#003 What if retirement wasn’t something that happened at 65? What if financial independence wasn’t about escaping work, but about reclaiming choice?

In this episode, I break down the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement from the ground up where it came from, how the maths actually works, and why it’s about far more than money.

This isn’t a hype piece or a promise of beachside cocktails at 40. Rather, it’s a grounded look at FIRE as a framework for designing freedom on your own terms.

We cover:

• How I first discovered FIRE during Singapore’s COVID lockdown and why it totally changed my life
• The simple maths behind early retirement (and why savings rate matters more than income)
• The 4% rule, the Trinity Study, and how to calculate your own “Enough” number
• The different flavours of FIRE: Lean, Fat, Coast, and Barista - and who each one suits
• Common myths about FIRE (it’s only for the wealthy, it means never working again, it requires extreme frugality)
• Why the FIRE movement is evolving massively from pure financial optimisation toward purpose, identity, and alignment

At its core, FIRE isn’t about quitting work as fast as possible. It’s about building enough financial stability that work becomes optional and life becomes something you actively design, not just endure.

This episode lays the foundation for everything that follows on Life After Enough - from emotional wellbeing, to identity, to what actually happens once the number is reached.

• Get Rich Slowly: the “stages of financial independence” framework
• Mr. Money Mustache: he Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement
• ChooseFI: early FIRE inspiration and community
• Trinity Study: the Trinity Study on safe withdrawal rates
• A Richer Retirement: updated research by Bill Bengen (who is the originator of the 4% rule) on withdrawal strategies
• Ramit Sethi: “Rich Life” philosophy on spending with intention

• FIRE is about options, not extreme early retirement
• Your savings rate matters more than your salary
• There’s no single “right” version of FIRE alignment matters more than labels
• Financial independence is the foundation not the finish line