Fee-only financial advisors for early retirement and FIRE planning.
Early retirement is planning-heavy: 30-50 year retirement means sequence-of-returns risk, healthcare before Medicare (age 65), tax-advantaged access strategies (Roth conversion ladder, 72(t) SEPP, Rule of 55), and withdrawal rate safety in a long horizon. Missing any one of these can sink the plan.
What our matched specialists handle
- I have $2.3M and want to retire at 52 — is that enough?
- Healthcare from 52 to 65 — ACA plans? COBRA? Part-time work for benefits?
- Roth conversion ladder — how do I structure this?
- 72(t) SEPP vs Rule of 55 for early IRA access?
- 4% rule over 40 years vs 30 years — what's actually safe?
- Sequence-of-returns risk is bigger for me — how to hedge?
Tools & guides
FIRE Number Calculator
Compute your FI (financial independence) number and years-to-FI based on current savings, spend, and contribution rate.
FIRE Savings Rate Calculator
Your savings rate — not your income — determines when you retire. See years to FI at any savings rate from 20% to 80%, with a sensitivity table showing how shifting the spending/saving split changes your timeline.
Roth Conversion Ladder Calculator
Model your pre-59½ IRA access strategy: annual conversion amount, bridge gap, and 12-year ladder schedule with ACA MAGI warning.
72(t) SEPP Calculator
Calculate your substantially equal periodic payment using all three IRS-approved methods — RMD, fixed amortization, and fixed annuitization. Compare with the Rule of 55.
Healthcare Before 65: Bridging to Medicare
COBRA vs ACA marketplace, the 2026 subsidy landscape, MAGI coordination, and real cost examples for the healthcare gap.
Safe Withdrawal Rate for Early Retirement
The 4% rule was built for 30-year retirements. See the historically supported rates for 35, 40, 45, and 50-year horizons — and whether your spending plan is in the safe zone.
Social Security Timing for Early Retirees
Two penalties stack: fewer working years shrink your benefit, and claiming age multiplies the effect. Break-even calculator, earnings test rules, and ACA coordination.
Tax-Efficient Withdrawal Order
Which accounts to draw from first — and in what order — can reduce lifetime taxes by $200K–$600K. Bracket headroom calculator plus phase-by-phase strategy for 30–50 year horizons.
Sequence of Returns Risk
The order of returns matters more than the average — especially for 40-50 year retirements. Simulator showing good vs. bad vs. average sequences, bond tent glidepath, bucket strategy, and dynamic spending rules.
Fat FIRE: How Much You Need
$100K–$200K+/year spending requires a more conservative 3.5% withdrawal rate, eliminates ACA subsidies, and triggers Medicare IRMAA surcharges. Calculator + guide on how Fat FIRE planning differs.
Chubby FIRE: The $2M–$4M Range and How It Changes Your Plan
$80K–$150K/year puts you at the ACA subsidy decision boundary — with the right account sequencing you can stay subsidized while spending six figures. Calculator showing your Chubby FIRE number, ACA assessment, and IRMAA avoidance status.
Lean FIRE: FI Number, ACA Subsidies, and What Makes It Work
$25K–$40K/year retirement flips two advantages in your favor: ACA subsidies that can cut healthcare to $0–$150/month, and effective federal tax rates under 5%. Calculator showing FI number, ACA tier, and tax efficiency at your spending level.
Barista FIRE: Semi-Retirement Number and Employer Benefits Strategy
Part-time work that covers expenses or locks in employer health insurance while your portfolio grows. Calculator showing how much less you need vs full FIRE — and whether your portfolio keeps growing during the semi-retirement phase.
Rule of 55: Penalty-Free 401(k) Access Before 59½
Leave your job at 55 and take any amount from your 401(k) — no fixed schedule, no irrevocable commitment. Qualification checker, distribution planner, and the rollover trap that eliminates the exception entirely.
Early Retirement Financial Planning Guide
Detailed framework — rules, tradeoffs, employer- and account-specific nuances, common mistakes.
7 Early Retirement Mistakes That Can Sink Your FIRE Plan
The math checked out — these planning gaps are what actually derail solid plans. Wrong withdrawal rate, no healthcare coordination, Roth ladder timing failures, Social Security zero-years erosion, and sequence-of-returns blind spots. Includes an interactive 7-point plan audit.
Backdoor Roth IRA: 2026 Guide + Pro-Rata Rule Calculator
Earn too much to contribute directly to a Roth IRA? The backdoor Roth is legal — but the pro-rata rule can turn a tax-free conversion into a mostly-taxable one if you have old rollover IRAs. Calculator shows your exact exposure and the fix.
