Financial Independence Spreadsheet: 5 Options Ranked for 2026
Five financial independence spreadsheets compared in 2026: Mad Fientist's, Personal Capital export, ProjectionLab, Aspire, and the FinancialAha Financial Planning Spreadsheet.
Retirement & FIRE Articles
Retirement planning, FIRE calculations, and long-term projections. Articles covering retirement & fire topics with practical guides, calculators, and spreadsheet templates.
23 articles
Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE vs Coast FIRE: What the Numbers Actually Are
Lean FIRE, Fat FIRE, Coast FIRE, Barista FIRE explained with named dollar thresholds. Includes side-by-side numbers and a free FIRE calculator that runs your own scenario.
How to Build a 40-Year Retirement Plan in Google Sheets
A complete walkthrough of building a 40-year retirement projection in Google Sheets, from accumulation through withdrawal phase, with formulas and a downloadable template.
Coast FIRE Calculator Explained: Formula and Three Worked Examples
The Coast FIRE formula in plain text, plus three worked examples at ages 28, 35, and 45. Free Google Sheets calculator that runs the numbers for your own situation.
Coast FIRE Explained: How to Calculate Your Number and What It Means
Coast FIRE means you have enough invested that compound growth will cover retirement - without saving another dollar. Here's how to calculate your coast FIRE number and what it actually means.
Retirement Account Tracker: 401(k), IRA, and More
How to track all your retirement accounts - 401(k), traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), and HSA - in one place. Covers contribution tracking, allocation views, and consolidating old accounts.
Coast FIRE Calculator: When Can You Stop Actively Saving?
Calculate your Coast FIRE number - the savings amount where compound growth alone reaches your retirement target. Includes the formula, worked examples at different ages, and growth projections.
FIRE Calculator: How to Calculate Your Financial Independence Number
Calculate your FIRE number - the amount needed to retire early. Covers the 25x rule, 4% rule, lean/fat/coast FIRE variations, and worked examples with real dollar amounts.
Mega Backdoor Roth Calculator: Supercharge Your Roth Contributions
Calculate the mega backdoor Roth benefit - how after-tax 401(k) contributions converted to Roth can add up to $46,500 extra per year in tax-free retirement savings.
Backdoor Roth Calculator: The High-Earner Strategy Explained
Calculate the benefit of a backdoor Roth IRA contribution. Understand the strategy, the pro-rata rule, and whether it makes sense for your income level.
401(k) vs. Roth 401(k) Calculator: Which One Wins?
Compare traditional 401(k) vs. Roth 401(k) outcomes based on current and future tax rates. See which produces more after-tax retirement income in your situation.
Roth Conversion Calculator: When Converting Makes Sense
Calculate whether a Roth conversion saves money over time. Compare paying taxes now vs. later, and find the optimal conversion amount for your tax situation.
Retirement Planning Template vs Free Retirement Calculator
Compare a one-time retirement calculator with an ongoing retirement planning template. One gives you a quick estimate. The other becomes your long-term planning companion.
FIRE Calculators and Spreadsheets Compared
Comparing FIRE calculators and spreadsheet tools for financial independence planning - from free online calculators to detailed retirement projection templates.
401(k) Calculator: How Contributions Grow Over a Career
Calculate how 401(k) contributions grow over time with employer matching. See the impact of contribution rate, match percentage, and investment returns.