Coast FIRE calculator
Could you stop saving today and still retire on time? Your current pots, real UK tax rules, and 86 years of market history — free, no sign-up, nothing stored.
How this calculator works
Every monthly contribution is set to zero from day one — the question is whether your existing pots, growing untouched, can fund retirement at your target spending.
Withdrawals are taxed the way HMRC actually taxes them — income tax on pension drawdown (2026/27 bands), capital gains on investment sales, allowances first.
Your coast plan is replayed through every market window since 1940 — booms, crashes, and inflation shocks — and we report the share of history it survived.
Assumptions
Every calculator makes assumptions — ours are on the table:
- Coast FIRE mode: all monthly contributions stop today — your existing pots grow untouched until retirement.
- Investments grow at 7% a year before a 0.25% platform/fund fee (6.75% net) and cash at 3% (nominal) in the point-estimate projection; the backtest replays actual historical returns and inflation, with the same fee applied.
- Inflation of 2.5% a year — every figure is shown in today's money.
- Pensions unlock at 57 with 25% tax-free. The State Pension defaults to the 2026/27 full new rate (£12,548/year) from your State Pension age (66–68 by birth year) — both adjustable — inflation-linked and taxable.
- Income tax uses 2026/27 rest-of-UK bands. Shares outside an ISA (GIA) pay capital gains tax at 18%/24% above the £3,000 annual exemption — we assume no gains are embedded in today's balance. Withdrawals are ordered to minimise tax: allowances and tax-free pots first.
- Your plan runs to age 95. Contributions rise with inflation until retirement; pensions are one pot with your and your employer's contributions, while ISAs, GIA and cash are modelled separately.
Frequently asked questions
What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is the point where your existing pensions and investments — with no further contributions — will grow into a pot that can fund your retirement. You still work to cover today's bills, but you can stop saving for retirement and 'coast' to your retirement age.
How is my Coast FIRE age calculated?
We zero every future contribution and ask the same question as our main calculator: what's the earliest retirement age at which your current pots alone sustain your spending? Each candidate age is checked with real UK tax rules and replayed across every market window since 1940 — the age shown survives at least 85% of history.
What's the difference between Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE?
Coast FIRE keeps your full-time income and just stops retirement saving. Barista FIRE goes further: you drop to part-time work now and start drawing on your pots to top up the gap. Our Barista FIRE calculator models that version.
Does Coast FIRE account for inflation?
Yes. Your spending target is in today's money, growth and inflation are modelled separately, and the historical backtest replays actual inflation — including the 1970s. Everything you see is shown in today's money.
Should I actually stop contributing to my pension?
Be careful: stopping workplace pension contributions usually forfeits your employer's match, which is free money, and pension contributions get tax relief. Coast FIRE is best treated as a milestone — knowing you've passed it is valuable even if you keep saving.
Is this financial advice?
No. It's a projection based on your inputs and stated assumptions, for information only. Past market performance doesn't guarantee future returns. For advice on your specific situation, speak to a regulated financial adviser.