Many people have no desire to talk about “what if” when it comes to their finances.

That’s because they’re often too busy figuring out what to do with their money right now. The reality is we can’t live forever and, in some cases, we won’t even be able to live the way we have in the past, due to chronic illness, injury or other unexpected events.

A shocking health scare showed me first-hand the importance of preparing for life’s dramatic turns. In the fall of 2016, I spent a month in the hospital recovering from emergency brain surgery — and there were four documents that were essential in identifying who would make some very critical decisions for me.

A will

Everyone should have a will.

A last will and testament spells out who you want to give your assets to after you die. For parents of minor children, a will allows you to name a guardian. You can specify who will take care of your kids and help them manage their day-to-day activities should an unexpected event happen to you.

As a mother of an 11- and a 14-year-old at the time, it was comforting to know that my husband was there for them, as well as my sister, who is named as their guardian in our wills.