The Mission Continues: Risk Management for Life and Business

On May 2, 2011, a small group of U.S. Navy SEALs launched one of the most daring operations in modern history. Their target: Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, who had been hiding in a fortified compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. 

 Codenamed Operation Neptune Spear, the mission followed months of intelligence work and weeks of training inside a full-scale replica of the compound. Every route, room, and rooftop was rehearsed down to the second. 

 Then, minutes into the real mission, one of the Black Hawk helicopters crashed inside the walls. Dust, smoke, chaos. No injuries, but the plan was instantly compromised. 

 Instead of panicking, the SEALs adapted. They secured the perimeter, completed the mission, and confirmed Bin Laden’s death. 

 That success wasn’t luck. It was preparation. They had built contingencies for when things went wrong. 

 That is risk management in its purest form. In life and business, you can train, prepare, and plan, but when the unexpected hits, the real question is: will your mission carry on? 

 Let’s get to work. 

Tools of the Trade

Risk management isn’t about buying more coverage. It’s about protecting what you’ve built so that one bad event doesn’t erase decades of work. 

 Use this as your quick gut-check on the essentials of risk management: 

• Life Insurance: Provides liquid, tax-free funds to cover estate taxes, debt payoff, and survivor expenses. 
• Disability Insurance: Replaces your income stream, often your biggest asset, if you’re sidelined. 
• Umbrella Policy: Adds liability protection beyond home and auto, guarding against catastrophic claims. 
• Health Insurance: Shields your family and employees from financial strain caused by medical surprises. 
• Long-Term Care: Preserves your independence and your family’s resources later in life. 
• Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney: Ensure decisions, ownership, and transitions happen smoothly without delay. 
• Continuity Planning: Builds a framework to keep your business operational through disruption. This includes strategies and legal tools—such as a buy-sell agreement—to safeguard against events like the death, disability, or incapacity of an owner or partner, the loss of a key employee, or unexpected succession needs. A well-designed continuity plan ensures your business can keep running while ownership, leadership, and control transition smoothly. 

Action Step: The Weak Link Test 

Every mission fails at its weakest link. Which part of your plan—insurance, legal, liquidity, or continuity—do you secretly hope never gets tested? That’s your starting point. 

Firm Foundation

The SEAL Team Approach to Risk 

 Operation Neptune Spear succeeded not because everything went perfectly, but because the team planned for what could go wrong. When the helicopter went down, they didn’t call it quits. They executed the backup plan they had already rehearsed. 

 Every personal financial plan and business needs the same kind of redundancy. 

Here’s how to apply the SEAL framework to your own mission: 

1. Redundancy: One gap or missing document can derail years of planning. Review beneficiary designations, ownership titles, and for you business owners, ensure your buy-sell agreement reflects the current business structure and value. 
2. Liquidity: Insurance isn’t just protection—it’s instant cash when timing and emotion are working against you. 
3. Coordination: Your CPA, attorney, and Financial Advisor should be working from the same playbook. Wills, trusts, and buy-sell agreements all connect to your financial and business plan. 
4. Regular Review: The SEALs rehearse constantly. You should too. Review coverage and documents annually or anytime your life or business changes. 

Maya Angelou said, “Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.” That’s not pessimism—it’s leadership. 

 Gut-check question: If something unexpected happened tomorrow, which area of your life or business would be most at risk? 

How We Partner With You

 We help you protect the mission—your wealth, your family, and your future. 

 That means reviewing your entire financial landscape to identify risks and close gaps. We coordinate with your CPA and attorney so your coverage, legal structure, and continuity plan all work together. 

 Our goal is simple: when the unexpected happens, your plan keeps moving forward. 

*The foregoing content reflects the opinions of Van Hulzen Asset Management DBA "Van Hulzen Financial Advisors" and is subject to change at any time without notice. Content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be used or construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding the purchase or sale of any security. There is no guarantee that the statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Indices are not available for direct investment. Any investor who attempts to mimic the performance of an index would incur fees and expenses which would reduce returns. Securities investing involves risk, including the potential for loss of principal. There is no assurance that any investment plan or strategy will be successful. 

 Investment advisory services offered through Van Hulzen Asset Management, insurance products and services through Citadel, an affiliated company. Any references to guarantees relate only to insurance products and are based solely on the claims paying ability of the underwriting company.