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 and inflation rates does it use?

Default: 6.5% for super (balanced fund), 8% pre-retirement investments, 6% post-retirement, and 2.5% inflation (adjustable).

Is Age Pension included in the calculations?

Yes, if you choose, it estimates eligibility and reduces portfolio drawdown after Age Pension age.

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.

FIRE Calculator (Financial Independence & Retirement Estimator)

AI + Live Data

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

Free to useNo data storedReal-time dataAI insightsUpdated: March 2026

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.

Enter Your Details

Real-World Examples

Single Early Retiree

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

Inputs Used:

currentAge:41retirementAge:55superBalance:220,000investments:780,000retirementIncomeTarget:50,000includePension:truemaritalStatus:Single

Alex’s super and investments last until age 90, with Age Pension eligibility beginning at 67 reducing portfolio drawdown.

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.

Inputs Used:

currentAge:35retirementAge:60superBalance:300,000investments:250,000retirementIncomeTarget:80,000includePension:truemaritalStatus:Couple

Their assets fund their needs to age 93, but if market returns are lower than projected, they may need to adjust spending or retire later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Glossary

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.

Withdrawal Rate

The percentage of your retirement savings you safely withdraw each year without exhausting your funds (standard: 4%).

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.

Related Tools

Superannuation Calculator

Project your super growth to retirement age.

Retirement Income Planner

Estimate sustainable yearly income in retirement.

Investment Goal Simulator

Forecast the path to your investment targets.

How to Use

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

Key Information

Assumes 6.5% super growth, 8% pre-retirement investment growth, and 2.5% inflation (2024-26 benchmarks)
Calculates Age Pension eligibility using 2024-25 Australian thresholds, assets and income tests
Provides a sustainability check: will your retirement assets last based on desired income?
Models year-by-year projections until your selected end age
Designed specifically for Australians (rules, tax, and super unique to AU)

Pro Tips

Consider diversifying investments to balance risk and return approaching retirement.
If retiring early, ensure you have sufficient accessible funds before reaching preservation age (super access rules).
Use realistic inflation and growth assumptions. Too high can overestimate outcomes.
Check latest Age Pension thresholds annually – they change each July.

Avoid These Mistakes

Overestimating long-term investment returns or underestimating inflation.
Forgetting to include partner’s assets if applying as a couple.
Not accounting for future legislative changes to super, tax, and pension rules.
Ignoring health or aged care costs when projecting retirement expenses.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only and should not be relied upon for financial decisions. Interest rates, fees, and policies change frequently. Always verify information with lenders directly. This is general information, not personal financial advice. Consider seeking advice from a licensed mortgage broker or financial advisor.

Last updated: March 2026