logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
57m 55s

Can You Retire…Now? This FIRE Calculator...

BIGGERPOCKETS
About this episode

Do I have enough to retire?” is a question most people in the FIRE community grapple with, but today, we’re sharing a FREE tool that will help you put this issue to bed! If you’re concerned about running out of money later in life or developing “One More Year Syndrome,” you won’t want to miss this episode!

Welcome back to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! Software engineer Lauren Boland has developed a FIRE calculator that predicts whether your nest egg will be able to support you in retirement. This powerful tool takes dozens of key data points—such as your financial independence number, retirement age, annual expenses, portfolio mix, and historical returns—to simulate multiple retirement scenarios. In this episode, Lauren, Scott, and Mindy are going to walk you through this powerful tool, step-by-step!

Does the four-percent rule still work in 2025? How much do you really need to save for retirement? Whether you’re just starting your quest for FIRE or looking to tweak your investment portfolio as you approach retirement, cFIREsim will show you where you stand and what you might need to adjust to meet your retirement goals!


In This Episode We Cover

A step-by-step walkthrough of Lauren’s FREE cFIREsim tool

How much money you actually need to retire early

Reverse-engineering your financial independence number

Whether you can still retire on the four-percent rule in 2025

How to ensure that your money not only lasts but also grows in retirement

And So Much More!


Links from the Show

Mindy on BiggerPockets

Scott on BiggerPockets

Listen to All Your Favorite BiggerPockets Podcasts in One Place

Join BiggerPockets for FREE

Email Mindy: Mindy@biggerpockets.com

Email Scott: Scott@biggerpockets.com

BiggerPockets Money Facebook Group

cFIREsim Tool

Lauren’s Bluesky

Social Security Administration

Get to FIRE Faster with Scott’s Book “Set for Life”

Find an Investor-Friendly Agent in Your Area

How Much Do You Need for Early Retirement? (How to Calculate Your FI Number)



Check out more resources from this show on BiggerPockets.com and https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/money-597


Interested in learning more about today’s sponsors or becoming a BiggerPockets partner yourself? Email advertise@biggerpockets.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Oct 7
Net Worth By Age In 2025 (Are You Above Average?)
Let's talk about the average net worth by every age, and how to make sure you save and invest enough money to stay on track. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down actual data to reveal the net worth benchmarks for the median, ... Show More
39m 51s
Oct 3
Should You Keep or Sell Your House? (Best Choice for FIRE)
Should you sell your house right now or turn it into a rental property? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench dive deep into one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make with their guest Sean. He is sitting on serious e ... Show More
43m 1s
Sep 30
FI at 44 AFTER Taking a Year Off at 31
What if you could take a year off at 31 and still retire early? Alex Morales, also known as Girl Chasing Wealth, is doing exactly that. In this BiggerPockets Money episode, she sits down with Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to reveal how she's funding a year-long sabbatical while s ... Show More
38m 16s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
How To Retire w/ Christine Benz #887
Ok, here us out: retirement is a topic that we talk about all the time here at How To Money, but simultaneously we probably don’t talk about it nearly enough! How is that possible you might ask? Well, we are oftentimes discussing retirement through the lens of investing – spendin ... Show More
57m 32s
Aug 1
Late Starter’s Guide to Real Estate (Start in Your 40s!)
Is it too late to invest in real estate if you’re in your 30s, 40s, or 50s? No! Today, we’re giving you the exact blueprint to retire in 10-15 years, even if you’re starting in your 50s with a median income and average savings. Got a small sum stashed for retirement and looking t ... Show More
40m 25s
Jul 2024
The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Funding Your Retirement!
In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast, we're going to talk about the step by step guide to self funding your retirement. How Andrew Can Help You: Don't let another year pass by without making significant strides toward your dreams. "Master Your Money Goals" is your path ... Show More
33m 48s
Aug 8
The Magic Number Needed to Retire Comfortably?
💸 Learn to invest in what matters most. Check out our free investing and retirement resources. How much do you actually need to retire? In this episode, find out what the experts say is themagic number and how to plan today for the retirement of your dreams. Next Steps: • 🎥 Wat ... Show More
14m 13s
Feb 2025
3035: [Part 1] Generating Retirement Income Before Age 59 by Darrow Kirkpatrick of Can I Retire Yet
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 3035:Darrow Kirkpatrick explores various strategies, from leveraging taxable investment accounts to taking advantage of Roth ... Show More
11m 34s
Dec 2024
What Do I do With an HSA at an Old Employer?! (Plus How to Avoid RMD's) - Money Q&A
In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast, we're going to talk about what to do with an old HSA at an old employer, plus how to avoid RMD’s. Today we are going to answer these questions! Question 1: Can I transfer investments from a brokerage account to a retirement account ... Show More
39m 7s
Sep 30
It’s Not Too Late to Get Control of Your Money
🤔 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Think you’re good with money? Take our Money in America quiz!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dave Ramsey and Ken Coleman answer your questions and discuss: “I work for my parents and I sometimes don’t get paid. How do I talk to them about this?” “My older brother is financially ... Show More
2h 17m
Mar 2025
Is my super performing? How much do I need to retire? Your superannuation questions answered
Superannuation, we all (should!) have it, but are you making the most of it? However you're thinking about super- optimizing for retirement, considering a self-managed super fund (SMSF), or wondering about concessional contributions- this episode breaks it down. We fire through 6 ... Show More
16m 30s
Aug 20
Change Starts Today. Don’t Wait Till You’re 65 and Broke
🎟️ ⁠The Ramsey Show Live Tour: Get Your Tickets! Dave Ramsey and George Kamel answer your questions and discuss: "I'm 65 and I've never made good decisions with money, where should my focus be at my age?" "Is health insurance a bad investment for our family?" "I'm skeptical abou ... Show More
2h 20m
Sep 25
Don’t Quit When the Journey Gets Hard
🤔 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Think you’re good with money? Take our Money in America quiz!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dave Ramsey and Dr. John Delony answer your questions and discuss: “How can we stop my wife’s parents from asking their 10, 12, and 17 year old daughters for money?” “Should I leave my marri ... Show More
2h 18m