Roth vs Traditional 401(k) for FIRE Is Bracket Arbitrage
Roth vs Traditional 401(k) for FIRE is bracket arbitrage: deduct at your top rate now, withdraw lean at a low effective rate, convert cheap in gap years.
Category
Investing
Low-cost index funds, ETFs, asset allocation, and dividend strategy that help FIRE savers compound wealth toward financial independence on autopilot.
14 posts
Lower Expected Returns Early Retirement Math at 3% Real
The lower expected returns early retirement math, repriced. Timelines at 3% real, the 25x vs 30x choice, and the levers that buy the years back.
Savings Rate vs Investment Returns at the FIRE Crossover
Savings rate vs investment returns: past a calculable crossover point, returns move your FIRE date more than scrimping. See the $50k to $2M lever table.
Rental Properties vs Index Funds Priced as a Second Job
Rental properties vs index funds, priced as a job. Tally landlording's real hours, compute the implicit hourly wage, and check when rentals win.
Living Off Dividends at 9% Breaks Down Over 50 Years
Living off dividends at a 9% yield looks like retiring at 11x expenses. Here is why that math fails over a 50-year FIRE horizon and what to hold instead.
How Often Should You Check Your Portfolio on the FIRE Path
How often should you check your portfolio? Almost never while accumulating on the FIRE path, then monthly once retired; the noise math explains why.
Stock Picking vs Index Funds? A 5% Answer for FIRE
A capped 5% speculation sleeve settles stock picking vs index funds for FIRE. Total loss costs months, not years, and the rulebook keeps it that way.
Why the TIPS Inflation Hedge Fails Early Retirees
The TIPS inflation hedge fails FIRE portfolios by tracking CPI-U instead of personal inflation. See why long-duration TIPS create a structural shortfall.
FIRE Withdrawal Rate Stress Test From Japan's 34-Year Crash
Japan's Nikkei needed 34 years to fully recover from its 1989 peak. We stress test what that means for your FIRE withdrawal rate and the 4% rule.
Your FIRE Withdrawal Strategy Breaks at Retirement
FIRE withdrawal strategy breaks at retirement when the optimization function stays set to the accumulation phase. The fix is structural, not psychological.
Asset Location Strategy Most FIRE Savers Skip
Asset location strategy for FIRE shows where index funds belong in taxable, traditional, and Roth accounts across a 40 to 60 year retirement horizon.
DIY Investing vs Financial Advisor When Behavioral Costs Bite
On a 12-year FIRE timeline, the DIY investing vs financial advisor decision flips when one behavioral mistake costs more than your entire fee savings.