Guides
Long-form guides on FIRE math, retirement strategy, and the decisions that shape financial independence. If the calculators answer “what,” these answer “why” and “how.”
Coast FIRE Explained
Coast FIRE is when compound growth alone funds your retirement — no more saving required. The math, the milestones, and what it actually changes about your career decisions.
~8 min readDividend-Income Retirement
Most FIRE content treats dividend investing as a mistake. For some households, it is a valid strategy. The real math with specific ETFs, covered-call realities, and when it works.
~14 min readBarista FIRE: Part-Time Work
Part-time work while investments cover the gap lets many households reach FI a decade earlier. The healthcare question, the playbook, and why this often beats Full FIRE.
~11 min readSafe Withdrawal Rates Explained
The 4% rule dominates retirement planning discussion — often wrongly. The Bengen research, the Trinity Study, sequence risk, and what modern research actually suggests.
~15 min readHow to Calculate Your FIRE Number
The 25x rule is a starting point, not an answer. A five-step process for a realistic FIRE number reflecting expenses, income sources, retirement length, and safety margin.
~12 min read