How Your Savings Rate Sets Your FIRE Timeline
A look at how different savings rates shorten the years to financial independence, using the 4% rule and a 7% real return.
Your savings rate — the share of income you keep and invest — is the lever that most directly controls how fast you reach FIRE. The table below assumes a 7% real annual return and a 4% withdrawal rate.
| Savings rate | Years to FIRE | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | ~51 years | Barely ahead of the curve |
| 20% | ~36 years | A slow, steady climb |
| 30% | ~28 years | Noticeably faster |
| 40% | ~22 years | A realistic early-exit plan |
| 50% | ~17 years | Aggressive but achievable |
| 60% | ~12 years | Extreme, lifestyle-driven |
These are rule-of-thumb figures from the "shockingly simple" math popularized by Mr. Money Mustache, not a guarantee. They assume a constant savings rate, a 7% real return, and a 4% withdrawal rate. Your result shifts with each assumption.