Build the plan that makes work optional
Financial independence isn't a mystery — it's a map. Sort what you own, name the income you want, and watch the one number that matters come into focus.
Skip the theory — build your plan with your own numbers
The interactive worksheet lets you add what you actually own, watches it sort into the four buckets, and shows your real GLOW number and the gap to bridge — updating as you type.
Everything you own does one of four jobs
Lifestyle keeps you comfortable. Nest-egg sets you free. Active builds fast. Foundations keep it all standing.
Home, car, boat, holiday house. If this is all you own, you'll have to work forever to feed it.
Positive cashflow without your time. Step away for a year and they keep paying. This bucket buys back your work.
The wealth builders. A business or geared property that needs your time or money. Faster growth, higher risk — handle with strategy.
So it can't collapse. Insurance, a current will, power of attorney. If life goes sideways, your whole world doesn't fall in with it.
If you were free right now, what would you want to live on?
"$90k for life plus $30k for the good stuff is $120k a year — a $3,000,000 GLOW number. With $650k already invested, the bridge left to build is $2,350,000."
How much money do you need to retire in Australia?
The honest answer is a multiplication, not a mystery: the annual income you want × 25. That's the maths behind the 4% rule the FIRE movement runs on — in FIRE language it's your FIRE number; here we call it your GLOW number, because it's about finding your enough, not your maximum. Income of $60,000 a year points to roughly $1.5m; $120,000 points to $3m — and super plus the eventual Age Pension usually mean you need less outside super than the raw number suggests.
Want to pressure-test it? See how long your savings would last at different draw rates, or read the full guide to how to retire early in Australia.
Five levers that grow the Own bucket
You don't need all of them, and you don't need them at once. Most journeys to a GLOW number are built from a few of these, repeated patiently for years.
Your surplus is the fuel for everything else. Know what comes in, what goes out, and make sure every spare dollar has a job — automatically moved to building wealth before you can spend it.
Drip money into low-cost, diversified index funds every payday — the same amount, rain or shine. This is dollar-cost averaging: you stop trying to time the market and let time do the work instead.
Super is usually your most tax-effective nest-egg wrapper. Using more of your yearly contribution cap — where it suits your situation — can grow the Own bucket faster than the same dollars invested outside it.
An investment property bought for long-term capital growth can accelerate the plan — historically doubling over roughly 15 years. It's an Active asset though: more risk, more moving parts, and it needs a clear strategy.
The fastest bridge is worth nothing if one bad event washes it away. The right level of life, income protection, TPD and trauma cover — plus a current will — keeps the plan intact when life doesn't go to plan. Often it can even be funded from super to protect your cashflow.
Check you're still on track
Life changes — your situation, the markets, the rules, and your goals. A plan you never look at quietly drifts. Reviewing at least once a year compares where you should be with where you actually are, so you can adjust early instead of finding out too late.
You've got the map. Want a guide?
Everything here is yours to run with. And whenever you'd like a friendly second opinion on your numbers — or just someone to think out loud with — we're always happy to talk it through. No pressure, no pitch.
General information only — it doesn't consider your objectives, situation or needs. Consider advice from a licensed AU adviser before acting.