Coast FIRE
Coast FIRE is a variant of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) in which you have already invested enough that, with normal market growth and no further contributions, your portfolio will reach your retirement target by your chosen retirement age. You still work to cover current living costs, but you no longer need to save for retirement — your existing investments "coast" to the finish line.
Worked example
Your retirement target is $1,000,000 at age 65, and you expect 7% annual growth. At age 35 you have 30 years left, so you need 1,000,000 ÷ (1 + 0.07)³⁰ = 1,000,000 ÷ 7.6123 = $131,367 invested today. Once you hold that amount, you have reached Coast FIRE and can stop retirement saving.
Why it matters
Coast FIRE matters because it shows the disproportionate power of investing early: front-loading savings in your twenties and thirties can let compounding do the rest, freeing later income for other goals. The common pitfall is relying on an optimistic growth rate — if real returns fall short, the "coasting" portfolio may not reach the target, so the assumed rate should be conservative and progress checked periodically.
Frequently asked questions
How is Coast FIRE different from regular FIRE?
Regular FIRE means you have enough to stop working entirely. Coast FIRE means you have enough invested to stop saving for retirement, but you still work to cover today's expenses while those investments grow on their own.
Can you keep contributing after reaching Coast FIRE?
Yes. Reaching Coast FIRE simply means further contributions are optional. Many people keep investing to retire earlier, build a larger cushion, or move toward full FIRE.
Related terms: FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), Lean FIRE, Fat FIRE