Life has a way of forcing us to pause and take inventory of what really matters. One phone call, one diagnosis, one doctor’s report—and suddenly, the goals, plans, and savings you’ve been building your whole life take on a different meaning.

Marcus, 56, from Miami, just got that call. Doctors diagnosed him with an aggressive illness that could return within two years. He’s debt-free except for a $150,000 mortgage. He’s sitting on a net worth of $2.4 million—built through decades of grinding as an architect, living below his means, and saving and investing faithfully.

Marcus isn’t a flashy guy. He’s mission-driven. He runs a small nonprofit helping at-risk youth—his way of giving back after growing up rough himself. But now he’s facing a painful question many of us never prepare for: “Do

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