Key takeaways from book club: Die with Zero

by Carmetta Joyner

Die with Zero bookIn June, the FWSF Book Club held a lively discussion of Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins.

Key takeaways

  • You're dying multiple deaths throughout life—each life phase (your adventurous twenties, active parenting years, etc.) dies forever when it passes, along with the experiences only possible during that time.
  • Experiences pay "memory dividends" forever—meaningful experiences continue providing joy and psychological returns for the rest of your life, unlike money sitting in an account.
  • Working when you don't need money wastes your life energy—even if you love your job, continuing to work when financially unnecessary steals your most precious resources: time and health.
  • True generosity happens while you're alive—giving money after death isn't generous because "it's no longer yours to give"; real impact comes from giving when recipients need it most.
  • Health is your ultimate currency and it's always declining—money becomes worthless without the health to enjoy it, making traditional "save everything for retirement" advice potentially catastrophic.
  • Most people live on autopilot and miss everything—you need to deliberately choose experiences for each life season rather than following societal scripts about how life "should" be lived.
     

From Connections Newsletter (Past Event Highlights): July 2025

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The suggestions of the contributor do not constitute professional advice and are intended for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing contained herein is intended to be or should be used as a substitute for professional advice, and readers should not act or rely on this information without seeking specific guidance directly from a qualified professional.

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