When Life Strikes

Weathering Financial Storms
by Cal Brown, CFP, MST

How to Benefit Most from This Book

I recently read a letter to Reader's Digest from a man who said his mother had died, followed a few months later by his wife, and then he lost his job, his house, and ultimately went bankrupt--all in one year! The good news is that life usually does not strike with all its many crises at one time, as with this man. Therefore, it is not necessary to read this book cover to cover. Read only what is pertinent for you at this time.

Because financial planning is my area of expertise, When Life Strikes is primarily a guide to the most common financial cycles and crises in life, giving sound financial guidance and useful information above all else. However, I have had the privilege of working with countless clients in a wide spectrum of challenging life situations, and I have learned from their experiences. This book will go beyond financial know-how, as it is meant to help you prepare in a variety of ways for the inevitable and deal with the unexpected when it occurs. You will want to read the chapters that are relevant for prudent planning of your successful journey through the cycles of life, and when a crisis impacts you or your finances, pick up the book again and use it to help you deal with whatever unexpected crisis is occurring in your life at that time.

When Life Strikes is a unique combination of real-life stories juxtaposed with rather technical topics. In order to let the stories flow and not get "bogged down" with definitions and terminology, I have created a glossary of sorts at the back of the book, called the Financial Toolbox. If you see a term in boldface, this indicates that the topic is explained more fully in the Financial Toolbox and you can refer to that section for additional information.

Each issue discussed in this book has two aspects: planning ahead and dealing with reality. In most cases, the issue is divided into two chapters, the first dealing with plans or preparations and the second with advice for facing a crisis that has already struck. Chapters 7 and 10 include both aspects in a single chapter.

Every story you read in this book is true. If it pertains to me or my family, it is identified as such. However, if it is a story about someone else, I have changed the names of the people involved. The stories are true, but their names are fictional.

Whether planning for or dealing with a crisis, it is my sincere hope that this book will provide direction to help position you for success and assist you in getting past the crisis at hand. While money can solve many problems, it cannot insulate even wealthy families from horrendous life strikes. All of us desire a stable, secure, peaceful, calm, and comfortable financial life, but again, none of us are exempt from these various crisis. When Life Strikes is a resource that will help you prepare and work through these unpleasant but inevitable life events

About the author

Cal Brown has over twenty-five years of experience in the financial services field. He received his master of science in taxation (MST) from American University in Washington, DC, and his undergraduate BSBA degree from the University of Arkansas. Cal is currently an adjunct professor in the MST program at American University, teaching estate planning.

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