Dolaro

FIRE Timeline Calculator

Australia's most complete FIRE planner. Models all three phases: bridge fund (pre-60), superannuation access (60+), and Age Pension (67+).

Your Details

Your situation

Income & expenses

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Current investments

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Investment settings

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Age Pension

Results

⚠Bridge fund gap: non-super investments run out at age 58, before super is accessible at 60. Earliest achievable FIRE: age 55.

Retire in

2044

Age 50 · 18 years away

Current progress to FIRE number6%
$140,000 nowFIRE: $2,534,445
Annual expenses at FIRE (inflated)$101,378
FIRE number needed$2,534,445

Non-super at FIRE

$685,591

Bridge Fund

Super at FIRE

$516,982

Super Access
Total portfolio at FIRE$1,202,573
Annual savings (take-home)$12,212
Savings rate15.8%
Age Pension from 67: $29,754/yr (inflation-indexed) reduces required portfolio drawdown from that age.

Assumes constant salary, expenses, and investment returns. Does not model market volatility or sequence-of-returns risk. Superannuation access is subject to meeting a condition of release. Not financial advice.

📅 SGC rate: 12% (FY 2025-26) · Concessional cap: $30,000/yr · Contributions tax: 15% · Preservation age: 60 · Age Pension eligibility: 67

How this FIRE timeline calculator works

The calculator runs a year-by-year simulation from your current age to 100. During the accumulation phase, your non-super investments grow at the specified return rate with your annual savings added each year. Your super grows at the super return (minus fees) with employer SGC (12%) and any salary sacrifice added after 15% contributions tax.

From your target FIRE age, the withdrawal phase begins. Before age 60 (the preservation age), only non-super can be drawn on — this is the bridge fund period. The calculator checks whether your non-super portfolio can sustain withdrawals all the way to 60. If the bridge fund runs dry before 60, the plan is flagged as requiring adjustment regardless of how large the super balance is.

From age 60, super is accessible and earnings in pension phase are tax-free. From 67, the Age Pension (if toggled on) reduces the annual portfolio withdrawal needed, indexed to inflation. The simulation runs this full three-phase model and reports the earliest age at which the plan is achievable.

Frequently asked questions — FIRE timeline

What is the Australian 3-phase FIRE model?

In Australia, early retirement has three distinct phases because of how superannuation works. Phase 1 (Bridge Fund): From your FIRE age to 60, super is locked — you must fund all expenses from non-super investments. Phase 2 (Super Access): From 60, you can draw on super, which has been compounding tax-effectively. In pension phase, earnings are tax-free. Phase 3 (Age Pension): From 67, the government Age Pension reduces how much you need to draw from your own portfolio. This calculator models all three phases simultaneously.

What is a bridge fund in FIRE planning?

The bridge fund is your non-super investment portfolio — the money that funds your lifestyle from the day you retire until you can access superannuation at age 60. If you retire at 45, you need 15 years of expenses funded from non-super sources. Running out of bridge fund before 60 is the most common failure mode in Australian FIRE plans, which is why this calculator checks and flags bridge fund adequacy separately from total portfolio sufficiency.

How is salary sacrifice modelled?

Salary sacrifice (voluntary concessional super contributions) reduces your taxable income, which increases your take-home pay relative to making the same payment post-tax. It also goes into super taxed at 15% rather than your marginal rate — a significant advantage for those in the 30%, 37% or 45% brackets. Salary sacrifice counts toward the $30,000 concessional contributions cap (FY 2025-26) alongside your employer's 12% SGC.

What return rate should I use?

For diversified Australian/global ETF portfolios, 7–8% gross (before inflation) is a commonly cited long-run estimate. Subtract your fund fee (0.1–0.5% for low-cost ETFs) for the net return. For super in accumulation phase, 7% gross is a reasonable balanced fund estimate. In the withdrawal phase, many planners use 5–6% to build in conservatism. Remember that real returns (inflation-adjusted) are typically 2–3% lower than nominal returns.

Does this model inflation?

Yes. The inflation rate input (default 2.5%, within the RBA's 2–3% target band) adjusts your retirement expenses upward each year. Your FIRE number is calculated using inflation-adjusted expenses at your target retirement date, and annual withdrawals in the projection increase with inflation throughout retirement. This means the year-by-year table shows nominal (current dollar) values that grow over time, reflecting real purchasing power.

What is the preservation age in Australia?

The superannuation preservation age is 60 for anyone born on or after 1 July 1964 — which covers virtually all Australians currently in the workforce. Access is subject to meeting a condition of release, typically retiring from employment or reaching age 65. Super cannot be accessed early except in exceptional circumstances (severe financial hardship, terminal illness, compassionate grounds). This is the key constraint that makes the bridge fund essential for anyone planning to retire before 60.

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