Even the extremely wealthy never know what might happen. In 1929, a fair number of people who thought they were wealthy wound up depending on their Social Security. That is, of course, with the exception of those who couldn't handle it and took a dive out the window to spatter down below on Wall Street.

It's nice to have a little insurance salted away, whether you think you're going to need it or not. Sometimes you think you've got it made, then life hands you a nasty surprise.

Don Firth