Everything You Need to Reach FI
From compound interest to tax strategy, college funding to post-FI withdrawals — 26 articles across 7 topics.
Start hereA Lightning-Fast Introduction to Financial Independence→Introduction to MoneyOnFIRE
Lightning-Fast Introduction to FI
The simple path to buying back your time—no matter your income.
From Flowchart to Action Plan: Your FI Journey Companion
The Reddit FI flowchart is an incredible resource. MoneyOnFire is the companion tool that turns its wisdom into your personalized roadmap.
Navigating the Challenges of FI
The biggest obstacles between you and financial independence—and practical strategies to overcome each one.
The 4% Rule: What It Gets Right—and What MOF Does Better
Discover the strengths and shortcomings of the 4% rule and how MOF improves on it with personalized, tax-aware, and inflation-aware FI planning.
College Series
Part 1: How Much Do You Need for College?
A step-by-step guide to integrating college savings into your financial independence journey.
Part 2: Accounting for Inflation
Converting today's college costs into the future dollars you'll actually need to save
Part 3: How do we solve?
Using time and compound growth to reach your inflation-adjusted college savings goal
Part 4: Where to Save for College
Understanding 529 plans and other college savings strategies
Choosing the Best 529 Plan
How to compare 529 plans on fees, state tax benefits, and investment options—and which ones consistently rank at the top.
Part 6: College and Your Financial Independence
Which one do you prioritize?
Thought Pieces
How Much Faster Is the Fastest Path?
Same household, same income, same starting point. Six different financial strategies. The gap between the worst and best path: 13 years.
We Love Our Kids—But How Much Do They Delay FI?
Children bring joy and meaning, but they also change your financial independence timeline. Here's how to think about the tradeoffs.
Not Just for Early Retirees
Financial independence isn't just for people who want to quit at 35. The advice works whether you're aiming for 45, 55, or 67. The real question isn't when you retire. It's how you get there fastest.
Reading your MOF report
The Importance of Rebalancing Your Accounts
Why account balance is the critical first step in your FI journey
Building Your Emergency Fund in Two Stages
Why MOF recommends a phased approach to financial resilience
RSUs and FI. Keep or Sell?
What RSUs actually are, how they're taxed, and how to decide whether to sell or hold — with worked examples
Understanding Our Approach to Managing Debt
How MOF prioritizes high-interest debt to fast-track your financial independence
The Strategic Role of Taxable Brokerage Accounts in Your FI Plan
Why taxable accounts are flexible, tax-smart tools that complement retirement savings—and unlock early-access options for FI.
How MOF Handles College Savings
How our engine balances college funding against financial independence — and the mechanics behind the math
Understanding 401(k) Accounts and Employer Matching
How tax advantages and free money from your employer accelerate your FI journey
Understanding 529 Plans
How 529 college savings plans work, their tax benefits, and how they fit into your overall financial plan.
Maths and Mechanics
The Power of Compound Interest
Discover how the power of compound interest can dramatically accelerate your path to financial independence—and why every year counts.
The Hidden Cost That's Stealing Your Retirement
How a 1% fee difference costs the average investor $590,000 over 30 years—and why most people never notice until it's too late.
Engineering
Why we moved from AWS to Vercel
Our motivation and experience migrating a compute-intensive financial planning engine from AWS to Vercel
Vibe Coding a CMS
How we built MoneyOnFIRE's content system with AI-assisted development — and then leveraged AI within tight guardrails to assist with content
Ready to build your plan?
Use MoneyOnFIRE to see exactly how different strategies affect your timeline to financial independence.
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