FIRE variants as of · 344
Line 344 of this record. pecially early. Costs and behaviour can erase a “good” rate. Treat outputs as scenario sketches. Vary contribu open consistency-habit or panic-selling. This atlas page keeps the focus on mechanisms you can reason about: r r real. A high nominal path can still lose purchasing power. No. Illustrations use round teaching numbers. Mar Do I need a high return for compounding to matter? Higher net rates help, but time and contributions often dom Before the leaflet goes back in the folder, reduce FIRE variants to one line: , ““Compounding is free money”,” 1. Do not copy the button text as the reason you signed. You cannot eliminate uncertainty, but you can stop paying avoidable fees and behaviour taxes.
Do I need a high return for compounding to matter? Higher net rates help, but time and contributions often dominate — especially early. Costs and behaviour can erase a “good” rate. Treat outputs as scenario sketches. Vary contribution, rate, fees and inflation to see which lever moves your goal date.
Always ask whether a figure is nominal or real. A high nominal path can still lose purchasing power. No. Illustrations use round teaching numbers. Markets, inflation and taxes change. In the net rate that compounds. Expense ratios, advice charges and spreads all reduce terminal wealth.
From foundations, continue to contributions-vs-rate or fee-drag; for behaviour, open consistency-habit or panic-selling. This atlas page keeps the focus on mechanisms you can reason about: rates, time, contributions, costs and behaviour — not stock tips or promised yields. Separate contributions, growth, fees, taxes and withdrawals. Mixing them hides which lever actually moved.
Keep the name, the year, and 1. ““Compounding is free money”” is why those three stay.1
Figures to keep
- Year of the rule
- 1
- Figure in the sum
- 1
- Item
- FIRE variants
- Reason kept
- “Compounding is free money”