HSA Strategy for Early Retirement: Triple Tax Advantage + Future Value Calculator
The HSA is the only account with a pre-tax contribution, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawal — all three. FIRE practitioners use the receipt banking strategy to pay medical costs out of pocket now and reimburse tax-free from a compounded HSA years later. 2026 limits, HDHP eligibility, and future value calculator.
Roth IRA 5-Year Rules: Complete Guide for Early Retirees
Two separate 5-year clocks govern your Roth — account seasoning (for earnings to be tax-free) and conversion seasoning (the penalty clock the Roth conversion ladder is built around). Interactive checker: enter your distribution type, age, and conversion year to see whether your withdrawal is tax-free, penalty-free, or neither — and why.
Tax-Gain Harvesting: Paying 0% on Capital Gains in Early Retirement
Early retirees in low-income years — before Social Security and RMDs — can realize long-term capital gains at 0% federal tax. Calculator shows your exact harvestable amount based on ordinary income, filing status, and ACA subsidy status. Covers the ACA cliff trap, Roth conversion coordination, and state tax considerations.
Asset Allocation for Early Retirement: The FIRE Portfolio Guide
The bond tent outperforms a fixed 60/40 for 40-year retirements — but most retirement calculators ignore it. Interactive glidepath calculator shows your equity/bond split through accumulation, retirement entry, the 10-year sequence-of-returns danger zone, and the long-run target. Covers three-fund portfolio structure, allocation by FIRE tier, and spend-from rebalancing.
How to Retire at 35: Numbers, the 24.5-Year Bridge, and the Pure Taxable + Roth Strategy
Retiring at 35 is the most extreme scenario in the series: 2.75% SWR for a 55-year horizon, no Rule of 55, a 24.5-year SEPP commitment that makes 72(t) effectively unusable, and a 30-year healthcare gap before Medicare. The only practical access strategy is taxable brokerage + Roth conversion ladder. Calculator showing your FI number, bridge coverage, and ACA subsidy cliff check.
How to Retire at 40: Numbers, the 19.5-Year Bridge, and Why Taxable Accounts Come First
Retiring at 40 is the most extreme mainstream FIRE scenario: 3.0% SWR for a 50-year horizon, no Rule of 55, a 19.5-year SEPP commitment that makes 72(t) nearly impractical, and a 25-year healthcare gap before Medicare. The dominant access strategy is taxable brokerage + Roth conversion ladder — not SEPP. Calculator showing your FI number, bridge coverage, and ACA subsidy cliff check.
How to Retire at 45: Numbers, the 14.5-Year Bridge, and No Rule of 55
Retiring at 45 is the most demanding early retirement scenario: 3.25% SWR for a 45-year horizon, no Rule of 55, a 14.5-year SEPP commitment if you use a 72(t), and a 20-year healthcare bridge before Medicare. Calculator showing your FI number, SEPP income from your IRA, taxable brokerage bridge coverage, and ACA subsidy cliff status.
How to Retire at 50: Numbers, Access Strategy, and the Four Hurdles
Retiring at 50 is different from retiring at 55: the Rule of 55 doesn't apply, the bridge to 59½ runs 9.5 years (72(t) SEPP is the main access tool), Medicare is 15 years away, and the Social Security zero-earnings penalty is at its worst. Calculator showing your FI number at a 40-year horizon, SEPP income from your IRA, and whether your plan closes the gap by age 50.
How to Retire at 55: Numbers, Rule of 55, and Why 55 Changes Everything
Age 55 unlocks the Rule of 55 — penalty-free 401(k) access with no fixed payment commitment and no irrevocable schedule. Calculator showing your FI number at a 35-year horizon, whether your 401(k) covers the 4.5-year bridge to 59½, and 2026 ACA subsidy cliff check. Includes the rollover trap that eliminates the Rule of 55 and the IRMAA lookback planning window at ages 63–64.
How to Retire at 60: The No-Penalty Inflection Point — IRMAA Countdown and SS Timing
At 60 you're past 59½ — every account is penalty-free, no Rule of 55 to preserve, no SEPP commitment to structure. A 30-year horizon supports the full 4.0% SWR, giving a lower FI number than retiring at 55. Key challenges shift to: 5-year ACA bridge to Medicare, the IRMAA lookback starting at ages 63–64, and Social Security timing at 62 (just 2 years away). Calculator + complete guide.
