FIRE Progress Report for January 2021 (New Year Edition)

A new year, and a good time to reset some numbers. Our numbers changed significantly this month because I decided to remove the unvested RSUs (restricted stock units) until they vest. Technically, they’re not mine until they vest anyhow. They also cause our monthly numbers to vary widely from time to time.

In addition, my employer changed providers for the stock purchase program and RSUs to E*Trade. That’s fine, but it also means that my contributions that I make each paycheck no longer get added into my numbers. I won’t see them until shares are purchased twice a year.

One thing that moved us in a positive direction was the annual HSA employer contribution. All things considered, our numbers look like their down because it set us back 2-3 months from where we were before.

If you’re wondering what I use to track these numbers monthly, it’s Personal Capital. You can start using them too and we both get $20: https://pcap.rocks/adam4058

How did this affect us?

This month we had to pay property taxes, and for the second visit to have our plumbing issues resolved in December. Even with those things, our expenses were lower this January compared to 2020.

  • Property Taxes – $1097
  • Plumbing – $150

The Money Related Numbers

Current and future value against Minimum FIRE Goal and 25x Expenses Goal

43.98% to target number (previously 51.77%)

This is our invested assets/target number. Our invested assets span across a variety of investment vehicles such as 401k, HSA, IRA, Roth IRA, ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Program) and standard taxable mutual funds.

90 months (previously 91)

The number of months until my 45th birthday and our finish date.

64.61 months (previously 53.09)

The number of expected months until we reach our target number based on our current expected monthly contributions, assuming a 10% annual return.

The Expense Related Numbers

12.19 times annual spending (previously 14.25)

This is how many multiples of our annual spending we have saved up towards our goal. For example, if this value was 9.1 and we spent $10,000 annually, we would have $91,000 saved up.

48.76% to minimum FIRE (previously 56.99%)

The minimum number to achieve FIRE is 25 times our annual spending. This number shows how close we are to the absolute minimum.

27.72 times annual spending at goal number (previously 27.52)

We have a goal amount that we’d like to reach. Given our current annual spending, this is how many times our annual spending we’ll have saved when we reach our goal number.

How Much We Invested

-22.76% Month to Month Change In How Much Saved (previously 54.56%)

This number shows the change in what we saved this month compared to the prior month in things like 401k, Roth IRA, taxable accounts, and Employee Stock Purchase Program.

-22.68% Month to Month Change in How Much Saved With Employer Contributions (previously 51.54%)

Same as the prior number, but with employer contributions counted.

-1.04% Month to Month Change in 6 Month Savings Average (previously 12.61%)

This number show the change in what we saved this month compared to the prior month, but on a 6 month rolling average. This helps to smooth out months over time and shows a more general trend.

-1.46% of 6 Month Average Net Income Invested With Employer Contributions (previously 10.93%)

Same as the prior number, but with employer contributions counted.

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