FIRE Number Calculator NZ

This calculator works out your FIRE number, the size of investment portfolio you need before you can live off it without paid work, using the safe withdrawal rate approach popular with New Zealanders pursuing financial independence. You enter your expected annual spending in retirement, the safe withdrawal rate you want to plan around (a commonly used starting point is 4%, meaning a portfolio 25 times your spending), and how much you already have invested. It instantly returns your FIRE number, the total portfolio required, alongside how much you still need to invest to close the gap, your progress as a percentage of that target, and the multiple of annual spending your chosen withdrawal rate implies. Lowering your planned spending or picking a higher withdrawal rate reduces the number, while a lower rate raises it, so try a few combinations to see how sensitive your target is to your assumptions. The result does not account for NZ Super, which would reduce the amount you need to fund from your own investments once you reach the qualifying age, so treat this as a conservative target rather than the full picture. It is a simple planning tool to give you a clear goalpost, not a guarantee of investment returns or a safe withdrawal rate, so use it alongside proper financial advice for your own circumstances.

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%
$
$1,375,000
your FIRE number (the portfolio you need)
Still to invest$1,125,000
Progress18%
As a multiple of spend25x

A 4% withdrawal rate means a portfolio 25 times your spending. It is a starting point, not a guarantee, and depends on your timeframe and risk. This ignores NZ Super, which would reduce the savings you need. Estimate only, not financial advice.

How it works

Your FIRE number is your annual spending divided by your safe withdrawal rate. At a 4% rate that is 25 times your spending, which is the portfolio that, drawn at that rate, is intended to fund your spending indefinitely. The calculator shows the target, how much you still need to invest, and your progress so far. Lower spending or a higher withdrawal rate reduces the number, which is why controlling spending is so powerful.

Worked example

Spending $55,000 a year at a 4% withdrawal rate gives a FIRE number of $1,375,000. With $250,000 invested, you are about 18% of the way there, with $1,125,000 still to invest. Trimming spending to $50,000 would cut the target to $1,250,000.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a FIRE number?

Your FIRE number is the amount you need invested so you can live off the portfolio without working. It is your annual spending divided by a safe withdrawal rate, so lower spending or a higher withdrawal rate means a smaller number.

What withdrawal rate should I use?

A figure around 4% is a common starting point, meaning a portfolio 25 times your annual spending. It is debated and depends on your timeframe and risk, so the calculator lets you set your own rate.

Does this include NZ Super?

No. NZ Super would reduce the portfolio you need from your own savings in retirement, so your FIRE number from investments alone is a conservative target.