Financial Disclaimer

1. Not Financial Advice

FIREmap is an educational tool. All content on this website — including the FIRE calculator, learning articles, and curated resources — is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes personalized financial advice, investment recommendations, legal advice, or tax advice. Results from the calculator are projections based on simplified mathematical models, not professional financial planning.

2. Model Limitations

The FIRE calculator assumes constant annual return rates and a fixed inflation rate for the entire projection period. Real financial markets are volatile — returns vary significantly year to year, and sequence-of-returns risk (poor returns early in retirement) is not modeled. The calculator does not account for major life events such as job loss, divorce, disability, inheritance, large medical expenses, or changes in family size. Actual results will differ from projections.

3. The 4% Rule — Context and Limitations

The 4% safe withdrawal rate is derived from US historical market data and was popularized by the Trinity Study (Cooley, Hubbard & Walz, 1998). It was designed for traditional 30-year retirements. For retirements spanning 40 or more years — common in the FIRE community — some researchers and financial planners suggest a more conservative withdrawal rate of 3% to 3.5%. The appropriate rate for your situation depends on your asset allocation, flexibility to reduce spending, and other income sources.

4. Taxes

Calculator projections do not account for income taxes, capital gains taxes, required minimum distributions (RMDs), Social Security benefits, state and local taxes, or tax-advantaged account withdrawal rules (Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), etc.). Your actual after-tax income in retirement may differ substantially from the figures shown. Tax laws change frequently and vary by jurisdiction.

5. Consult a Professional

Before making significant financial decisions based on any projections from this site, we strongly encourage you to consult qualified professionals:

• •Fee-only fiduciary financial advisor — compensated only by you, legally obligated to act in your interest
• •Certified Public Accountant (CPA) — for tax planning and optimization strategies
• •Estate planning attorney — for wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations

You can find fee-only fiduciary advisors through the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) or Garrett Planning Network.

6. External Links

The Resources page links to external websites, books, podcasts, and tools for educational purposes. FIREmap does not endorse, recommend, or have any affiliation with any linked products, services, or companies. Inclusion of a resource is not an endorsement, and exclusion does not imply disapproval. Always conduct your own research before using any financial product or service.

7. No Liability

The creators and operators of FIREmap are not liable for any financial decisions, investment losses, tax liabilities, or other consequences arising from your use of this website or reliance on its content. You use this site at your own risk. The information is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied.