Coast FIRE is the most accessible variant of financial independence because it does not require you to stop working entirely. Instead, you front-load investments early in your career, then let compound growth do the heavy lifting while you shift to lower-stress, passion-driven, or part-time work that covers only current living expenses.
The math is straightforward: at 7% real (inflation-adjusted) returns, $155,000 invested by age 30 compounds to approximately $1.2 million by age 60 — enough for a traditional retirement at a 4% withdrawal rate ($48,000/year). The Coast FIRE number varies by age: roughly $85,000 by 25, $155,000 by 30, $270,000 by 35, and $470,000 by 40.
Gallup research shows retirees and semi-retirees with purposeful part-time work report 23% higher life satisfaction than those fully idle. The biggest risk is healthcare: KFF 2025 data shows marketplace premiums average $456/month without subsidies, making Barista FIRE (part-time employer healthcare) a strong complement.
Originally published on WealthWise OS.