He gives up his high salary at age 41 and moves to the best country for retirees: “I save $4,500 a month”

In 2011, Alex Trias made a bold move: he walked away from his career as a corporate attorney. Fast-forward to today, and he’s retired at just 41 years old. As he shared with CNBC, years of disciplined saving and a six-figure bank balance gave him the freedom to leave not just his job—but the country.

Trias and his wife relocated to Portugal, which he calls “the most desirable destination for Americans looking to move abroad.” These days, he spends his time savoring local cuisine with friends and hiking flower-lined coastal trails. “Retiring early was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” he says. “But I still remember how overwhelmed I felt at first.”

Now, he’s encouraging others to consider a similar leap. “Uncertainty isn’t a roadblock—it’s an opportunity,” Trias insists.

From law school to liberation

For most of his adult life, Trias followed a predictable path: law school, summer associate gigs, and eventually a stable legal career. But when the 2008 financial crisis hit, the firm he worked for collapsed—and so did his sense of direction. “I couldn’t imagine doing anything other than practicing law,” he recalls.

Despite not knowing anyone in Portugal or speaking the language, Trias took the plunge. And it paid off.

Saving thousands by living abroad

One of the biggest surprises? How much money he and his wife saved after leaving Washington, D.C. “We were spending a fortune on income taxes, health insurance, and property taxes,” he explains. “By moving abroad, we estimate we’re saving around $5,000 a month.”

Even in retirement, the couple sticks to the same financial strategy that got them there: living below their means, reinvesting the difference, and letting compound interest do the heavy lifting. “The only change,” Trias says, “is that our income now comes from investments instead of paychecks.”

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