Blog
Notes on freedom, early, and across borders
Short, plain writing about financial independence and retiring early: the types of FIRE, the 4 percent rule, and the part almost every tool skips, what happens to your plan when you retire in a different country than the one you saved in. From the maker of Runway.
FIRE calculators and retiring abroad: which ones handle a cross-border move
Most FIRE calculators assume you retire where you live now. Plan to move and two things break: the exit tax when you leave and the destination's tax on your withdrawals. A straight comparison of ProjectionLab, Boldin, Empower, the expat calculators, and where Runway fits.
The FIRE number in Norway, and the local rules that bend it
The 4 percent rule gives you a starting number. Then three Norwegian rules move it: the yearly wealth tax on a big pot, the ASK account's friendly withdrawal order, and the state pension that arrives later and shrinks the pot you need. Plus the exit tax if you ever leave.
Exit tax: what it really costs to leave Norway with your investments
Leave Norway and the gains you hold on paper but never sold can be taxed as if you cashed out on your last day. What the exit tax is, why it hits early retirees hardest, and how to see it coming before it lands on your plan.
FIRE apps for iPhone: what actually runs on your phone
Most FIRE planners are websites or spreadsheets. A real native iPhone app that is an actual planner, and not wired to US tax law, is rare. A plain look at the iOS field, and where Runway fits.
The types of FIRE, explained: Lean, Fat, Coast, and Barista
FIRE is not one number. Lean, Fat, Coast, and Barista are different routes to the same freedom, and the differences come down to how much you spend and whether you fully stop. A plain guide to which is which.
The 4 percent rule, and where it actually breaks
The most quoted number in FIRE is a great starting point, not a law. Where it holds, where it breaks (long retirements, sequence risk, non-US taxes), and what to do about it.
Coast FIRE: the moment you can stop saving
Coast FIRE is the point where your invested money will grow into your full number on its own, so you can stop adding to it and just cover today's costs. How to find your Coast number.
Barista FIRE: going part-time before the pot is full
Leave the full-time grind for part-time work that covers some of your costs, so your savings can be smaller or last longer. How it works, and the number you need.
More on the way: the FIRE number country by country, what an exit tax really costs, and how the Norwegian rules (ASK, IPS, formuesskatt) change your date. Want the next one in your inbox? Join the launch list.