What net-worth milestones should I expect on the way to financial independence?

Most FIRE journeys pass through recognizable milestones, and naming them keeps you motivated through the long middle. Common markers are: positive net worth (debts cleared), your first $100,000 invested — famously the hardest because compounding hasn't kicked in yet — then Coast FIRE (enough invested to grow into your full number without new contributions), then halfway to your FIRE number, then Barista or partial FI where work becomes optional-ish, and finally full FIRE at 25x or more of spending. A useful intermediate is the point where annual investment growth in a good year exceeds what you save, meaning your money is now working harder than you are. Don't fixate only on the finish line; each milestone unlocks real flexibility. Track every milestone at wealthserene.com/tools/net-worth.