What is FIRE? A Complete Guide for Beginners
New to financial independence? Start here. Learn what FIRE means, where it came from, and whether it might be right for you.
10 min readThe 4% Rule: Does It Still Work?
The foundation of most FIRE calculations. Understand where it came from, what it actually says, and the ongoing debate about its validity.
12 min readWhere to Invest for Financial Independence
All-world ETFs, trusted brokerages in the US and EU, and why consistency beats everything. A complete guide for beginners.
8 min readHow to Start Investing (Even If You're Nervous)
A step-by-step guide to your first investment. Open an account, set up automatic investing, start with as little as $10/month.
6 min readUsing the Fire Planner
Set up your plan in five numbers, read when you can retire across three models, stress test it, and track it with check-ins. Covers the inputs, the evidence, withdrawal strategies, plans, share links, and the CSV.
12 min readHow Projections Work: Fire Planner Calculations
Every formula behind the projection engine: compound growth, debt paydown, surplus routing, withdrawal strategies, stress test math, and all default values.
13 min readMathematical Foundations: Fire Planner Engine
Full derivations and proofs for every formula: compound growth, drift-corrected lognormal Monte Carlo, historical backtesting, withdrawal strategies, and stress test models.
20 min readTypes of FIRE: Lean, Coast, Barista, Chubby, Fat
FIRE isn't one-size-fits-all. Explore different approaches and find the one that matches your lifestyle and goals.
8 min readReferences & Further Reading
The research behind the calculators. Trinity study, historical returns, and the academic foundations of the 4% rule.
15 min readReady to Run the Numbers?
Once you understand the concepts, see where you stand: