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“Hey, Coach”

Most of us were taught to depend on nobody but ourselves. We were urged to stand on our own feet and not bother others with our problems.

It was the value of independence that shaped our nation. It built industry, motivated the westward movement and fostered self-reliance.

It also worked very well until recently when things began changing.
Along came personal trainers to get us in shape and SAT coaches to get our kids into college.

With Social Security, a company pension and some hard earned savings, there was little need for retirement “planning.” All that has changed. A financial advisor is a necessity for most Americans.

The new Medicare Part D prescription program spawned an army of experts to guide millions of older citizens through a labyrinth of choices.

Coaches stream into American businesses. Media coaches get the CEO in shape to meet the press (and the shareholders) and sales coaches are as common as coffee breaks. Thousands of us hire a coach to prepare us for finding a job.

Now, there’s another group of coaches to help us make the right decisions about our medical care. It’s called medical decision support. These coaches assist patients in weighing their options.

But one way or the other, haven’t we always had “coaches”? The schoolteacher who helped raise a student’s sights or the lawyer who urged caution. Come to think of it, we’ve had a lot of help standing on our own feet.

Tom is president of Mosinee Insurance Agency,
Inc. 715-693-2100;
tomh@mosineeins.com

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