“Die With Zero” has caught on to encourage retirees to spend to their hearts delight rather than scrimping, saving and ending up dying with few memories and experiences. But some financial advisers warn about what that takes and question if it’s right for everyone.
“Die With Zero” is the title of a book by Skylar Capital founder Bill Perkins who advocates for people to stop accumulating retirement savings and instead, spend the money to enjoy their lives to the fullest. Memorable experiences early in life, including donating or giving money away, create a “memory dividend” that creates a compounding emotional return, paying joy back each time you recall or share those memories later, he says. So, turn around your thinking and instead of dying with the largest bank balance, aim for $0.
It’s not a bad idea for those who meticulously plan and regularly save, but those who don’t do either or are simply spendthrifts should probably sit out this movement, some financial advisers say. A 2026 Allianz survey showed nearly half of Americans (48%) do not have a written financial plan.
“Die with zero requires a lot of planning,” said Ami Doshi, director of business development at Hightower Signature Wealth. “Clients we’ve seen with this have very intentional planning behind it.”
Why do people like ‘die with zero’?
Die with zero has become aspirational for a couple of reasons: the realization that many retirees spend too conservatively and that “you only live once,” Doshi said.
The 4% rule is generally the accepted guidance to help seniors safely draw down their retirement funds without running out of money over 30 years. Basically, the rule is to withdraw 4% of your total investment portfolio and adjust that by inflation each year.
Recently, many analysts have disputed that as too conservative, yet, many retirees don’t even hit the 4% goal, according to a study by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). Approximately one-third of retirees still have 100% or more of their initial retirement assets remaining by their mid-80s, EBRI found.
“Although outliving one’s savings is often viewed as the primary concern in retirement, it is also important for retirees to use their resources in ways that support consumption, security, autonomy and intended bequests,” EBRI said. “High or rising asset balances may be concerning if they reflect unnecessary underspending, inefficient self-insurance, or the use of tax-advantaged accounts primarily for wealth transfer rather than retirement support.”
