How to Reach Coast FIRE (The Relaxed Way to Retire!)

What It Covers

Andy Hill explains how he reached Coast FIRE by age 37 with $550,000 invested, then left his $180,000 corporate job to work 20-25 hours weekly while supporting a family of four.

Key Questions Answered

• •Coast FIRE calculation: Accumulate enough invested assets that compound growth alone reaches retirement goals without additional contributions, allowing reduced work hours immediately. Hill's $550,000 at 37 projects to $2-3 million by age 60 without adding another dollar.
• •Entrepreneurship safety net: Build $100,000 liquid cash plus paid-off mortgage before leaving corporate work. Hill spent only $30,000 of his cushion during pandemic disruption, giving him three months to pivot his business model when initial contracts disappeared in 2020.
• •Part-time business structure: Design work around a compressed Tuesday-Thursday schedule to create four-day weekends. This allows mental separation from work and prevents the always-on corporate mindset where weekends never truly provide rest. Hill now earns over $200,000 working 20-25 hours weekly.
• •At-will employment reality: Every US state except Montana operates under at-will employment, meaning termination can happen anytime without cause. Hill's colleague who replaced him was laid off six months later during pandemic cuts, validating his decision to leave proactively with financial preparation.