The FIRE Starter Guide

What's inside

Financial Independence, Retire Early — decoded without the forum-speak. Calculate your FI number in an afternoon, design a savings rate you can actually sustain, and pick the withdrawal strategy that fits your risk tolerance. Includes worksheets and three worked examples at different income levels. Disclaimer: Educational content only. Not financial, investment, or retirement advice. Projections are illustrative and no outcome is guaranteed.

Table of contents

1. 01The 4% rule, honestly: what it does and doesn't promise
2. 02Calculating your FI number and your Coast FI number
3. 03Building a 40%+ savings rate without misery
4. 04Lean, Regular, and Fat FIRE — pick your flavor
5. 05Portfolio design for a 30–50 year retirement
6. 06Sequence of returns risk and the bond tent
7. 07Healthcare, taxes, and the boring stuff nobody warns you about