· 7 min read
Is Coast FIRE Worth It? What You Gain and What Can Go Wrong
An honest look at Coast FIRE: what you gain, how often stopping at the line works in simulated markets, and the risks most plans leave out.
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The situations the basic formula doesn't cover. Each post walks through real numbers and links to the calculator, already filled in, so you can try them with your own.
New to the idea? Start with what Coast FIRE is and how the number is calculated. The posts below go further: planning as a couple, counting Social Security and pensions, health insurance before 65, the kind of work that fits once you're coasting, and how to actually get there.
· 8 min read
Coast FIRE for Physicians: Starting Late and Catching Up Fast
Doctors start saving in their 30s and still get there quickly. A new attending's numbers, what the 2026 loan changes mean, and how to coast with part-time or locums work.
Read the post· 7 min read
Military Coast FIRE: What a 20-Year Pension Does to Your Number
Retire from active duty at 20 years and the pension starts right away, with a COLA. Here's how to count it in Coast FIRE, and how the Blended Retirement System changes the math.
Read the post· 6 min read
Coast FIRE for Federal Employees Under FERS
For most FERS employees, coasting means dropping extra TSP savings while staying long enough for an immediate annuity. Leave early and you lose FEHB, the supplement and much of the pension.
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Coast FIRE When You're Self-Employed
No employer match and no steady paycheck, but a solo 401(k) lets you shelter far more of a modest income than a job would. How to set a Coast FIRE date when income swings.
Read the post· 8 min read
I Hit Coast FIRE. Now What?
You've crossed the line. How to check the number is real, why the employer match still matters, where the freed-up cash should go and when to start saving again.
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Coast FIRE vs Paying Off the Mortgage: Where Should the Extra $500 Go?
An extra mortgage payment earns your loan rate, guaranteed. Investing earns more on average. What each does to your Coast FIRE date, run through the calculator.
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Coast FIRE With Kids: How to Plan Around the Childcare Years
Daycare squeezes retirement savings for years. How to plan the dip on purpose, which contribution never to cut, and the 2026 tax breaks parents can use.
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How to Count Rental Income in a Coast FIRE Plan
Rent can pay part of your retirement bills so your portfolio doesn't have to. How to count it honestly: net rent, mortgage payoff timing, taxes and risk.
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Coast FIRE for Teachers: How a Pension Changes the Math
A pension covers much of a teacher's retirement, so the Coast FIRE number is far smaller. The catch: you coast on your 403(b) or 457(b), not by leaving early.
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Coast FIRE for Nurses: A Few Heavy Years, Then Fewer Shifts
A nurse who saves hard for about seven years can stop saving for retirement in her early thirties. The numbers, the accounts, and what coasting looks like on the unit.
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Coast FIRE for Software Engineers and Tech Workers
A 28-year-old engineer saving $5,000 a month can coast by 35. What RSUs, ESPP, the mega backdoor Roth and layoffs do to that date, with 2026 limits.
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The Best Coast FIRE Calculators (September 2026), Compared Honestly
Eight Coast FIRE calculators, checked in September 2026. What each one actually asks for, how it handles inflation, and which one fits the question you're trying to answer.
Read the post· 6 min read
The Best Jobs for Coast FIRE (and How to Choose One)
Your investments already have retirement covered. Job ideas sorted by what they give you, how much you need to earn once you're coasting, and the downsides to plan for.
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Coast FIRE and Health Insurance Before 65
Coasting often means a job without health benefits. Your options before Medicare, how Marketplace subsidies work for 2026 and 2027, and how to fold the cost into your number.
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Coast FIRE for Couples: How to Run the Numbers Together
Two incomes, two ages, one retirement. How to combine your numbers, what to do about an age gap, and the input that moves your date the most.
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How to Factor Social Security and Pensions Into Coast FIRE
Guaranteed income in retirement means your portfolio has less to cover. How to adjust your Coast FIRE number for it without fooling yourself.
Read the post· 8 min read
How to Reach Coast FIRE (and When You Can Expect To)
Your number, your monthly amount, the accounts to use, and what to do once you cross the line. With real timelines for how long it takes.
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