About six months before my dentist died in a motorcycle accident, he gave me some of the best advice I’ve ever received. 

I’ve been going to the same dentist all my life, so we knew each other well. Every time I went to him for a checkup, we talked more than he spent time checking my teeth. 

In recent years, we’ve been talking more and more about investing and wealth. He didn’t only have his dental practice, he also did well in the stock market.

He started investing in his thirties and acquired substantial wealth in his life. He was only 57 years old when he passed. Here’s the advice he shared with me (as I remember it):

“Don’t worry too much about saving so much money at your age. I know you want to be financially independent. But you have your best earning years ahead of you. In general, your best earning years are often in your 40s and 50s. So why too much now? When you earn more later, you’ll be able to save and invest more. It’s good to start and learn now. But you don’t have to save all your money. Enjoy your life.”

The man truly practiced what he preached. He took a two-year sabbatical when his kids were very young. They traveled the world and spent a lot of time sailing. He owned a restaurant. He collected vintage Citroën cars. The guy lived a good life.