Business continuity and succession
Explore SBA guidance on managing, transferring, selling or closing a business. Get qualified legal and tax advice for your specific plan.
Visit the U.S. Small Business Administration ↗The Widler Sanon field notes
Useful ideas for real decisions.
Visual, practical guides that help you organize questions before you talk with an advisor.
Explore the guides ↓
Business
Keep the business moving.
Start with the people and responsibilities the business would have difficulty replacing.
Business continuity: start with the people your operation depends on
A business can depend on one person’s expertise, relationships, credentials or ability to make decisions. Thinking through that dependency before a disruption can help owners ask more useful questions.
Map the roles that keep work moving
List responsibilities that would be difficult to cover quickly: customer relationships, specialized knowledge, signing authority, operations or ownership decisions. Consider who could step in and what information they would need.
Talk through the financial effect
Owners often explore whether life or disability coverage could help address a defined business need, such as continuity planning or a buy-sell arrangement. The right structure depends on the business, policy terms, tax treatment and legal documents. Coordinate with qualified legal and tax professionals before implementing a plan.
Make the next conversation specific
Bring a simple organization chart, key role descriptions and questions about ownership agreements. A licensed insurance professional can explain available options in the states and markets where they are authorized to work.
Individuals and families
Understand what you already have.
Use these checklists to prepare, then verify details in official plan documents.
Life insurance through work: what to check before you rely on it
Workplace life coverage can be valuable, but it helps to understand the exact benefit and what happens when your employment changes. Confirm who is insured, the benefit amount, any age-based reductions, the cost, and whether optional coverage requires evidence of insurability.
Find out whether coverage is portable or convertible if you leave your employer, and note any deadlines. Compare it with your own needs and resources. Save the certificate, beneficiary information and notices. This guide is general information, not an individualized recommendation or a promise of coverage.
A family checklist for a health coverage conversation
Write down the coverage you have, when it renews or ends, the doctors and facilities you want to keep, regular prescriptions and the types of care you expect to use.
Ask about premiums, deductibles, copays, out-of-pocket limits, provider networks, drug coverage, enrollment windows and exclusions. For Medicare-related coverage, confirm the advisor is appropriately licensed and appointed, and ask how a product fits with existing Medicare coverage. Availability and eligibility vary; this overview does not determine eligibility.
A useful annual habit
When life or business changes, review the policy.
A policy review is an organized look at what you own, what it promises, and whether the details still match your situation. It does not guarantee that a replacement is available or better.
Policy review checklist: what to gather and what to ask
Start with the contract
Find the policy, current statement, riders, beneficiary information and any notices from the insurer. Confirm the policy owner, insured person, face amount, premium schedule, guarantees, cash value features if applicable, and what happens if a premium is late or missed.
Connect it to today's responsibilities
Note changes in family responsibilities, business ownership, debt, income, employee benefits or long-term plans. Ask whether the original purpose still fits and which details deserve a closer review.
Understand tradeoffs before replacing anything
Ask how surrender charges, new underwriting, contestability periods, tax treatment, fees and lost guarantees could affect a change. Keep existing coverage in force unless a qualified professional has reviewed the replacement and you understand the consequences.
Use a secure handoff for private details
Do not email policy numbers, health history or identity documents through this website. Start with a short request; the agency can explain whether a secure review process is available in your state.
Request a policy review ↗Go to the source
Good questions start with reliable information.
Use these government tools to check current program details, then compare what you learn with official policy and plan documents.
Health coverage for a business
Review general small-employer health coverage paths, including SHOP and HRAs. Availability and eligibility depend on your business and location.
Explore HealthCare.gov resources ↗Medicare plan comparison
Compare coverage options, plans, costs and local assistance using the official Medicare tools. Details can change by plan, location and year.
Explore Medicare.gov tools ↗Official resources are provided for education, not as an endorsement or individualized recommendation. They do not confirm that a product or producer is available in your state.