Emma Clark, 33 — Single, Digital Nomad
Emma is a FIRE enthusiast who works remotely as a freelance software developer, leveraging geo-arbitrage to minimize expenses while traveling through Southeast Asia and Europe.
Emma's FIRE strategy
- Current Portfolio: $350,000 in a globally diversified, equity-heavy portfolio (90% Global Equities / 10% Bonds).
- Savings Rate: Puts aside $35,000 annually from her high freelance income.
- FIRE Target: Accumulate $1.5 million by age 45 (12 years) to fund a permanently sustainable retirement.
The linear answer: "Right on schedule"
Assuming a steady 8% annual return, her portfolio would surpass $1.5M just before age 45.
The RetireSIM reality: a coin flip, not a certainty
When we stress-test against thousands of scenarios — bear markets, sequence risk, variable inflation — the picture changes dramatically.
It's a coin flip — half of market scenarios get her to $1.5M on time, half don't.
A major bear market during her late 30s or early 40s could delay her FIRE date by 5–7 years.
Why such high variance? Her 90/10 allocation amplifies both gains and losses. A prolonged downturn in her early 40s — when her portfolio is largest — could substantially delay her target.
Related: digital nomad FIRE, early retirement calculator, geo-arbitrage, FIRE by 45, Monte Carlo FIRE simulation