01 · Inputs
Your numbers
Adjust to see your FI progress update instantly.
Default 4% (Trinity study)
After inflation. Default 7%
02 · Result
Your FI Progress
FI #
$1.5M
Remaining
$1.4M
Years Left
21.3
5.0%
$1,500,000
$75,000
$1,425,000
21.3 yrs
Nov 2047
FI Milestones
Each milestone represents a meaningful shift in how your money grows relative to what you contribute.
Foundation
$375k
Momentum
$750k
Home Stretch
$1.1M
Financial Independence
$1.5M
Portfolio Growth Projection
Real returns plus monthly contributions over time versus your FI number.
Understanding Your FI Progress
Progress to FI is the single best leading indicator of financial freedom. Here's how to read it and use it.
What FI progress means
It's the percentage of your FI number you've already accumulated. At 100% your portfolio can sustainably cover your expenses at your chosen safe withdrawal rate — work becomes optional.
Why the percentage matters
Dollars feel abstract; percentages compound psychologically. Watching 12% become 18% become 25% builds the conviction needed to stay invested through volatile years.
How savings rate drives progress
Your savings rate is the single biggest lever. A 50% savings rate puts FI in roughly 17 years from zero; a 25% rate stretches it to ~32. Every percentage point you save earlier dramatically shortens the runway.
Why small improvements compound
A 1% return improvement or a $200/month bump in contributions looks modest year one but adds tens of thousands across a multi-decade horizon. Compounding rewards consistency over heroics.
Common mistakes when tracking FI
Counting home equity, including unvested equity, ignoring taxes on tax-deferred accounts, recalculating daily, or moving the goalposts every time the market dips. Pick a method and stick with it.
Use real returns, not nominal
The 7% default already strips out inflation. That means your FI number stays in today's dollars and the projection date is realistic — no need to inflate expenses every year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my FI progress?+
Divide your current portfolio value by your FI number. Your FI number is your annual expenses divided by your safe withdrawal rate (e.g. $60,000 / 0.04 = $1,500,000). If you have $300,000 invested, your FI progress is $300,000 / $1,500,000 = 20%.
What percentage of FIRE am I?+
Your FIRE percentage is the share of your FI number you have already accumulated. Anything under 25% is the accumulation phase, 25–50% is momentum, 50–75% is the compounding phase, and 75–100% is the home stretch where market returns typically dwarf new contributions.
How often should I track FI progress?+
Monthly is enough for most people. Checking too often makes you react to short-term market swings. A monthly snapshot lets you see contributions and growth without obsessing over daily volatility.
What counts toward my FI number?+
Any liquid invested assets you can sustainably draw from: taxable brokerage accounts, 401(k)/IRA, Roth, HSA, index funds, ETFs, bonds, and cash reserves earmarked for retirement. Exclude depreciating assets, cars, and money you cannot access without major penalties.
Does home equity count toward FI?+
Generally no. Home equity is illiquid and you still need somewhere to live. Most FI practitioners exclude primary-residence equity from the FI number. Only count it if you plan to downsize or sell and live off the difference.
Understand Your FI Progress
Learn what the Freedom Number means, how it powers your FI progress, and the assumptions behind the 4% rule before making important financial decisions.