The Finance Algorithm

FIRE Calculator (Financial Independence & Retirement Estimator)

Projects superannuation growth, Age Pension eligibility, and investment returns year by year for Australians planning financial independence or early retirement.

Updated October 2026Built and checked by MaverickHow it's calculatedReport an error

Your numbers

Updates as you type
35

Age in years

55

Age when you want financial independence

$
$120k
$
$300k
$
$55k
$
$50k

For Age Pension eligibility rules

The button asks our AI to explain these figures in words.

FIRE number & trajectory

FIRE number

$1,375,000

25× target income

Projected at target age

$2,629,657

On track

Age you hit FIRE

47

12 years from now

Shortfall

On track

to reach FIRE number

Funds last until

95+

drawing down at your target income

Super + investments trajectory

Compounding at 7% gross of inflation up to retirement, then drawn down at your target income (net of any Age Pension) to a 95yo horizon. The horizontal line you're chasing is the FIRE number.

$0$7,174,303$14,348,605$21,522,908$28,697,210A35A47A59A71A83A95

Where your wealth will sit

Super is locked until preservation age (~60). Investments are accessible at any time: important for early-retire (FIRE) scenarios.

$2,629,657combined
Super (projected)36.4%
Investments (projected)63.6%
Safe withdrawal income
~$105,186/year at 4% rule
The 4% rule says you can withdraw this much annually with high probability of the portfolio lasting 30+ years. Adjust for early retirement by using a more conservative 3-3.5% rate.

How it works

The FIRE Calculator helps Australians plan early retirement and financial independence. It projects your superannuation and investments growth, estimates Age Pension eligibility, and simulates your year-by-year retirement outcomes against your income goals.

  1. 1Enter your current age and target retirement age.
  2. 2Input your total super balance, investments, and target retirement income.
  3. 3Select whether to include Age Pension eligibility estimates.
  4. 4Review the projected super, investment returns, and government benefit eligibility year by year.
  5. 5Adjust assumptions and view different retirement scenarios.

The figures today

As of 28 October 2026, the highest savings rate is 5.75%, from Defence Bank Limited's iSaver, while the typical best across 73 institutions is 4.60%. The highest 12-month term deposit rate is 5.60%, from Bank Australia's Term Deposit 12 months, while the typical best across 65 institutions is 5.30%.

Prices rose 4.0% in the year to August 2026, going by the ABS's monthly measure. The trimmed mean, which leaves out the biggest price swings, was 3.6%.

Savings ratesTerm deposit ratesInflation by city and spending group

Worked examples

Single Early Retiree

Alex, age 41, wants to retire at 55 with a $1 million portfolio and $50,000 annual income target.

Your current age
41
Target retirement age
55
Current superannuation balance
$220,000
Investment portfolio value
$780,000
Target annual retirement income
$50,000
Include Age Pension eligibility?
Yes
Marital status
Single

Alex's $1M starting balance hits the $1.25M FIRE number by age 44, 11 years ahead of the age-55 target, and grows to roughly $3.1M by retirement. At that size, the portfolio comfortably outlasts age 95 on $50,000/year, and it's well above the Age Pension assets-test cutoff, so no pension applies.

Couple Planning FIRE

Lisa and Sam are both 35 with $150,000 in super each and $250,000 in investments. They’re planning to retire at 60 on $80,000 per year.

Your current age
35
Target retirement age
60
Current superannuation balance
$300,000
Investment portfolio value
$250,000
Target annual retirement income
$80,000
Include Age Pension eligibility?
Yes
Marital status
Couple

Lisa and Sam's combined $550,000 grows to roughly $5M by age 60 on their savings rate and 7% returns, comfortably funding $80,000/year past age 95, with no Age Pension needed at that balance. The real risk isn't running out of money, it's a market downturn early in retirement (sequence-of-returns risk): worth stress-testing at a lower return assumption before locking in the plan.

Questions people ask

How does the FIRE Calculator Australia work?
It projects your super, investment balance, and government Age Pension eligibility year by year to assess whether you can hit your desired retirement target, and how long your funds will last.
What investment returns does it use?
A flat 7% nominal annual return on both super and investments, before and after retirement. It's a simplification: real returns vary year to year, and sequence-of-returns risk matters more the earlier you retire.
Is Age Pension included in the calculations?
If you opt in, it adds an estimate of the Age Pension from age 67, which reduces how much you need to draw from your own portfolio. It runs the income and assets tests in force since 20 September 2026 (maximum $1,237.70 a fortnight single) on your whole portfolio at homeowner rates, so treat it as a ballpark: Services Australia's own calculator gives a precise figure for your situation.
Can I model early retirement before preservation age?
Yes. It will show when you can access super and any pension gaps before then. You must fund early years from non-super savings.
Will this tool work for couples as well as singles?
Yes, choose ‘Couple’ and enter household asset values for joint projections.

The terms, in plain English

FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early)
A financial strategy focused on amassing enough assets to live off investment returns, achieving work-optional status before the typical retirement age.
Superannuation
A government-mandated retirement savings system in Australia, taxed at concessional rates, with restricted access until preservation age.
Age Pension
Income support payment for eligible Australians over Age Pension age, subject to assets and income tests. This calculator runs both tests on your portfolio at homeowner rates: check Services Australia for a precise figure.
Withdrawal Rate
The share of your savings you withdraw each year. The '4% rule' comes from US studies of past returns; it isn't a guarantee.
Preservation Age
The earliest age at which you can access your super, dependent on your birth year (between 55 and 60).
Inflation Adjustment
Factoring in the rising cost of living to ensure future retirement income maintains purchasing power.
Drawdown
How much you withdraw from your retirement assets each year to cover your spending.

Official sources

Super Balance Projector

Project your super growth to retirement age.

Retirement Income Calculator

Estimate sustainable yearly income in retirement.

Savings Goal Calculator

Forecast the path to a specific savings target.