Ok, We Got Through COVID. But Are We Ready for the Next Crisis?

After two trying years, we appear to be making a fitful transition from a tumultuous pandemic to an almost normal endemic—at least for now. But what lessons have we really learned from this crisis? Do we have effective strategies to recover from the continuing impact on public health, or the economic and social disruption caused by COVID—especially as we get older and more vulnerable? Are we better prepared to handle future crises, whether natural disasters or man-made political conflicts now roiling across the world? In today’s episode, Linda Fostek, a best-selling author and crisis planning consultant, and Donald Patane, a veteran financial advisor, offer their collective wisdom on how to prepare for potential crises, as well as recover from them when they unavoidably land on us. Linda is the creator of a comprehensive crisis planning guide designed to help people protect their homes and loved ones from a range of disasters, from violent storms to cyber fraud. She helps families assemble customized “In Case of Emergency” toolkits to deal with the challenging “What ifs?” in life—and stop worrying about them. Don specializes in long-term financial planning for everyone from young newlyweds to older retirees, who now face the sudden impact of inflation. Often referring to himself as “a financial doctor who does house calls,” Don will talk about how he works with a network of professionals to help families create strategies to address needs (and potential crises) through every stage of life, from general investment and college planning to life insurance, long-term care and funeral pre-planning. And beyond individual preparedness, Linda and Don will talk also about how communities can come together in times of crisis, providing needed support recovery processes that often take longer than we ever thought.