Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life

Perkins’s Die With Zero emerges during a significant shift in cultural attitudes toward money, wealth, and retirement planning. Traditional financial wisdom has long emphasized frugality, delayed gratification, and robust retirement savings as cornerstones of responsible financial behavior. This perspective took root during the post-Depression era, strengthened through the post-World War II economic boom, and became deeply embedded in American financial consciousness through the latter half of the 20th century.

The conventional retirement model—work continuously until 65, then enjoy a well-funded “golden years” period—developed alongside the establishment of Social Security in the 1930s and the proliferation of corporate pension plans in the mid-20th century. This model assumed a relatively short retirement period followed by death, reflecting the shorter life expectancies of previous generations. Financial institutions and advisors reinforced these norms by promoting retirement accounts, emphasizing compound interest, and encouraging maximized savings rates.

However, several demographic and economic shifts have challenged these traditional perspectives. Increased longevity means retirement might span 30 years or more, rather than 10 to 15 years, raising questions about postponing enjoyment until an age when health limitations may prevent full participation in desired activities. Meanwhile, the decline of pension systems and concern about Social Security’s future have created financial anxiety that paradoxically drives both increased saving and skepticism about whether retirement security is achievable at all.