income-producing investments to generate passive income.

Frugal Living: Frugality is a key component of the FIRE lifestyle, as it allows individuals to reduce expenses and increase savings rates. This can involve strategies such as minimizing housing costs, cooking at home, avoiding unnecessary purchases, and finding creative ways to save money on everyday expenses.

Retiring Early: Once financial independence is achieved, individuals in the FIRE community have the option to retire from traditional employment at a relatively young age, often in their 30s, 40s, or 50s. Early retirement allows them to pursue their passions, hobbies, and personal interests without being constrained by the need to work for income.

Flexibility and Lifestyle Design: FIRE is not necessarily about never working again, but rather about having the freedom to choose how to spend one’s time. Some FIRE retirees may continue to work part-time, start their own businesses, pursue creative projects, or engage in volunteer work. The key is having the financial security to make these choices on one’s own terms.

While the FIRE movement offers a compelling vision of financial freedom and early retirement, it’s important to recognize that achieving FIRE requires discipline, sacrifice, and careful planning. It may not be feasible or desirable for everyone, and individuals considering pursuing FIRE should carefully evaluate their own financial situation, goals, and values before committing to the FIRE lifestyle.

Maybe you should consider the opposite of FIRE? Check out this free video on FinStream to learn more: https://www.finstream.tv/videos/financial-planning/the-opposite-of-fire/