Tag: fire

NQDC Plans: Worth the Employer Risk?

Non-qualified deferred compensation can cut your tax bill, but the balance is an unsecured IOU from your employer. Here is when an NQDC plan is worth the risk.

Which Account to Drain First

Taxable, then traditional, then Roth is a fine default at 65 and a costly one at 45. The bracket-filling alternative, with the 2026 tax math worked out.

The 0% Capital Gains Bracket

The 0% long-term capital gains bracket lets early retirees harvest gains tax-free. Here's how it works, who qualifies, and the ACA subsidy tension you need to know.

Health Insurance Before 65

The biggest unsolved FIRE problem: health insurance before Medicare. Here's how ACA subsidies, MAGI management, and Roth conversions change the math entirely.

The Roth Conversion Ladder

Access your 401k before 59.5 without the 10% penalty. The Roth conversion ladder is how early retirees bridge the gap, here's the full mechanics.

Savings Rate: The Only Lever That Matters

Your savings rate determines your retirement timeline faster than investment returns ever will. Here's the math, the table, and how to calculate yours honestly.

Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE: Pick Your Number

Lean FIRE, Fat FIRE, Barista FIRE, ChubbyFIRE, the full spectrum mapped with real dollar targets so you can stop theorizing and pick your actual number.

Coast FIRE: The Lazy Path to FI

Coast FIRE means your investments are already on autopilot to retirement, no more contributions required. Here's the math and why it changes everything.

The 4% Rule: Does It Still Hold?

The 4% rule is the foundation of FIRE planning, but it has real caveats most people ignore. Here's what the original research actually says and when to adjust.

Your FIRE Number: How to Calculate It

Your FIRE number is annual expenses × 25. Here's where that formula comes from, what most people undercount, and how to actually make the target work.