Financial Freedom

Decide how much capital you need to gain “financial freedom.”

As you set out to calculate how much money you need to stop worrying about money, the number that works for you could be a figure that lets you cover your bills, pay off your loans or travel. Don’t expect to follow rigid rules to reach your target. Your location, how frugal you are, the performance of the stock market and other factors can affect how much money you need. Regard this process as fluid: Your preferences could evolve and change in the future.

Your lifestyle will determine how much money you need. Think about what qualifies as a wonderful day for you. You may discover that you don’t need a lot of money to live an enjoyable, satisfying life. If you start your journey while you’re young, you’ll need less money before retirement, because your investments will grow through of the power of compounding. To increase the chance of your money lasting as long as you live, hit these goals:

• Save “at least 25 times your expected annual expenses.”
• Delay cashing in the gains from your investments.
• Make sure you have enough money to fund a year...