Dividend Income for Early Retirement: 0% Tax Rate + Calculator
Early retirees in their low-income window — before Social Security and RMDs begin — can receive qualified dividends at 0% federal tax. Calculator showing annual dividend income from your portfolio, spending coverage ratio, estimated federal tax, and ACA MAGI coordination. Covers qualified vs. ordinary dividends, asset location strategy, and the total-return vs. dividend-income debate for 30–50 year retirements.
Tax-Loss Harvesting for Early Retirees: Offset Gains + Carry-Forward Calculator
Tax-loss harvesting offsets capital gains dollar-for-dollar and deducts up to $3,000/year from ordinary income — with unused losses carrying forward indefinitely. FIRE investors with large taxable accounts can build significant carry-forwards during market downturns. Calculator showing gain offset, tax savings, and carry-forward for your situation. Covers the wash-sale rule, ETF pair strategy, and ACA MAGI coordination.
Pay Off Mortgage Before Early Retirement? Calculator + FIRE Analysis
The standard "invest if return > mortgage rate" rule breaks down for early retirees. A mortgage payment forces portfolio liquidation in downturns (sequence-of-returns risk), consumes ACA MAGI headroom, and raises your minimum spending floor. Interactive calculator shows the net wealth effect of each path, break-even return rate, and ACA cliff coordination. Decision framework by retirement age and mortgage rate.
How to Choose a Financial Advisor for Early Retirement
Early retirement requires a specialist — not any financial advisor. The wrong advisor defaults to the 4% rule on a 40-year horizon, rolls your 401(k) and kills the Rule of 55, or runs Roth conversions into the ACA cliff. Guide covering fee structures, credentials, 10 diagnostic questions with correct answers, and the red flags that separate FIRE specialists from generalists.
FIRE with Kids: Family Early Retirement Planning Guide + Calculator
Two children at $17,000/year each add $971,000 to your FI number at a 3.5% SWR — but the math is two-phase. Calculator shows your FI number with vs. without kids, ACA subsidy cliff for your family size (the 400% FPL cliff returned for 2026 at $128,600 for a family of four), and what changes in portfolio sizing, 529 allocation, life insurance, and MAGI planning when children are part of the plan.
457(b) Plans for Early Retirement: Penalty-Free Access at Any Age
Government and non-profit employees can withdraw from a 457(b) at any age upon separation — no 10% early withdrawal penalty, no fixed schedule, no age minimum. The one trap: rolling to an IRA eliminates the advantage permanently. Bridge coverage calculator, 2026 contribution limits (including the double-contribution opportunity when you also have a 403(b)), ACA MAGI coordination, and the rollover trap explained.
Taxable Brokerage Account Strategy for Early Retirement
The taxable brokerage is the universal FIRE bridge — no age minimum, no fixed schedule, no early withdrawal penalty. Most early retirees can draw from taxable at 0% federal tax on long-term gains. How to size the bridge, what to hold in taxable vs. your IRA, how to coordinate Roth conversion draws to avoid the ACA cliff, and how to integrate taxable with the Roth ladder for a tax-efficient 20+ year pre-59½ drawdown sequence.
Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k): 2026 Guide + After-Tax Space Calculator
If you've maxed your 401(k) deferral and backdoor Roth IRA, the mega backdoor Roth can move an additional $30,000–$47,500/year into Roth — if your plan allows after-tax contributions and in-service conversions. Calculator shows your plan's exact after-tax space under the §415(c) limit ($72,000 total, 2026) and projects the Roth balance it builds by retirement. No pro-rata rule, no income limit, no MAGI impact.
Self-Employed FIRE: Solo 401(k) Maximization Guide + Calculator
Freelancers and consultants can shelter 30–40% of income using a Solo 401(k) — far more than a W-2 employee at the same income. Calculator shows your exact employee + employer contribution maximum, QBI deduction estimate, and estimated AGI for ACA coordination. Covers SEP-IRA vs. Solo 401(k), SE tax mechanics, QBI coordination, and transition-year planning.
FIRE for Couples: Joint Retirement Calculator & Strategy Guide
Retiring early as a couple changes the planning math in every dimension. MFJ tax brackets nearly double your Roth conversion room ($100,800 TI at 12% vs $50,400 single). The ACA 400% FPL cliff for a 2-person household is ~$84,600 — not double the single threshold. The higher earner delaying Social Security to 70 can add $100K+ in lifetime survivor income. Combined FI number calculator, MFJ tax table, ACA cliff check for two, SS survivor strategy, staggered retirement analysis, and IRMAA coordination for couples.
