5 Easy Steps to Ensure You Die With Zero

Most people plan their finances to avoid dying broke.

But what if the real goal is to die with zero: zero unspent money, zero wasted time, zero missed experiences?

That’s the idea behind “dying with zero.” You may never hit it perfectly, but you can get close. Here’s how.

You can’t plan your money if you don’t have a sense of how long you’ll live.

A life expectancy calculator, like the one at livingto100.com, gives you a data-based estimate. It’s not exact, but it’s enough to start thinking long-term.

This step helps you see what you’re really working with and how much time you might have to enjoy your money.

There’s a hidden risk in retirement planning: longevity.

You could live much longer than you expect, and that means your savings may not stretch as far as you’d hoped.

That’s where annuities come in. They’re the opposite of life insurance. They protect you from the risk of dying too old. You give the insurance company a lump sum, and they pay you every month for life. 

It’s not for everyone, but it’s worth exploring with a qualified advisor.

If you decide to work with an advisor, choose one who’s fee-only.

That means they’re paid for their advice, not a percentage of your assets. It removes the incentive to keep your money parked instead of helping you enjoy it.

Be clear about your goal from the start. You’re not trying to maximize wealth. You’re trying to maximize life enjoyment without outliving your savings.

You’ve spent decades accumulating. Now comes the part most people avoid: decumulating.

That means figuring out when and how to start spending more than you earn.

Track your health, your expected lifespan, and your annual cost of living. Once you know what you’ll need to simply stay alive, you can confidently spend the rest on experiences that bring you joy.

Remember: your spending rate won’t stay the same forever. As health and interests decline with age, your window for certain experiences shrinks. 

Spend more while you’re younger and able.

No one knows the exact day they’ll go.

That’s why the balance between living for today and planning for tomorrow is everything.

As you age, that balance shifts. The closer you get to your expected death date, the more urgency you should feel to live fully. 

If your time horizon stretches, you can afford to plan further ahead.

Dying with zero isn’t just about money: it’s about time.

Use every tool you can to make sure you run out of both at the same moment.

Because the ultimate loss isn’t dying broke. It’s dying with untapped joy still sitting in your account.

Read the next chapter here.