A professor who hit 'Lean FI' by moving abroad and saving 70% of his income explains why he prefers the 'permanent portfolio' investment strategy

Miguel Marquez earned his undergraduate degree in Spain before pursuing an international teaching career. Courtesy of Miguel Marquez Miguel Marquez reached Lean FI by lowering his costs and investing consistently. He follows a modified permanent portfolio of stocks, bonds, gold, and cash. He keeps crypto below 5% and skips real estate, which doesn't fit his lifestyle. Moving abroad and investing consistently helped Miguel Marquez reach "Lean FI," a variation of financial independence in which your investments can cover your basic necessities, but not much else. Sometimes described as " the minimalist's way to retire early ," Lean FI is often a stepping stone to traditional financial independence, when a portfolio can support both essential expenses and more discretionary spending. Marquez, a 47-year-old university professor from Spain, struggled to build meaningful savings while completing his PhD and teaching in Bloomington, Indiana.