FIRE Number by Age: What You Should Have Saved at 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50
· 4 min readThe Benchmarks Everyone Wants
"Am I on track?" It's the most common question in every FIRE community. The answer depends on your age, your expenses, and how aggressively you've been saving.
These benchmarks assume a moderate spending level ($4,500/month, or $54,000/year) and a FIRE number of $1,350,000. Your numbers will vary based on your actual spending, but the progression and Quit Scores give you a realistic framework.
Age 25: The Starting Line
Typical invested net worth: $15,000 - $50,000
Quit Score: 1-4%
Years to FIRE (at 50% savings rate): 15-17
At 25, your Quit Score looks embarrassingly low. That's normal. You're maybe 2-3 years into your career, possibly still paying off student loans, and $1.35 million feels like a fantasy.
What matters at 25
Your savings rate matters more than your balance. Every dollar invested at 25 has 15-20 years to compound before a typical early retirement target. $10,000 invested today becomes roughly $40,000 in 20 years at 7% real returns — without adding another cent.
Priority moves: Max your employer's 401(k) match (free money), open a Roth IRA, keep housing costs under 25% of gross income, and start the habit of automatic investing. Even $500/month at 25 becomes life-changing wealth by 40.
Age 30: Building Momentum
Typical invested net worth: $100,000 - $250,000
Quit Score: 7-19%
Years to FIRE (at 50% savings rate): 10-14
The first $100,000 is the hardest milestone. Once you cross it, compound growth starts to feel real. At $150,000 invested with 7% returns, your money is generating $10,500/year in growth — equivalent to an extra $875/month in contributions you don't have to make.
What matters at 30
This is where income growth becomes your biggest lever. The gap between your income and expenses should be widening, not narrowing. Job-hop for raises, negotiate aggressively, or develop skills that command higher pay.
The #1 threat at 30 is lifestyle inflation. You're earning more, your friends are upgrading their lifestyles, and the pressure to "live a little" is intense. Every $500/month of lifestyle creep adds $150,000 to your FIRE number and delays your Quit Date by 2-3 years.
Priority moves: Push income higher, resist lifestyle inflation, max all tax-advantaged accounts, open a taxable brokerage account for the overflow.
Age 35: The Crossover Point
Typical invested net worth: $250,000 - $500,000
Quit Score: 19-37%
Years to FIRE (at 50% savings rate): 6-10
At 35, something shifts. Your investment returns start generating as much (or more) than your annual contributions. If you have $400,000 invested, a good year (10% return) adds $40,000 — probably close to or exceeding what you contribute annually.
This is the crossover point where your money is working as hard as you are. From here, your Quit Score accelerates.
What matters at 35
Stamina. You've been saving aggressively for 10+ years. The novelty has worn off. The daily temptations haven't. This is where many people quit the FIRE path — not because they can't afford to continue, but because they get tired of the discipline.
This is also when Coast FIRE becomes relevant. If you have $400,000 at 35, you could theoretically stop contributing entirely and reach $1.35M by age 53 (at 7% growth). That means you've already "won" — everything you save now just moves the date forward.
Priority moves: Stay the course. Consider whether Coast FIRE unlocks lifestyle changes (a lower-paying but more enjoyable job, going part-time). Keep your Quit Score visible for motivation.
Age 40: The Home Stretch
Typical invested net worth: $500,000 - $900,000
Quit Score: 37-67%
Years to FIRE (at 50% savings rate): 2-6
You can see the finish line. At $700,000, you're past the halfway point and compound growth is doing most of the heavy lifting. A single good year in the market can add $70,000-100,000 to your portfolio.
What matters at 40
Planning the transition. Start thinking practically about health insurance, what you'll do with your time, and whether you'll make a clean break or transition gradually.
Build a 1-2 year cash buffer. As you approach your Quit Date, shift some investments to cash or short-term bonds. This prevents the worst-case scenario: hitting your number, quitting, and then watching a market crash force you to sell stocks at a loss. A cash buffer lets you ride out a downturn without touching your portfolio.
Priority moves: Build a cash buffer, plan the post-work transition, research health insurance options, set a firm Quit Date.
Age 50: Freedom or Course Correction
Typical invested net worth (if on FIRE track): $1,000,000 - $1,500,000+
Quit Score: 74-100%+
Years to FIRE: 0-3 (or already there)
If you've been on the FIRE path since your late 20s or early 30s, you're likely at or near your number by 50. Congratulations — work is now optional.
If you're starting the FIRE journey at 50, the math is different but not hopeless. You likely have higher income, lower expenses (kids may be grown), and Social Security within 12-17 years. A 50-year-old with $400,000 saved and a $4,000/month spending target needs only $1,200,000. At $4,000/month in savings, that's roughly 8-10 years — Quit Date in the late 50s, well before traditional retirement age.
Priority moves (if already at FIRE): Execute the transition. Take the leap. Don't fall into "one more year" syndrome — the math says you're ready.
Priority moves (if starting late): Maximize 401(k) catch-up contributions ($30,500/year for 50+), aggressively cut expenses, consider downsizing housing to unlock equity.
What If You're Behind?
If your numbers are below these benchmarks, don't panic. These assume a 50% savings rate, which is aggressive. Here's what actually matters:
- Know your number. Calculate your Quit Number based on YOUR expenses, not averages.
- Start now. The best time to start was 10 years ago. The second-best time is today. Even small amounts invested consistently create meaningful wealth over time.
- Focus on the gap. The savings rate — the gap between income and spending — is the only variable that consistently predicts time to FIRE. Widen the gap however you can.
There's no "too late." There's only "later than I'd prefer." Every dollar invested today moves your Quit Date forward. Check your Quit Score and start from where you are.