Geographic Arbitrage for FIRE: Reduce Your FI Number by Moving
Every 10% reduction in annual spending shrinks your FI number by 10% — and can cut years from your timeline. Moving from San Francisco to Chattanooga at 70% of your current cost of living turns a $2.5M target into $1.75M. COL-adjusted FI number calculator showing your revised target, years saved, and whether geo-arb pushes your spending below the ACA subsidy cliff. Domestic destinations, no-income-tax state comparison, and what geographic arbitrage can and can't fix.
Retire Early with a Pension: Reduction Calculator & Planning Guide
Leaving before your full pension retirement age triggers a permanent benefit reduction — typically 5–6% per year. A federal employee retiring 7 years early under FERS MRA+10 loses 35% of their pension for life. Calculator shows your reduced benefit, the portfolio gap you need to cover, gap-year bridge cost, and your 2026 ACA subsidy status with pension income as MAGI. Covers FERS, teacher pensions, Rule of 80, lump-sum vs. annuity, and how WEP/GPO repeal (2025) changed the math for government workers.
Roth 401(k) vs Traditional 401(k) for Early Retirement
The standard "Roth when young" advice breaks down for FIRE planners. If you retire before Social Security and RMDs, your taxable income may be lower than at any point in your working life — meaning you can convert traditional IRA to Roth at 10–12% instead of contributing Roth at 22–24%. 2026 break-even calculator showing the annual and 20-year tax arbitrage between paths, plus four-constraint framework for sizing Roth conversions in early retirement.
403(b) Plans for Early Retirement: Rule of 55 + 15-Year Catch-Up
Teachers, hospital workers, and non-profit employees retire on a 403(b) — and the Rule of 55 applies here just as it does to a 401(k). Employees with 15+ years at a qualifying organization can contribute an extra $3,000/year up to a $15,000 lifetime catch-up (IRC § 402(g)(7)), and those with both a 403(b) and a 457(b) can contribute up to $49,000/year combined. Calculator showing your projected balance at separation, Rule of 55 qualification status, bridge coverage to 59½, and ACA cliff check.
401(k) Early Retirement: 4 Penalty-Free Access Strategies
Most early retirees hold the bulk of their savings in a 401(k). The 10% penalty for withdrawing before 59½ has four legitimate exceptions: Rule of 55 (separation at 55+, no commitment), 72(t) SEPP (any age, fixed schedule), Roth conversion ladder (any age, 5-year seasoning wait), and taxable brokerage bridge (no penalty at all). Decision calculator shows which strategies apply to your age, account balances, and spending need — and the traps that permanently eliminate each option.
Rental Income for Early Retirement: FI Number Calculator + Tax Guide
Every dollar of net rental income reduces your required portfolio by $28–$33 at typical early retirement SWRs — potentially shaving years off your FIRE timeline. Calculator shows your FI number with vs. without rental income, portfolio reduction, and timeline impact. Tax guide covers Schedule E net income, how rental depreciation reduces your ACA MAGI (unlike wages or conversions), the $25,000 passive activity loss allowance for active landlords, and how REITs compare to direct rental for FIRE income planning.
Taxes in Early Retirement: The 2026 Complete Guide + Estimator
Most early retirees discover their effective federal tax rate drops to 5–12% — far below their working years. The "golden window" before Social Security and RMDs creates a decade or more of low-income years where Roth conversions cost 10–12% and capital gains can be realized tax-free. Interactive 2026 tax estimator: enter your income mix (Roth conversions, LTCG, traditional draws, Social Security) and see your estimated federal tax, effective rate, and whether you're near the ACA cliff or IRMAA tier-1 threshold. Covers the four coordination constraints and multi-decade tax planning strategy.
RSU Strategy for Early Retirement: Tax Planning + FIRE Calculator
For tech workers, RSU vesting is the single largest lever on the FIRE timeline — but the effective all-in tax rate on a vest can exceed 45% in high-tax states. Calculator shows your net RSU proceeds after FICA, federal, and state taxes, how many years of vesting close your FIRE gap, and whether your vesting year income pushes you above the ACA subsidy cliff or IRMAA tier-1. Covers sell-vs-hold analysis, concentrated stock risk for 40-year horizons, ISOs vs NSOs, ACA MAGI coordination, and the unvested-share decision when you leave.
How matching works
Get matched with a specialist
Fee-only advisor with no commission conflict. Free match.
Early Retirement Advisor Match is a matching service. We connect you with vetted fee-only financial advisors in our network — we don't manage money or provide advice ourselves. Advisors in our network are fiduciaries who charge transparent fees (not product commissions), and we match you based on your specific situation.