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Life happens, and, when it does, it sometimes has a tendency to get in the way of the things we are trying do for ourselves and our families.

Think back to those early days in life when it seemed like everything in the candy aisle was free if you begged your parents hard enough. Not a fleeting thought was given to the expenses of a vacation or the copay costs at the doctor. There’s something beautifully unburdened in the way which children experience the world: recklessly present and innocently ambivalent.

Donations to charities are a win-win when it comes to filing taxes. You can feel good about helping a cause you care about as well as write off the donations to “qualified organizations” on your taxes at totals up to “50 percent of your adjusted gross income,” according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Credit card fraud is on the rise. Millions are hit with it each year, so most credit card users are more vigilant than ever, which is a good thing, except for when they fall for a fraud investigation fraud.  Think about it, you’re now conditioned to watch over your carefully watch over your credit cards and react promptly if any signs of fraud pop up.

Answer this riddle: what’s the one thing that will eventually happen to everyone, but generally, no one wants to discuss? Death is a subject that immediately conjures up all sorts of emotions because, let’s be honest, the absence of being IS emotional. But, death is also cause for practicality.

For anyone approaching retirement you’ve probably got a checklist for your countdown to the big day.

Do I have enough saved for a long, financially secure retirement? Check.

Did I file the right paperwork at the office? Check.

Is my professional exit strategy in place and ready? Check.

An increasing number of people are starting to understand that their real risk exposure is not in the costs associated with repairing or replacing their car or home, rather it is in the far more costly liability risk. Yet, most people drastically underestimate their personal liability risks.

Life happens, and, when it does, it sometimes has a tendency to get in the way of the things we are trying do for ourselves and our families.

As the saying goes there are two things that are inevitable: death and taxes. And, out of those two sure things, you can only really plan for your taxes. It should be no surprise when tax season surely and steadily rolls around again, yet every year there are plenty of individuals who file for a tax extension (in 2014 there were approximately 12 million Americans who did so).

Here’s a thought: retirement doesn’t mean the end. It doesn’t mean an end of self-importance or purpose, it just means a new chapter—a paradigm shift of what life is beyond long days and meetings and bosses. Unless you own your own business, and even then, you are not your business.