A former Google project manager in Switzerland made the decision to retire at age 35 after accumulating $1.5 million in savings and investments. Earning approximately $390,000 annually, Florence Poirel and her partner, also a Google employee, decided to leave their high-paying careers to pursue early retirement together.
Living in Zurich, one of the world's most expensive cities, Poirel achieved financial independence by adopting principles from the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. Her strategy involved aggressive saving, strategic career moves to increase her income, and maintaining a frugal lifestyle without feeling deprived.
Key Takeaways
- Florence Poirel retired at 35 with a net worth of $1.5 million as of January 2024.
- Her annual salary at Google in Switzerland was approximately $390,000.
- The decision was prompted by a desire to spend more time with her partner, who is 17 years older.
- She followed the FIRE movement, focusing on high savings rates and strategic investments.
- Despite living in Zurich, her monthly spending is around $4,611, managed through frugal habits.
A Valentine's Day Decision
The choice to step away from a lucrative career was made on Valentine's Day in 2024. During a conversation with her partner, Jan, the idea of retirement shifted from a distant concept to an immediate possibility. Poirel recounted the moment, stating what began as a joke quickly became a serious plan.
"Wouldn’t it be great if we were retired? Why don’t we just do it? Why not just [take] that next step?" Poirel said. By the end of the evening, they had committed to leaving their jobs at Google. At 35, walking away from an income of nearly $400,000 was a significant move.
"Saying no to this kind of income can be daunting, for sure," she acknowledged. However, the goal of early retirement had been a focus for years, driven by a disciplined approach to saving and investing.
The Age Factor
A primary motivation for Poirel was the 17-year age difference with her partner, Jan. She realized that waiting for a traditional retirement age would mean less quality time together. "I realized that I could not just wait for retirement to enjoy my time with him because he would be much older at that time," she explained. This realization prompted her to actively seek ways to retire sooner.
The Journey to Financial Independence
Poirel's path to early retirement began long before her decision. After completing a master’s degree in business and economics, she worked in marketing in Belgium. Feeling unfulfilled, a colleague's advice—"qui ne tente rien n’a rien," or "he who risks nothing has nothing"—inspired her to make a change.
In 2013, she quit her job and moved to Dublin, a major European tech hub, without a new position secured. Within a year, she secured a contract role at Google in content moderation. This move marked the start of her successful career in the tech industry.
In 2017, she transferred to Google’s Zurich office, taking on a project manager role. Over the next several years, she earned three promotions, significantly boosting her income and savings potential. It was this high salary that enabled her to save aggressively.
Discovering the FIRE Movement
The desire to retire alongside her partner led her to research early retirement strategies. "I think I literally typed in Google, how can I retire 17 years earlier," she recalled. This search introduced her to the FIRE movement, which provided a structured framework for her financial goals.
She began meticulously tracking her net worth and investments using a detailed Excel spreadsheet. Each salary increase from promotions was channeled directly into her savings and investment accounts. This disciplined approach allowed her to build her $1.5 million nest egg.
"People think FIRE is about eating only pasta or cramming into an apartment with 20 flatmates, but that was never my approach. It never felt like deprivation … it was just how I behaved and how I shopped."
By January 2024, she had reached a point where continuing to work was no longer a financial necessity. "Climbing the ladder would have meant more responsibilities, more stress, late meetings — and financially, I didn’t need that anymore," Poirel said.
Life in Early Retirement
Initially, Poirel described herself as "risk averse" and decided to test her new lifestyle with what she calls a "mini retirement." She set aside enough cash to cover 18 months of living expenses. A year and a half later, she has not felt the need to return to full-time work.
Her days are now spent reading, swimming in Lake Zurich, and traveling with her partner to destinations like Brazil and Australia. "I thought I would get bored very easily," the now-37-year-old said. "But now, it’s been a year and a half and I still haven’t [had] a time of boredom."
Monthly Budget in Zurich
In May 2025, Poirel's total spending was approximately $4,611. She keeps her costs low by shopping at discount stores, cooking at home, and taking advantage of free outdoor activities like hiking in the Swiss mountains. Rent for her Zurich apartment is her largest single expense.
Managing Finances as a Couple
Poirel and her partner maintain separate finances, a decision she says is important for maintaining independence. They split shared expenses proportionally based on their former incomes, with Poirel covering about 35% and her partner covering 65%. This arrangement has continued into their retirement.
"We’re not married, we don’t have joint accounts … having separate finances is very important to keep that independence," she stated. "Finances and money is never a stressor in our relationship."
Future Plans and Redefined Success
With her initial 18-month trial retirement period concluding, Poirel is considering her next steps. She has used her free time to pursue career coaching for women and has not ruled out returning to the corporate world, but it would be on her own terms.
She redefines the "RE" in FIRE not as "Retire Early" but as "Relaxed Employment." "I would love to not go back to 100% — to have much more flexibility in life," she explained. This approach emphasizes financial independence as a tool for creating a more balanced and intentional life, rather than a complete withdrawal from work.
Her experience has reinforced her belief that time is the most valuable resource. "You can’t buy it, you can’t borrow it, you can’t save it … it just really keeps on spending without you having control over it," she reflected. This perspective ultimately led her to conclude that she had reached a point of sufficiency. "I had reached the point when it was just enough — and I was happy and free to do something else."
