Are You Falling Behind Financially?

fi score financial goals investing savings May 19, 2025

Here’s How to Know — And What to Do About It

🖥️ Reading time: 8 minutes

Ever scroll through social media and think,

“Am I… behind?”

Your coworker just bought a house. Your cousin’s flexing their new BMW. Meanwhile, you're debating whether Uber Eats is “in the budget” this week.

Want to know where you actually stand financially? Not with outdated metrics like net worth, but with a better one: Your FI Score — the number that tells you how close you are to true financial freedom. Let’s dive in:

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🚫 Why Net Worth Doesn’t Tell the Full Story

Net worth is like a trophy case.
It shows what you’ve stacked — not what it can do for you.

But if you want to know how long you can live without working, there’s a better number: your FI Score (Financial Independence Score).

✅ What Is an FI Score? And How To Calculate It (In 3 Simple Steps)

So, if you have $250,000 invested and spend $50,000/year, your FI Score is 5. That means you could cover your bills for 5 years without working.

Your FI Score = 🧮 Invested Portfolio Value ÷ Annual Expenses

Want to know your target? Add up your annual expenses and multiply that number by 25. That's your FI Target. Now, compare it against all your investments and savings.

Your FI Target = 🧮 Annual Expenses x 25

The Magic Number? 25: If your FI Score is 25, you can retire at 65 and live comfortably until 90.

⭐ Pro Tip: Keep that number in mind and check where you should be. Are you ahead or behind?

💡 Why the FI Score Beats Net Worth

It’s Freedom-Based: Not just how much you have, but how long it will last.
It Adjusts to You: A high spender needs more than a minimalist.
It Keeps You Focused: It’s not about money. It’s about time.
No Ego. No Flexing: It’s a tool, not a competition.

📖 Pro Tip: Want to learn more about financial freedom? Download my free eBook today.

📊 Average FI Score By Age (And What Yours Should Be)

👶 In Your 20s? Aim for an FI Score of 2

Average: 1.1
Why it's okay: You're just getting started
What to prioritize:

Save at least 15% of your income
Kill high-interest debt (especially credit cards)
Start a side hustle — build income and skill

💡 Pro Tip: Drop your $250/month DoorDash habit, invest it in SPY, and you're looking at $2M+ by retirement.

👨‍👩‍👧 In Your 30s? Aim for FI Score 6

Average: 2.5 to 4.2
Why this matters: This is your building decade
What to prioritize:

Eliminate credit card debt
Save more, spend less
Increase your monthly investments
Use a High-Yield Savings Account for short-term goals

💬 This is the decade where people either crush it… or crash. It’s the time when you decide whether you’ll retire at 65, keep working, or eventually run out of money.

⭐ Pro Tip: Check out the best High Yield Savings Accounts on the market today.

🔒 In Your 40s? Target FI Score: 12

Average FI Score: 6 to 8.3
You’re entering your wealth-consolidation years
What to prioritize:

Know your exact FI number
Make extra mortgage payments
Stay consistent with investing

🏠 A paid-off mortgage ➡️ instant cash flow boost ➡️ more investment opportunities.

I'm almost in my 40s. Click on the link to discover the 5 things that nobody tells you at 40, but I will.

👓 In Your 50s? You Should Be Near FI Score 20

If you’re there: You’re crushing it
Max out: 401(k), Roth IRA, catch-up contributions
Shift your portfolio toward dividend-paying ETFs
Re-check your plan — what worked at 35 might not fit at 55

This is the “optimize and protect” phase. You can see retirement in front of you. You know how to get there. It’s just a matter of pulling everything together.

🧓 In Your 60s? The Goal Is FI Score 25

If you’re there: You can retire today
What to prioritize:

Withdrawal strategy
Reducing taxes
Enjoying life or planning your legacy

Your only “habit” now? Live the life you’ve been working toward.

🔁 Final Thought: Forget Net Worth — Track Your Time

Your FI Score tells you how much time you’ve bought back. Not just how much money you’ve saved. And that’s the whole point.

Time with your family. Time to rest. Time to not be stuck at a desk if you don’t want to be.

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If this helped you re-frame your financial progress, 📲 text it to someone who's trying to figure out where they stand too.

✅ Join My Beginners Investing Master Class

✅ Take advantage of my FREE Financial Freedom Faster eBook

✅ Get in touch

The FI Score isn’t about how much money you have. It’s about how much freedom you’ve built.

— Steve

Disclaimer:

The following article is strictly the opinion of the author and is not to be considered financial/investment advice. CTL Community LLC and the author of this article do not claim to be a registered financial advisor (RIA) or financial advisor. Please visit our terms of service and privacy policy before reading this article. "Call to Leap may earn affiliate commissions from the links mentioned. Call to Leap is part of an affiliate network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites such as ImpactRadius, CardRatings, MyBankTracker, and more."