⚠ ACA Subsidy Cliff Check (2026)
After enhanced ACA subsidies expired, withdrawals above 400% of the Federal Poverty Level can cost $16,000+ more per year in healthcare premiums. Check your exposure below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FIRE?
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. The movement centers on saving and investing aggressively — often 50% or more of income — to build a portfolio large enough to sustain your living expenses indefinitely. The standard benchmark is 25 times your annual expenses, based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate from the Trinity Study.
What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is the point where your current investments, left untouched, will compound to your full FIRE number by traditional retirement age. Once you hit Coast FIRE, you only need to earn enough to cover today's expenses — you no longer need to save for retirement.
What is Barista FIRE?
Barista FIRE is a semi-retirement approach where you have enough saved to partially fund your lifestyle through portfolio withdrawals, but supplement with part-time or lower-stress work. The term comes from the idea of working at a coffee shop for benefits and spending money while your portfolio does the heavy lifting.
How much do I need for FIRE?
Your FIRE number depends on your annual expenses. Multiply your yearly spending by 25. For Lean FIRE ($30K/yr spending), that's $750K. For a standard FIRE at $50K/yr, it's $1.25M. Fat FIRE at $120K/yr requires $3M. The calculator above gives you a precise projection based on your inputs.
What about healthcare after FIRE?
Healthcare is one of the biggest wildcards in early retirement planning. In 2026, with enhanced ACA subsidies expired, early retirees whose income exceeds 400% of the Federal Poverty Level face full-price premiums — often $16,000 or more per year for a family. Managing withdrawals to stay below the subsidy cliff is a critical strategy. Use the ACA calculator above to check your exposure.
