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Financial Independence Calculator
Pressure-test your path to financial independence with live assumptions, projections, and year-by-year detail.
Financial Independence Calculator
This calculator helps you estimate the investable assets you need to reach financial independence on your own terms. Use the figures as a starting point for a conversation, not as a substitute for personal advice.
Jump to calculatorHow it works
To estimate your financial independence target, enter two key details: the age you want to become financially independent, and the annual amount you expect to spend to maintain your chosen lifestyle.
The calculator then applies a small set of assumptions to project the asset base required to meet your goal. You can choose between two calculation methods depending on whether you want to draw down capital over time or preserve it for life.
Drawdown Capital
This method estimates the investable assets required to fund your lifestyle from your financial independence age through to your nominated life expectancy. Your capital is gradually drawn down over the funding period, so the target is typically lower than the sustainable-income approach.
Rising, Sustainable Income Stream
This method estimates the assets needed to fund an inflation-linked income stream indefinitely, without eroding your capital. Because the principal stays intact, longevity is not a risk and wealth can be passed on to future generations.
No government allowances included
This calculator does not factor in government entitlements such as the Age Pension. To be genuinely financially independent, we believe the target should be achievable without relying on government support.
If government benefits are likely to play an important role in your plan, we recommend seeking tailored advice. Our team can help you navigate the rules and build them into your broader strategy.
Financial Independence Calculator
Estimate the capital you need to fund your desired lifestyle and see how your projected assets track against that target. General information only, not personal financial advice.
Your assumptions
Drawdown Capital depletes to zero by life expectancy. Rising Sustainable Income preserves capital and grows income with inflation.
Your results
Disclaimers
- This calculator is a model, not a prediction. Results depend entirely on the inputs and assumptions you enter and cannot account for real-world events like market volatility, changes in tax rules or personal circumstances.
- The output is general information only and is not personal financial advice. It should not be relied on as the sole basis for any financial decision.
- Government entitlements such as the Age Pension are deliberately excluded, genuine financial independence should not rely on government support.
Assumptions
- Withdrawals are assumed to be made at the start of each year.
- Withdrawals increase annually in line with your nominated inflation rate.
- No allowance has been made for any government support payments such as the Age Pension.
- Target expenditure is entered in today's dollars and is indexed each year by your nominated inflation rate.
- Investment returns are assumed to be earned consistently every year at the rate you enter, actual returns will vary and can be negative.
- No investment fees or taxes have been factored into the calculation. All returns are assumed to be net of fees and before tax.
- Contributions are assumed to be made evenly during the accumulation phase and stop at your nominated financial independence age.
- Under the Drawdown Capital method, capital is drawn down to zero by your nominated life expectancy. The formula used is the present value of a growing annuity: PV = (P / (r - g)) × (1 - ((1 + g) / (1 + r))^n).
- Under the Rising, Sustainable Income Stream method, only investment earnings are drawn, capital is preserved and the income stream grows with inflation indefinitely. The formula used is the present value of a growing perpetuity: PV = P / (r - g).
- Superannuation preservation age, contribution caps and transfer balance caps are not modelled, investable assets are treated as a single pool available when needed.
Results are estimates only and do not constitute personal financial advice. Speak with FI Advice before making decisions.
Turn insight into a plan.
A conversation with FI Advice is complimentary, obligation-free, and entirely focused on your goals.