Size financial independence at a comfortable spending level with a conservative withdrawal rate.
Fat FIRE combines a higher spending level with a more cautious withdrawal rate, so the multiple of spending rises above the usual 25 times. At 3.25% the multiple is nearly 31 times annual spending. Lowering the withdrawal rate is the most reliable way to reduce sequence-of-returns risk, and the cost of that safety is visible directly in the multiple.
Fat FIRE
Fat FIRE number = comfortable annual spending ÷ a conservative withdrawal rate
Fat FIRE number = comfortable annual spending ÷ a conservative withdrawal rate Fat FIRE combines a higher spending level with a more cautious withdrawal rate, so the multiple of spending rises above the usual 25 times. At 3.25% the multiple is nearly 31 times annual spending.
Lowering the withdrawal rate is the most reliable way to reduce sequence-of-returns risk, and the cost of that safety is visible directly in the multiple.
This calculator takes 5 inputs: Comfortable annual spending, Conservative withdrawal rate, Current portfolio, Annual savings, Expected real return. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.