We men play a lot of roles: father, son, brother, husband, friend, coach, mentor, guide. But the one role that’s at most men’s core—especially those with families—is provider-protector. It’s the way we tend to see ourselves, and the way women see us too. Part of being a good provider protector (which should be only a single element of what makes a man a man) involves having contingency plans for how the family will be taken care of if something unexpected happens.
That’s why the results of the 2012 Aflac Workforces Report should really be a wakeup call for us and our families. Here’s some of the findings about America’s workers:
- Over half of American workers (51 percent) are trying to reduce debt.
- 70% of men are either only “somewhat confident” or “not at all confident” in their financial future
- 28 percent have less than $500 in savings to pay for out-of-pocket health, 28 percent have less than $500.
- 58 percent don’t even have a financial plan to handle the unexpected.
- Only eight percent strongly agree their family will be financially prepared in the event of an unexpected emergency.
- When asked how they would pay for out-of-pocket expenses due to an unexpected illness, more than half (57 percent) said they would have to tap into savings, 30 percent would use a credit card and nearly one out of five would have to withdraw funds from their 401k plans to cover the costs.
Come on, guys–time to get real
Armin Brott
Dad of three, best-selling author, speaker, nationally syndicated columnist and radio host, Marine Corps vet, spokesperson, and, generally speaking, a pretty nice guy.
Website: http://www.dadsoup.com
Twitter: mrdad
