RS40.com — Retire at 40

Retire at 40.
It's possible. It's a plan.

A growing number of people are rejecting the idea that 65 is the only acceptable retirement age. RS40.com is the home for everything related to retiring at 40 — the strategies, the math, the tradeoffs, and the mindset.

25×

Annual expenses saved = financial independence

Safe withdrawal rate (the FIRE baseline)

Years earlier than most people even consider it

Financial Independence, Not Just Quitting Work

Retiring at 40 doesn't mean doing nothing for the next 50 years. It means reaching a point where work is optional — where your investment portfolio generates enough passive income to cover your expenses indefinitely, and you choose how you spend your time.

The FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) has developed a clear mathematical framework for this: save 25 times your annual expenses, invest it in low-cost index funds, and withdraw 4% per year. The research behind that number suggests it survives most historical market conditions over a 30+ year retirement.

At 40, you're looking at a 50-year retirement horizon. That's longer than most traditional retirement planning accounts for — which is exactly why the strategy matters and the planning has to start early.

What It Takes to Retire at 40

High Savings Rate

The single biggest lever. Saving 50–70% of income compresses the timeline dramatically. Most people saving 15% take 40 years. Saving 60% takes closer to 12.

Low-Cost Investing

Index funds with expense ratios under 0.1%. Every dollar in fees is a dollar not compounding. Over 20 years, fees compound too — in the wrong direction.

Healthcare Strategy

The gap between 40 and Medicare at 65 requires a plan. ACA marketplace coverage, health sharing ministries, or part-time work that carries benefits are the main paths.

The Math Check

Annual expenses × 25 = your number. Not your salary — your actual expenses. Most people discover they spend significantly less than they earn when they track it honestly.