Professor achieves Lean FI abroad using a balanced permanent portfolio

Miguel Marquez, a 47-year-old professor of French, Spanish and personal finance, credits his relocation to Brazil in 2016 and later to Shenzhen, China, with enabling a dramatic boost in savings. Earning about $75,000 a year after taxes, he keeps expenses near $22,000, which translates to a roughly 70% savings ratio. He invests using a version of the permanent portfolio, allocating equal portions to stocks, bonds and gold while holding about 10% in cash for liquidity, a departure from the traditional 25% cash allocation.

A small crypto position—capped at five percent—adds diversification, while he deliberately skips property ownership to maintain mobility. Marquez views Lean FI not as a retirement deadline but as a safety net that lets him leave his job if desired, emphasizing the combination of steady income, high savings, and a clear investment framework as the catalyst for his progress.