Ross Rondeau

Why I Built This: Engineering Career Freedom

In technology careers, burnout frequently peaks just as compensation reaches its height. Coast FIRE is the financial inflection point where your existing retirement balance will grow to full independence on compound returns alone without adding another dollar of principal.

Reaching Coast FI fundamentally changes how you negotiate roles, take career risks, and choose projects because you no longer need to optimize solely for maximum base salary.

Core Mechanics & Assumptions

1. Doubling Cycles: Based on the Rule of 72 and your configured 7% inflation-adjusted market return, invested principal doubles approximately every 10 years.
2. The Asymmetry of Early Savings: Front-loading savings into compounding index assets early reduces or eliminates the need for ongoing contributions in your 30s and 40s.
3. Safe Withdrawal Baseline: Target nest eggs use your configured 4% safe withdrawal rate rule (25 times annual spending).
4. Social Security Integration: Optional guaranteed income stream reduces required portfolio nest egg based on your and your spouse's Full Retirement Age (FRA 67) benefits and individual claiming ages (62 to 70).
5. IRS Catch-Up Contribution Expansion: When Current Age reaches 50+, the annual contribution ceiling expands dynamically to include the standard IRS age 50+ catch-up allowance (+$7,500 for 401(k) and +$1,000 for IRA). For ages 60 to 63, the ceiling further expands under SECURE 2.0 super catch-up provisions (+$11,250 for 401(k) and +$1,000 for IRA).

Use the timeline, contribution, assumption, and Social Security controls to locate your exact transition milestone.