• 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…