Alpine Road Financial · FIRE Planning Tool You're in. Here's your calculator. What does that car actually cost you? Every dollar you spend today requires a FIRE number to support it forever — and sacrifices 20 years of compounding. Plug in your real numbers below. Option A — Keep It Your Paid-Off Car Loan payment 0 Insurance /mo 120 Gas /mo 200 Maintenance /mo 150 Registration /mo 30 Total / Month $500 Option B — New Car Brand New Car Loan payment 1150 Insurance /mo 250 Charging /mo 50 Maintenance /mo 80 Registration /mo 120 Total / Month $1,650 Your Numbers Adjust to match your situation. Defaults assume age 45, retiring at 65, 7% market growth. Current Age 45 Retirement Age 65 Market Return % 7 The Full Math Step-by-step, what each option demands from your financial independence number. Step 1 Monthly cost All-in cost of ownership per month Paid-Off Car $500 New Car $1,650 Step 2 Annual cost Monthly × 12 Paid-Off Car $6,000 New Car $19,800 Step 3 — FIRE Number Portfolio needed to cover this expense forever Annual cost × 25 (4% safe withdrawal rate) Paid-Off Car $150,000 New Car $495,000 Step 4 — If You Invest the Savings Monthly savings invested over 20 years at your market return If you invest the savings instead — at your market return rate Additional Wealth at Retirement $599,066 The Real Question Invest the monthly savings and build an extra $599,066 by retirement That's what your monthly savings compounds to if invested at your expected market return. On top of the FIRE number reduction — this is the bonus. Monthly × 12 = Annual cost · Annual × 25 = FIRE Number · Monthly Δ invested monthly = Future Value Step 2 See a number that surprises you? The car is one piece of your FIRE plan. If you want to map out the full picture, I offer a free 30-minute intro call. No pitch, no pressure. Book a Free Intro Call → Jonathan Nagy, CFP® · Alpine Road Financial