You are not a backup plan.
In Part 2 of our blog series, we're talking about what a real safety net looks like — one that includes you, your health, your peace of mind, and your future.
In the last post, I shared a personal story about losing a friend far too young. It reminded me that life rarely gives us a warning — and that the peace we all crave doesn’t come from avoiding risk, but from knowing we’ve done what we can to prepare.
Let’s be real: most of us don’t want to think about worst-case scenarios. We’re busy enough juggling careers, kids, aging parents, rising costs, and that never-ending pile of laundry. But avoiding the conversation doesn’t make us safer — it just keeps us guessing.
So today, I want to talk about what a modern safety net actually looks like — and how it needs to include you.
Not just your job.
Not just your employees.
Not just your kids.
You.
The Old Model Doesn’t Work Anymore
The traditional way of thinking about health and financial planning went something like this:
Get a job with benefits. Cross your fingers. Hope for the best.
But in today’s world, that model’s cracked.
We’re seeing more self-employed professionals, more families with blended incomes, more mental health challenges, more burnout, more systems stretched to the limit.
If you’re a business owner, you're expected to offer support to your team — while silently worrying if your own needs are being met.
If you’re an employee, you might have coverage, but no clarity on what’s actually included — or how to use it in a way that supports your real life.
If you're managing a household, it can feel like you're holding everything together with duct tape and good intentions.
So What Does a Strong Safety Net Look Like?
It’s not about having every answer. It’s about building a foundation — something that’s responsive, realistic, and resilient. A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
A healthier safety net includes:
✔️ A benefits plan that reflects how you actually live and work
✔️ Clarity on what's covered and what you’re paying for
✔️ Support for physical and mental health — for you, your partner, and your kids
✔️ Flexibility when life doesn’t go to plan
✔️ Tax-smart ways to handle health expenses without dipping into savings
And most importantly — it’s built with your values in mind.
Because real peace of mind doesn't come from checking a box.
It comes from knowing that when life throws you a curveball, you won’t be alone — and you won’t be financially wrecked.
Your Plan Should Include You
One thing I see far too often — especially with business owners and parents — is that people build protection around everyone else, and forget to include themselves.
They get their team covered.
They make sure their kids have what they need.
They delay their own coverage. Or they ignore that nagging tooth. Or they skip therapy because it’s “not in the budget.”
But if you're running on fumes, who’s holding the rest of it together?
Let me say this clearly: you are not a backup plan.
You’re the foundation of this whole thing.
Whether you’re running a company or running a household (or both), your safety matters just as much as everyone else’s.
We build better outcomes when we include ourselves in the conversation.
This post isn’t about a product. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to settle for “barely getting by.” You deserve a plan that feels like it’s working for you — not adding more stress.
And if it feels like you don’t even know where to start? That’s okay.
We start with a conversation — human to human — and go from there.
Next week: “Redesigning the Future: Making Room for Wellness, Wealth & What Really Matters”
Because protecting your peace isn’t selfish — it’s strategic.