The FIRE Movement Is Dead!! (What You Need to Know)

Is the FIRE movement officially dead? There are a few major problems with the FIRE movement, and we've noticed it moving in a different direction the last few years. Here's what you need to know about early retirement and why traditional FIRE may not be as popular anymore.

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[Willi-wq]

Biggest lesson i learnt in 2023 in the stock market is that nobody knows what is going to happen next, so practice some humility and low a strategy with a long term edge.

[frostedcornflakes]

I wanted FIRE so bad that in my mid 20s, I got super depressed for 4 years because i felt like i wasn’t getting anywhere closer to my goal. Once I got out of the slump, I realized I’m doing better than most of my peers and I’m currently on track for a successful retirement

[dylanstandridge]

The kind of person that is disciplined enough to do FIRE is typically not the kind of person that can find purpose in playing golf every day.

[HibiscusHigh]

Learned about FIRE in my mid-40s. Was way behind in my savings. Now I am into FIROT: Financial Independence Retire On Time 🙃

[motobikemike]

I love how every episode begins with Bo saying "Brian I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!" Love his enthusiasm. Need a t-shirt with him saying that.

[CraigandMandy]

I retired at 55 two weeks ago. It's not dead for me!

[drew]

Maybe I'm just weird, but I would have ZERO issues being retired starting tomorrow. There are a billion films to watch, games to play, places to visit, people to meet. If you retire and don't know what to do with yourself, then that means that you made work your entire identity.

[conggao]

Focus on FI, not necessarily the RE part.

[xmochix]

For us it’s FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE RECREATIONAL EMPLOYMENT 💁🏻‍♀️get to do what we want. We’re 38 and will reach FIRE in 3-4 years and we’re freaking excited. 🎉🎉

[daheni]

For me FIRE is to work until 50 as an engineer, then pivot to working for a national park or something outdoor and low stress

[saxassoon]

I think for most people, FIRE can be a useful tool to keep you ahead of where you actually need to be to retire on time. Because, to be honest, most people probably dont want to be retired for 40 to 50 years. However, the financial decisons that would put you on the track to retire that early, even if you dont reach those goals, will definitely set you up to be MUCH more comfortable retiring on time

[allisonmeyer]

Love the FIRE movement! Since I found it in 2016, I have used these concepts in my own life 1) FU money, 2) exiting active mutual funds for index funds, 3) mini retirement, 4) international geographic arbitrage, 5) Roth conversion ladder, and 6) coast FIRE/semi-retirement. There is so much more to it than how much you need to save to retire. I'm in the messy middle now with 3 young kids, and aggressive saving prior to kids gave my spouse and me so many more options now.

[loborocket]

Started my career as an Architect then shifted to software development and made a very good living. Looking at “retiring” early and going back to Architecture but not worried about how much $ I make doing it. Working on the projects I find interesting or challenging and turning away the projects that do not inspire me.

[MC-gjfg]

There's a difference between frugal and cheap. The cheap person isn't willing to commit money regardless of the value proposition, and even to the point where the unwillingness to spend actually can cost them. Frugal people may be cautious in spending, but they aren't fearful of it, and they ultimately understand cost/benefit analysis.

[digitsandfidgets]

For me FIRE is my plan IN CASE my husband or me become long term disabled or laid off and having a hard time getting another job as we age. This is our way as we are young to allow us to have peace in our future if things change outside of our control.

[wpelfeta]

I used to be so into fire in my 20s. All I wanted was to quit working and go on a forever vacation. But now in my mid 30s, I'm starting to realize that I'm no longer the same person. I actually really love my job and it's a huge part of my identity. I have a lot of pride in what I do and as I get closer to retirement, I'm asking myself if I would be happy letting it go. And these days, the answer is no. Now, I think my plan is just Financial Independence without the early retirement.

[kentmedia]

I'm almost 40, and I'm really targeting just to be able to drop out of the corporate grind at age 50 and have options to do other things but still earn an income. Then at age 60 to be able to live the rest of my life not concerned about earning income at all. I don't really see myself "retiring" as sitting around not being productive for the rest of my life, just opening doors to choose to do things the way I'd like.

[joelcorley]

I did FIRE late in life. I started at 39 after divorcing a spendthrift spouse. I was already seeing health issues and I was panicked about not being able to have a comfortable retirement and potentially being forced to retire by the time I was 60.

My goal was to retired some time between 55 and 60. I actually hit my number at 54 and retired at 56. By the time I retired I was suffering from a couple of significant health issues. Fortunately my mental facilities have not declined as much as I expected, but there has been other physical deterioration that has made doing many things difficult. But at least seeing these problems coming up has allowed me to be realistic about how much I really need to be comfortable in my old age.

[sstrongman]

I’m not retired, however I have been unemployed anywhere from 4-7 months 3 times now in 10 years due to the nature of my industry. I can get behind the idea that as long as you have someone to enjoy your time doing things with it is so much better. The first time, I had lots of friends and family that I was able to do things with. The second time was during Covid. The loneliness and boredom is real!!! Believe it or not online video games got me through it by giving me a community to connect with.

[eddiemalvin]

I really appreciate how they acknowledged that the fundamentals in the FIRE movement have been around for decades. It's nothing new but the "branding" and discussion that have resurfaced are helping a lot.