Dear friend, What is the number one concern on most people’s minds today? Is it a relationship problem, anxiety over children’s welfare, obtaining that coveted position, injustice to oneself? A quick observation of how one spends time during the day will provide the answer. Most people spend about 10 hours a day at their place of work and 1-2 hours of travelling time to arrive there. This leaves 12 hours in a 24-hour day, of which at least 8 hours should be devoted to sleep. What is left for other activities? This routine continues throughout much of one’s adulthood, though somehow the human capacity is able to squeeze in time for childbearing, raising children, house chores, errands, and if one is disciplined, exercise and recreation. No matter how one denies it, it is a fact that earning money and making a living is of utmost importance to the average person. One is always striving for an improvement of the standard of living. One has dreams or hopes of becoming wealthier in time to come. Of course, some are content with what they have and may not strive to become richer. In any case, consider the situation where one’s pattern of life is rudely interrupted by a major illness or serious accident, resulting in a complete turn of events where one cannot perform business as usual. What then, becomes of the rice bowl? Or worse, how much savings are going to be drained by high medical expenses and therapy to get back to living normally as quickly as possible (if at all possible)? If one is the sole breadwinner of the family, what becomes of the family members if one passes away unexpectedly? I have found that in any hospital visit or compassionate attendance, many friends and relatives are only able to offer words of comfort and some small token of monetary assistance. No one stands up more to the task of providing the family real tangible financial support than the insurance agent who turns up with a cheque of $50,000, $100,000 or $1 million. The first person that receives a phone call anytime someone goes to the hospital is the insurance agent. Have you taken stock of your insurance coverage? Are you prepared financially in the event of an unfortunate circumstance? If you currently do not have a regular financial advisor working with you on your insurance needs, do consider contacting me in any of the following ways. I would be glad to assist you. Geraldine has been providing financial advice to individuals, families and corporations since November 2005. She started with insurance sales in AIA Singapore and later moved on to become an independent financial advisor in January 2007, dealing with a wide range of insurance and investment products from various financial institutions. She is currently undergoing the Certified Financial Planner® course, the most highly sought after designation by financial planners worldwide.