There are four professionals that everyone needs to ensure are readily available in our lives at all times.

• The family doctor - Your health is one of the most important things to have, and having a doctor you trust can make a big difference in that regard. It matters to know that there is an educated professional with whom you can trust your and your family’s health, regardless of whether the problem is a cold or a cancer diagnosis.

• Insurance agent - In this day and age, insurance for many different aspects of your life is not only suggested, but absolutely necessary. You may have more than one agent for each type of insurance – health, homeowners’, automobile, medical, life, etc – or you may have one who does it all, but it is imperative that you trust and feel comfortable with that person or those people. Insurance is a complex field, and if you are not careful, you may be taken advantage of if you do not have someone you can trust on call.

• Auto mechanic - Cars break down, unfortunately – often at the time we can least afford it. Finding a good mechanic can have long-term advantages for work and personal life both – after all, the less time you spend in the shop, the more time you can spend with your family or on the job. Mechanics are one of the most notorious professions in terms of unethical behavior and good ones are worth hanging onto when you find them.

• Defense attorney - Attorneys are like mechanics in that one never believes they will need any services until too late. However, when an attorney is called for, usually it is in a situation that involves a quick, appropriate response. Whether it turns out to be you or a loved one who requires the services of a good lawyer, doing one’s due diligence to find a good one before it becomes necessary is very helpful. Even if you have never been involved in any kind of legal situation before, it is hard to know for sure when trouble might rear its head unexpectedly. Be prepared by making sure that you have the name of a criminal defense attorney accessible to you.