# Coast FIRE

> How the Coast FIRE benchmark is represented in a long-horizon scenario.

## What Coast FIRE means

**Coast FIRE** is a benchmark based on whether invested assets reach a modelled target without further contributions under the scenario's return and inflation assumptions.

People sometimes use the concept to model changes such as:

- Taking a lower-stress job
- Going part-time
- Starting a business that may pay less at first
- Taking a career break

The benchmark is not a statement that a person can stop contributing or that any change is suitable. The numerical result changes when its assumptions change.

## The basic intuition

Coast FIRE is a time-and-compounding story:

- Early on, contributions matter most
- Later, portfolio growth matters more

Coast FIRE is the transition point between those phases.

## How to model Coast FIRE

A useful Coast FIRE model needs:

1. A realistic **starting net worth**
2. Reasonable **investment return and inflation** assumptions
3. A clear change in **cash flow rules** after that point

In Plan in Decades you can model this by:

- Adding a milestone for Coast FIRE
- Reducing contributions after that milestone
- Comparing that path with the original scenario

Coast FIRE is sensitive to assumptions. Treat it as a numerical benchmark within the scenario, not a forecast, recommendation, or guarantee.

Canonical page: https://planindecades.com/help/finances/features/coast-fire/