Jessica Fick, now 39, realized at age 31 that she had reached a financial milestone that could allow her to stop aggressively saving for retirement. Instead of continuing to contribute to her investment accounts, she could let her existing savings compound for decades. This strategy, known as coast FI (financial independence), is gaining traction among younger individuals who aim for financial independence without necessarily retiring early.
The core concept of coast FI is that once enough money has been accumulated in retirement accounts, it can grow to the final target sum without further contributions. This approach can provide individuals with the flexibility to work fewer hours, take on less lucrative career paths, start businesses, or simply enhance their current quality of life.
Fick, who resides in New Hampshire, calculated that her $300,000 in savings could potentially grow to nearly $3 million by age 65, assuming an average annual return of 7 percent, without any additional savings. This realization came about a year after leaving a six-figure corporate human resources job due to severe burnout.
She explained that much of her identity had been tied to professional achievement, but she eventually decided she did not want to spend her working life recovering from her job. "I had already built a solid foundation by saving and investing consistently throughout my twenties," Fick stated. "That's what made coast FI so powerful for me. It helped me realize that the savings I'd accumulated weren't just preparing me for retirement someday. They could actually give me options much sooner."
Rather than immediately returning to a demanding corporate role, Fick accepted a part-time HR position at a nonprofit. This role offered significantly less pay but provided much-needed time and work-life balance. In 2019, while researching financial independence, she discovered Coast FI. "It showed me that once you've saved enough for your retirement investments to grow on their own, you don't necessarily have to keep optimizing for the highest salary," she said. "Instead, you have the freedom to make career decisions based on what matters most to you."
This discovery empowered Fick to explore different future possibilities instead of prioritizing increased earnings through longer work hours. In 2020, she launched The Fioneers, a business focused on financial independence and lifestyle design, while continuing her part-time work. By 2021, the business had grown sufficiently for her to leave her nonprofit job and dedicate herself to it full-time. Her husband joined her in this venture, leaving his own job in 2023. Later that year, the couple fully embraced the coast FI approach and ceased contributing to their retirement accounts, having accumulated $300,000 in savings.
Fick emphasizes that each individual must set their own coast FI goal based on personal needs and preferences. Factors such as age, desired retirement lifestyle, spending requirements, and assumptions about investment returns all influence this target amount. Potential changes in inflation, healthcare expenses, market fluctuations, and significant life events like having children or purchasing a home can also affect long-term financial needs.
Fick views coast FI as a planning tool rather than an absolute guarantee. She believes the primary benefit lies in the psychological shift that occurs when individuals realize they possess a substantial financial safety net. "Many people assume they need far more money than they actually do before they have options," Fick commented. "Calculating your coast FI number can help you see where you stand and what opportunities might already be within reach."
Her personal experience exemplifies the potential outcomes. Fick and her husband now run The Fioneers because they enjoy the work itself, not solely for income maximization. As business owners, their earnings fluctuate, but they have intentionally structured their spending around their priorities, which include home improvements and travel. The couple also works part-time and spends several months annually traveling in their campervan, a lifestyle Fick sees as the ultimate goal of coast FI. "It isn't just about reaching a financial milestone," she said. "It's about creating a life you don't want to retire from."
Fick encourages younger workers to consider not only their retirement savings but also their desired life before they stop working. She poses questions such as, "What kind of life do I want? What does success actually look like to me? If money weren't the deciding factor, how would I want to spend my time?"
She suggests that individuals do not need to wait until reaching their coast FI number to initiate changes. Fick recommends experimenting with smaller lifestyle adjustments, such as reducing work hours, engaging in freelance work, pursuing new hobbies, volunteering, or dedicating more time to family and friends. She also notes that not everyone needs to stop investing entirely upon reaching coast FI; for some, it may simply mean reducing their contributions.
The concept has gained broader attention as younger generations navigate high living costs, an unpredictable job market, and increasing skepticism about the traditional retirement model. While coast FI is often discussed alongside the FIRE movement, which emphasizes aggressive saving for early retirement, Fick perceives coast FI as less absolute. "You don't have to wait until you've reached coast FI to start moving in that direction," she stated. "No matter where you are on your financial journey, you can begin taking small steps and running little experiments to learn what brings you energy and fulfillment."
Fick's own journey began with burnout and an unplanned career shift, which ultimately provided an opportunity to re-evaluate her priorities regarding work and finances. Her aspiration is for others to recognize that they may possess more choices than they initially believe. "My goal isn't just to help people reach Coast FI," she said. "It's to help them use money as a tool to intentionally create lives that reflect their values."