UntilFire

UntilFire is a personal finance application designed for individuals pursuing financial independence and the option to retire early (FIRE). It moves beyond basic retirement calculators by providing a comprehensive, integrated platform that combines FIRE planning, cashflow awareness, progress tracking, and actionable guidance. The core value proposition is to show users their exact "freedom date" -- the day work becomes optional -- and then provide a clear, data-driven path to move that date closer. The product securely connects to over 14,000 banks and brokerages via Plaid, allowing for real-time financial data synchronization. This tech-stack integration ensures that users are not working with stale, manually entered data but with a live picture of their financial landscape. UntilFire is built on the trusted 25x rule and the 4% safe withdrawal rate, the foundational math of the FIRE community. It is designed for anyone from complete beginners curious about the concept to seasoned savers optimizing their withdrawal strategy. The platform offers a free, no-login-required calculator for an immediate "second birthday" estimate, making the complex math of financial independence accessible and immediate. The premium tier unlocks deeper analytics, ranked next moves, and personalized action plans derived from actual spending data. UntilFire transforms the abstract goal of financial independence into a tangible, trackable, and achievable timeline, effectively bridging the gap between a user's current financial state and their desired future of freedom.

Freedom Date Calculation

This is the flagship feature, providing a precise date when work can become optional based on the user's current income, spending, and savings. The calculation is instantaneous and uses the standard FIRE math of the 25x rule and 4% safe withdrawal rate. Users can see their "second birthday" in days, hours, and minutes, making an abstract concept feel concrete and urgent. The feature is accessible for free without an account, lowering the barrier to entry for anyone curious about their timeline.

Decision Sliders and Impact Analysis

UntilFire provides interactive decision sliders that allow users to adjust variables like monthly savings, spending, or income. As the user moves a slider, the freedom date updates in real-time. This feature visually demonstrates the marginal impact of each financial decision, showing which lever (e.g., cutting spending vs. increasing income) has the most significant effect on shortening the timeline. It turns financial planning from a static calculation into a dynamic and educational experience.

Secure Bank and Brokerage Sync

The platform utilizes a secure API to connect directly with over 14,000 financial institutions, including major banks and brokerages. This integration automates the data import process, eliminating manual entry and ensuring the user's financial picture is always current. For Pro users, this sync enables advanced features like spending analysis and progress tracking. The connection is read-only and uses bank-level encryption, ensuring that sensitive financial data remains private and secure.

Ranked Next Moves and Action Plan

For Pro subscribers, UntilFire analyzes the user's synced transaction data to generate a prioritized list of actionable steps. These moves are ranked by the amount of time they save, from highest impact to lowest. Instead of generic advice, the user receives specific, personalized recommendations, such as "Reduce dining out by $200/month to move your freedom date forward by 6 months." This feature turns data into a clear, executable roadmap, guiding the user from insight to action.

Initial FIRE Feasibility Check

A user new to the FIRE concept can use the free calculator to input their income, spending, and net worth. In under a minute, they receive their FIRE number and a projected freedom date. This provides an immediate, data-backed reality check on their current financial trajectory, answering the fundamental question: "Am I on track, and if so, for when?" It serves as the perfect entry point for anyone considering financial independence.

Optimizing a Savings Strategy

A user who is already saving can use the decision sliders to test different scenarios. For example, they can see the difference between saving an extra $100 per month versus $500 per month. This use case helps users optimize their savings rate by showing the direct, time-based payoff of increased contributions. It empowers them to make informed trade-offs between current lifestyle spending and future freedom.

Monthly Progress Tracking and Accountability

A Pro user can connect their bank and brokerage accounts to automatically track their net worth and progress toward their FIRE target. The platform provides visual reports showing how their savings and investment growth are moving their freedom date. This turns the app into a monthly accountability tool, providing positive reinforcement when they are on track and a gentle nudge when they fall behind, helping maintain long-term discipline.

Retirement Location Planning

Users can use the "Where Will You Live It?" feature to explore how their cost of living impacts their FIRE number. By selecting a city from the 392-city dataset, they can see a local cost-of-living estimate and whether their current portfolio is sufficient for that location. This is critical for users considering geo-arbitrage, allowing them to match their financial target with a desired lifestyle and location, making the dream of early retirement more specific and attainable.

What is a freedom date?

The freedom date is the specific day when, based on your current financial data and projections, work can become optional. It is calculated using the 25x rule (you need 25 times your annual spending in investments) and the 4% safe withdrawal rate. UntilFire shows this date in days, hours, and minutes to make the concept of financial independence tangible and urgent.

How is this different from a regular FIRE calculator?

Most calculators provide a single number or year. UntilFire is a continuous planning platform. It offers dynamic "decision sliders" to see how changes affect your date, secure bank sync for live data, and a Pro tier that provides ranked, personalized action steps based on your actual spending. It is a complete system for moving your date forward, not just a one-time calculation.

Do I need an account to use UntilFire?

No. The core freedom date calculation and decision sliders are available for free without creating an account or providing any personal information. Your financial numbers remain private and are processed on your device. An account is only required for the Pro tier, which offers features like bank syncing and progress tracking.

Is this financial advice?

No. UntilFire is a financial planning and educational tool. It provides calculations and projections based on the assumptions you input and standard FIRE math (25x rule, 4% rule). It does not offer personalized investment advice, tax planning, or recommendations to buy or sell specific securities. Users should consult with a qualified financial advisor for advice tailored to their specific situation.

UntilFire offers a two-tier pricing structure: a perpetually free tier and a premium Pro subscription.

The Free tier includes the core freedom date calculation, interactive decision sliders, one clear next move, and the ability to share a result card. This tier requires no account and is designed for users to get an immediate, high-impact understanding of their financial independence timeline.

The Pro tier is available for $4.99 per month after a free trial period. The first three months of the Pro subscription are free. This tier unlocks everything in the Free version, plus ranked next moves sorted by time saved, a personalized action plan derived from your actual spending data, unlimited bank and brokerage sync, and detailed progress tracking and reports. The Pro subscription is designed for users who want a continuous, data-driven system to actively manage and accelerate their path to financial independence.