Financial Independence Retire Early: FIRE Firestarter Fidelity
The Basics of FI RE
FI/RE stands for Financial Independence Retire Early. Although some may choose to retire completely, many pursue FI/RE purely for the Financial Independence (FI). It’s pretty simple. Save as much as you can, and then invest what you save. That way, while you're working towards your FI goal, your money is also working for you. The sooner you start, the more time your investments have to grow. 1 Cut your spending—to find money so you can invest more. We’ll help you find a method that works for you. 2 Increase your income—you guessed it—so you can invest for your future. 3 Investing is the cornerstone of the FI/RE approach. Money in a savings account does not grow the same way that money invested can. Ready to invest Fidelity can help
Fidelity offers tax-advantaged retirement accounts and taxable brokerage accounts, as well as a variety of investment options including index mutual funds (like our Zero expense ratio funds, among others), that can often be part of an FI strategy. The accounts and products referenced throughout this experience have been chosen in the spirit of the FI/RE movement given their low cost structure and have not been selected based on your personal situation. These may or may not be the right options for you, only you can decide that. Compare IRAs
A tax-advantaged individual retirement account The Fidelity Account
A full featured, low-cost brokerage account that can meet your needs as you grow as an investor Fidelity Go
An account managed by a robo advisor—an easy, affordable way to enjoy the benefits of professional money management Fidelity ZERO
Index funds with 0% expense ratio and no minimums, that can go into a brokerage or retirement account Learn your numbers
Savings Rate Your savings rate is the percentage of your income that you don't spend. Think of your savings rate as your speed to Financial Independence. Depending on your needs, you can go pedal to the metal or ease off the gas. You're still on the path even when you need to slow down. FI Number Financial Independence can mean different things to different people. Here, when we say Financial Independence, we mean the time when you can cover all of your expenses with income from your investments, rather than from a paycheck. It's the point where you can work because you want to, not necessarily because you have to. While there is no guarantee, your Years to FI describes how long it may take to get there. See how others are pursuing Financial Independence
“I was overwhelmed by my student debt. But with this approach I was able to put it behind me.” — Bridget Read Story “I don’t take a salary from the business. I reinvest it into real estate. It paid for our first home down payment.” — Jessica Read Story “I was saving a lot and felt good about our progress, but then we had our first baby and our expenses changed. Our savings rate isn't what it used to be, but the one thing I won't give up is investing.” — David Read Story Spend Less Bridget used the tactics of FIRE to clear her student debt, and that was just the start of her journey. To cut her expenses, she set up direct deposits to funnel money from her paycheck directly into a savings account, retirement, and investment accounts—leaving herself a modest “stipend” to live off of. She has all kinds of tactics for keeping expenses within her budget, such as packing low-cost lunches. Go back Earn More Jessica started a small beauty business out of her kitchen and is now earning over $20,000 a month. Her day job covers her living expenses, and she puts the extra cash straight into her FI/RE fund. Jessica’s goal is to buy five rental properties with her side hustle—and then to live off of the rental income. After she retires early, she plans to travel more often and spend more time outdoors camping and backpacking with her husband. Go back Invest Well Since he started, David has been struggling to find the right balance for FI/RE. At first, he was all in: “I was gung ho about it” and always thinking about the budget. But with a new baby, a new home, and the realization that he and his wife both really care about having a nice gym membership, they’ve chosen to spend more, still focused on living within their means. As his spending fluctuates, he says, “The one thing I won’t give up is investing.” Go back Investing involves risk, including risk of loss. Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See for further details. Fidelity Go provides discretionary investment management, and in certain circumstances, non-discretionary financial planning, for a fee. Advisory services offered by Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors LLC (FPWA), a registered investment adviser. Brokerage services provided by Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (FBS), and custodial and related services provided by National Financial Services LLC (NFS), each a member NYSE and SIPC. FPWA, FBS and NFS are Fidelity Investments companies. Fidelity now offers the Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund (FZROX), Fidelity ZERO International Index Fund (FZILX), Fidelity ZERO Large Cap Index Fund (FNILX), and Fidelity ZERO Extended Market Index Fund (FZIPX) available to individual retail investors who purchase their shares through a Fidelity brokerage account. This experience is educational in nature and should not be viewed as a recommendation from Fidelity to take any action. The trademarks and service marks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners. Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully. 925222.6.0