FIRE Number Calculator Canada
Your FIRE number is the portfolio size at which work becomes optional: your yearly spending divided by the withdrawal rate you trust. This calculator gives you that number, then works out how long your current savings pace takes to reach it, and the age you get there.
The 4% rule comes from US historical studies (the Trinity study) and is a planning guide, not a guarantee. Canadian retirees also receive CPP and OAS, which reduces the spending a portfolio must cover; subtract expected benefits from your spending input for a Canadian-realistic target.
How it works
The math is deliberately simple: spend $60,000 a year and trust a 4% withdrawal rate, and you need $1,500,000 invested. That is the famous ’25 times spending’ rule, because dividing by 4% is the same as multiplying by 25. Lower the withdrawal rate to 3.5% for extra safety and the multiple rises to about 28.6 times.
The timeline is where the plan becomes real. Saving rate beats investment return in the early years because contributions are certain while returns are not, which is why this calculator’s monthly amount moves your FIRE age more than small changes in the return assumption.
Worked example
The calculator’s own output for $60,000 of yearly spending, a 4% withdrawal rate, $100,000 already invested and $1,500 a month at 7%:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Yearly spending / withdrawal rate | $60,000.00 at 4% |
| FIRE number | $1,500,000.00 |
| Starting investments + monthly | $100,000.00 + $1,500.00 a month at 7% |
| Time to reach the FIRE number | 274 months (22.8 years) |
| Age at financial independence (starting at 35) | 57.8 |
Frequently asked questions
What is a good FIRE number for Canada?
It is your own spending times your multiple, nothing more universal. A household planning $50,000 a year at a 4% rate needs $1,250,000 before counting CPP and OAS; those benefits can cut the portfolio target by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Is the 4% rule safe in Canada?
Canadian research suggests 3.5% to 4% is a reasonable planning range for a 30-year retirement, with flexibility to spend less in bad markets doing much of the safety work. Longer retirements, which are the point of FIRE, argue for the cautious end.
Does FIRE mean never working again?
Not necessarily. Many people target ‘coast FIRE’ (investments will grow to the number without more contributions) or part-time ‘barista FIRE’. The number is a freedom benchmark, not a resignation letter.
Should I subtract CPP and OAS from my spending?
For a Canadian plan, yes, at least partially. If CPP and OAS will cover $30,000 of a $60,000 retirement budget from your late 60s, your portfolio mainly needs to fund the other $30,000 plus the bridge years before benefits start.
Where do people hold FIRE investments in Canada?
Typically TFSA first for its tax-free withdrawals, then RRSP, then non-registered accounts. The withdrawal order in retirement matters for tax and for OAS clawback (which starts at $95,323 of net income for 2026 benefits).
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For education only. This calculator gives estimates, not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures use 2026 rates where a rate is built in; confirm your own numbers before making a decision.
