Why is the Coast FI threshold lower than the retirement target?
The threshold is the amount needed today so compounding can potentially grow it into the future target by retirement age. More time generally lowers today’s threshold.
LEVEL 300 · COAST FI
Could I Stop Contributing to Retirement?
See whether the retirement money you already invested could grow to your target without adding another dollar. You would still work and pay today’s living expenses—only the retirement contributions would stop.
Illustrative educational estimate. The target uses 25× annual spending, equivalent to a 4% initial-withdrawal assumption before taxes and fees. The entered investment return is treated as a true annual return; monthly contributions are modeled at month end. Returns and outcomes are not guaranteed.
RESULT
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HOW TO USE THE RESULT
What Coast FI actually means
Coast FI does not mean work is optional today. It means the retirement money already invested may be able to grow to the modeled retirement target without additional retirement contributions. Current living expenses still need to be covered, and the answer depends heavily on time, return, inflation, spending, and withdrawal assumptions.
What if I am below the threshold?
That is not failure. The calculator shows the monthly contribution modeled to close the gap, giving you a controllable next step instead of a pass-or-fail label.
Should I stop contributing once I reach Coast FI?
Not automatically. Continuing may create a larger margin, earlier flexibility, or protection against lower returns and higher spending. Coast FI is a planning checkpoint, not an instruction.
CONTINUE YOUR FLIGHT PLAN