Coast Retirement · Research
When can I stop contributing to retirement?
You can consider stopping or reducing retirement contributions when your current portfolio is large enough to compound to your retirement number by your target retirement age, using realistic return and spending assumptions.
What this means
“Stop contributing” is not the same as “retire.” It means your retirement accounts may already be on track if markets cooperate. You still need income for current spending, insurance, and goals before retirement age.
How it works
Compare today's invested balance to your Coast FIRE number (discounted future FIRE number). If balance ≥ Coast number, additional retirement contributions are optional for hitting the nominal target.
FIRE Number = Annual retirement spending ÷ Safe withdrawal rate Coast FIRE Number = FIRE Number ÷ (1 + real return) ^ years until retirement
Example
Target $2M at age 55, Coast number $516k at 7% real. At $550k invested at age 35, you could stop new contributions and still project to the target — but a job loss or bear market early on could change that.
Assumptions
- You will not withdraw from retirement accounts for current spending before retirement
- Returns match your long-run assumption
- Retirement spending estimate is accurate
Limitations
Does not model one-time expenses, college, or early withdrawals. Stress-test in the full planner and consider keeping some contributions as margin.
Common mistakes
- Stopping 401(k) match while still employed
- Ignoring Roth vs pre-tax allocation
- Using Coast FIRE while drawing down the same portfolio for living costs
Related tools
FAQ
Can I stop maxing my 401(k)?
Only if you've verified Coast FIRE with your numbers and understand you're trading extra safety for flexibility. Employer match is still usually worth taking.
Should I stop all investing?
Many households still invest in taxable accounts for medium-term goals even after Coast FIRE.
What if markets crash right after I stop?
Sequence risk matters. A cash buffer and flexible spending help; see sequence-of-returns research on our site.
Does Coast FIRE include my house?
Typically only investable assets count unless you model housing separately in the planner.
How often should I recheck?
Annually or after large life changes (income, spending, divorce, inheritance).
CoastRetirement.com provides educational calculators and planning models. It does not provide individualized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Calculator outputs depend on user-provided assumptions and are not guarantees of future results. Consult a qualified professional before making financial or tax decisions.