Free AI training
A prompt to manage any FIRE task
A single prompt you can copy into any AI to work backward from a goal and build a simple plan. No tech background needed.
How it works
Four steps, one conversation
Copy the prompt below, paste it into an AI, and fill in your goal. The AI walks you through these steps.
Set a clear goal
Pick one thing you want to move forward: paying off a loan, finding your FIRE number, understanding health coverage before 65, or anything on the way.
Work backward from the finish line
The prompt asks the AI to start at your goal and figure out the milestones between here and there, in reverse order.
Get a simple plan
You will see next actions, a rough order and a timeline you can adjust. No product picks, no jargon.
Evaluate where you are now
The AI helps you compare your current situation to the plan: what is on track, what is missing, and what questions to bring to a licensed professional.
The prompt
Copy, paste, go
This works in Claude, ChatGPT, Grok, or any AI you use. Replace the bracketed section with your own goal.
I'd like your help with a money or life goal related to financial independence. Here is my goal: [Describe your goal in one or two sentences. Examples: "Pay off $18,000 in student loans in three years." / "Figure out when I could make work optional." / "Understand what health insurance will cost between my last day of work and age 65."] Please help me by doing these four things, in order: 1. Restate my goal clearly. If anything is vague, ask me one or two short questions before continuing. 2. Work backward from the goal. List the milestones between the finish line and where I am now, in reverse order. Keep it to five or six milestones. 3. Turn those milestones into a simple plan: next actions, a sensible order, and a rough timeline. Do not recommend specific products, investments, or insurance plans. 4. Help me evaluate where I stand right now compared to the plan. Point out gaps, things that look on track, and any questions I should bring to a financial advisor, CPA, or insurance agent. Important rules for this conversation: - This is for education and organizing my thinking, not financial advice. - Do not ask me for account numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords. - If you use any numbers, show your math so I can double-check. - Where a decision matters (investing, insurance, taxes), remind me to confirm it with a licensed professional. - Keep your language plain. Explain any term that a teacher, firefighter, or dentist might not already know.
Tools
AI tools people use on the way to FIRE
These are tools people find useful for organizing goals, understanding numbers and drafting questions for professionals. All have a free tier. Try whichever one sounds comfortable.
Claude
Anthropic
Long, thoughtful conversations and careful reasoning. Good at following detailed prompts.
ChatGPT
OpenAI
General knowledge, brainstorming and quick explanations. Widely used and easy to start.
Grok
xAI
Conversational style and up-to-date information. Available on X (formerly Twitter) as well.
Codex
OpenAI
Building simple tools, spreadsheets, or scripts with AI. If you want to make a budget tracker or a personal calculator, this is a good place to start.
Gemini
Google
Works well inside Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail). Handy if you already live in Google tools.
These are editorial recommendations, not affiliate links. uFIRE has no paid relationship with any of these tools.
Three rules, every time
Check the math.
AI can sound sure and still be wrong. Re-run any number that matters.
Never paste private details.
No account numbers, Social Security numbers or passwords in an AI tool. Ever.
Confirm decisions with a licensed professional.
Use AI to organize, understand and ask better questions, never to pick investments or insurance plans.
Keep learning
Explore all nine AI modules
Short lessons on using AI for budgets, taxes, health coverage and more.