Die With Zero by Bill Perkins

I recently enjoyed the Die With Zero audiobook.  I thought, based on the title, it would be about being generous, giving away your money to your kids and charities before you die, so they can use the money sooner.  While that's touched on, the focus is on the broader point of being intentional of how you prioritize your experiences, money, and time during your life, instead of just going on auto-pilot and following the traditional model of work hard, and then have some fun during retirement in your 60s and 70s.

He uses The Ant and the Grasshopper fable, where the ant is work, work, work (risk-averse) and the grasshopper is too focused on fun.  Perkins makes the point that we celebrate the ant for being prepared, but he never has any fun -- not a balanced approach to life.

Perkins has a core theme on prioritizing experiences over buying things, and planning your life regarding experiences with intentionality on when you'll do things (as opposed to making a bucket list, and not getting around to something like kite surfing until you're too old to enjoy it).  He reflects on the idea that early in your life you have health and time, but less money, and that people often wait too long to spend money (see a graph he made below) instead of enjoying the money while you're young enough (such as having a huge birthday celebration trip before people can't travel or aren't around to celebrate with you).

He also recommends parents give much of their wealth to their kids when they're kids are 25 to 35 years old, and not waiting until the parents pass away, so the kids can use that money to buy a house and have more flexibility with their young families.

It was a thought-provoking book, with many great points, and well worth a read or listen!