Most people think of a bucket list as something static. A collection of goals we’ll eventually get to, often later, when work slows down or life opens up. It’s a comforting idea, because it assumes experiences can wait for us. We often forget, not all experiences are available at every stage of life. In Die with Zero, Bill Perkins introduces the idea of “time buckets,” dividing your life into stages and aligning experiences to when they are most possible and valuable.
As we move through life, our capacity to enjoy certain experiences changes. Energy, health, and even context evolve in ways that aren’t always predictable. Some experiences require physical ability. Others depend on having young children at home, or flexibility in your career.
There’s also a compounding effect to consider. Meaningful experiences tend to carry forward, creating what Perkins describes as “memory dividends,” the ongoing value we get from remembering and sharing them over time. A trip taken at 30 doesn’t just deliver value in the moment. It helps shape who you are, through perspective, relationships, and stories you revisit for decades. That same trip, taken later, may still matter, but it has fewer years to compound.
A well-designed plan doesn’t just accumulate wealth, it creates space. Space to take advantage of opportunities when they arise. Space to adjust when priorities shift. Space to spend intentionally without undermining the future. That often requires moving away from rigid assumptions. Instead of saving the same way indefinitely, thoughtful planning considers how spending should evolve over time, when experiences are most valuable, and when it makes sense to use the resources you’ve built.
At the same time, planning still accounts for uncertainty. Longevity, healthcare costs, and market variability all matter. The goal isn’t to ignore those risks, but to balance them with the equally real risk of under-living during the years that matter most.
A traditional bucket list sits on the sidelines of the financial plan, a list of intentions that may or may not happen. A time-bucketed approach brings those goals into the plan itself. It connects life stages with financial decisions, helping ensure that meaningful experiences don’t get pushed indefinitely into the future. Because ultimately, a financial plan isn’t just about making sure nothing goes wrong. It’s about making sure the right things happen—at the right time.
Please note: All services provided by Bill Perkins are separate and independent of JNBA Financial Advisors, LLC. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, some of the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from JNBA Financial Advisors.
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