Guides

2026-08-21

An introduction to the FIRE movement — what it means to reach financial independence, how the FIRE number is calculated, and how to get started.

2026-08-23

A breakdown of the main FIRE variants — Coast FIRE, Lean FIRE, and Fat FIRE — and how to tell which path you're on.

2026-08-25

Where the 4% rule comes from, what it assumes, and why some people choose a more conservative withdrawal rate.

2026-08-31

The arithmetic behind the '25 times your annual expenses' rule, worked examples with real numbers, and the mistakes people make when applying it to their own plan.

2026-08-22

Your savings rate — not your income — is the single biggest lever in how fast you reach FIRE. Here's how to calculate it correctly.

2026-08-24

Why most people pursuing FIRE default to low-cost, diversified index funds rather than picking individual stocks.

2026-08-26

Why most FIRE planners recommend building a cash buffer first — and how it protects your long-term investment plan from short-term shocks.

2026-08-27

A general overview of how 401(k)s and Roth IRAs work in the United States, and the access-before-59½ question that matters most for early retirees.

2026-08-28

How UK-specific accounts (ISAs and SIPPs) and the State Pension age interact with an early-retirement plan.

2026-08-29

Why the order in which investment returns occur — not just their average — can make or break an early retirement plan.

2026-08-30

How a part-time or lower-stress job after leaving full-time work can shrink your required FIRE number and reduce sequence-of-returns risk.