Coast FIRE by Age

How much do you need invested today to coast to a $1M (today's dollars) portfolio by age 65? Below assumes a 6% real return and a 4% safe withdrawal rate. Adjust freely in the calculator.

Age today	Years to 65	Coast number	Monthly savings to reach it in 5 years*
25	40	$97,182	$1,437
30	35	$130,039	$1,922
35	30	$174,216	$2,575
40	25	$233,100	$3,446
50	15	$416,667	$6,160

*Approximate monthly contribution required to reach the coast number in 5 years assuming 6% real annual growth and no starting balance.

Age 25 — biggest leverage

Every dollar invested at 25 multiplies more than 10× before age 65 at 6% real returns. Even a modest $97k portfolio coasts to $1M. Priority: max retirement accounts now, even before optimizing anything else.

Age 30 — the sweet spot

A 30-year-old needs around $130k invested to coast to $1M. This is achievable on most professional salaries within 5–7 years of aggressive saving.

Age 35 — still a strong window

Coast number rises to roughly $174k. Catching up is realistic but requires deliberate budgeting. Consider Coast FIRE plus a few years of continued contributions for safety.

Age 40 — recalibrate

At ~$233k needed, Coast FIRE is harder but possible. Most 40-year-olds at this stage are better served aiming for Coast FIRE at 70 or combining with Barista FIRE.

Age 50 — late but not lost

With only 15 years of compounding, you need roughly $417k. Coast FIRE is still meaningful: downshifting work in your 50s while letting investments grow is a viable plan.