Strategy Comparison at a Glance
| Aspect | COAST FIRE | Traditional FIRE | Lean FIRE | Fat FIRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savings Timeline | Front-loaded (5-15 years) | Continuous (10-25 years) | Aggressive (5-10 years) | Extended (15-30 years) |
| Retirement Age | Traditional (60-67) | Early (40-55) | Very Early (30-45) | Flexible (45-65) |
| Career Flexibility | High (after target) | Low (until FIRE) | Very Low (extreme saving) | Medium (high income needed) |
| Lifestyle During Saving | Moderate sacrifice | High sacrifice | Extreme sacrifice | Comfortable |
| Typical Net Worth Goal | $300k-600k at 30-35 | $1M-2.5M | $500k-1M | $2.5M-10M+ |
Detailed Strategy Breakdown
COAST FIRE
Core Philosophy:
Save aggressively early, then let compound interest do the work. You \"coast\" to traditional retirement age without further contributions.
Pros:
- • Career flexibility after reaching target
- • Sustainable long-term approach
- • Less extreme lifestyle changes
- • Psychological relief after target
- • Can pursue passion projects
Cons:
- • Retire at traditional age (60-67)
- • Requires discipline early in career
- • Less total wealth accumulation
- • Market risk over long period
Best For: Young professionals wanting career flexibility
Traditional FIRE
Core Philosophy:
Save 25x your annual expenses (typically $1M-2.5M) to retire early and live off 4% withdrawal rate.
Pros:
- • Retire 15-25 years early
- • Complete financial independence
- • Proven track record
- • Strong community support
- • Flexibility in spending
Cons:
- • Requires sustained high savings rate
- • Limited career flexibility until FIRE
- • Potential lifestyle restrictions
- • Healthcare cost concerns
- • Sequence of returns risk
Best For: Disciplined savers wanting early retirement
Lean FIRE
Core Philosophy:
Retire early with minimal expenses (typically $40k/year or less). Requires extreme frugality but fastest path to FIRE.
Pros:
- • Fastest path to financial independence
- • Lower net worth requirement
- • Achievable on moderate incomes
- • Strong focus on optimization
Cons:
- • Extreme lifestyle restrictions
- • Limited buffer for emergencies
- • Difficult with family
- • Healthcare cost risks
- • Potential social isolation
Best For: Minimalists comfortable with frugal lifestyle
Fat FIRE
Core Philosophy:
Accumulate $2.5M-10M+ to maintain high lifestyle in retirement. Typically $100k+ annual spending.
Pros:
- • Maintain affluent lifestyle
- • Large financial buffer
- • Generous travel and hobbies budget
- • Can support family generously
Cons:
- • Requires very high income
- • Long accumulation timeline
- • Lifestyle inflation risks
- • High absolute dollar amounts
- • Tax optimization complexity
Best For: High earners wanting luxurious retirement
Real-World Examples
Sarah's COAST FIRE Journey
Age: 28, Software Developer
Income: $85,000
Goal: $60,000/year in retirement
Strategy:
- • Save $45,000/year for 8 years
- • Reach $378k by age 36
- • Switch to lower-stress job
- • Coast until age 65
Result: 29 years of career freedom!
Mike's Traditional FIRE Path
Age: 30, Marketing Manager
Income: $75,000
Goal: $50,000/year expenses
Strategy:
- • Save $37,500/year for 18 years
- • Reach $1.25M by age 48
- • Retire completely at 48
- • Live on 4% withdrawal
Result: Retire 17 years early!
Which Strategy is Right for You?
Decision Framework Questions
Consider COAST FIRE if:
- • You're under 35 years old
- • You value career flexibility over early retirement
- • You can save aggressively for 5-15 years
- • You're comfortable with traditional retirement age
- • You want to pursue passion projects
- • You prefer sustainable approaches
Consider Traditional FIRE if:
- • You want to retire before 60
- • You can maintain high savings rates long-term
- • You have strong healthcare alternatives
- • You're disciplined with delayed gratification
- • You want complete work freedom ASAP
- • You enjoy optimization challenges
Choose Lean FIRE if:
- • You're naturally frugal
- • You want fastest path to freedom
- • You're single/no dependents
- • You live in low-cost area
Choose Fat FIRE if:
- • You earn $200k+ consistently
- • You want luxury in retirement
- • You have expensive hobbies
- • You plan to support family
Hybrid Approaches:
- • COAST FIRE + part-time work
- • Geographic arbitrage
- • Barista FIRE combinations
- • Phased retirement plans
Common Mistakes to Avoid
COAST FIRE Mistakes:
- • Underestimating healthcare costs
- • Not accounting for lifestyle inflation
- • Stopping too early before target
- • Ignoring emergency funds
- • Overconfident in market returns
Traditional FIRE Mistakes:
- • Burnout from extreme frugality
- • Inadequate healthcare planning
- • Social isolation from saving
- • Sequence of returns risk
- • Underestimating early retirement costs