How FireLotse handles life events
Life eventsLife events mark years with FIRE-relevant deviations from the standard steady-state model. FireLotse distinguishes two types: one-off payments (a one-time jump in wealth in year X) and savings-rate changes (your monthly savings rate changes from year X for a certain period or permanently).
One-off payments are expected capital inflows or larger planned expenses – sale of a property, inheritance, maturing life insurance, severance pay, buying a car, a trip around the world, renovation. Such amounts do NOT count towards your current wealth but only flow into the portfolio in the respective year – and grow with your return from then on.
Savings-rate changes model life phases with a different savings profile – 4-day week, sabbatical, family, a jump in salary. You specify the new absolute savings rate (Safety/Return/High-risk) for the period; FireLotse shows you the difference from your current savings rate. Savings-rate changes only take effect in the accumulation phase – from Coast/Barista/withdrawal/pension onwards, the FIRE mechanisms take over.
Effect on FIRE: your FIRE age (jahreBisFIRE) reacts automatically to both types. The FIRE number itself does NOT change – it remains your steady-state target based on your ongoing expenses. Only the path to it becomes shorter or longer.