Rule of thumb
If a “no money when something happens” hole remains, ask protection (life/CI/medical) first; once you can sleep, then long savings and liquidity tools. Not law—just a regret-reducing order.
Two mindsets
| Type | Ask first | Also ask |
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Who gets money, how much, enough for liabilities? | Definitions, waiting periods, exclusions, renewal |
| Savings / annuity / ILAS | Liquidity, fees, guaranteed vs non-guaranteed | Surrender cost, poor scenario, disclosures |
Anti-examples
- High mortgage, near-zero cash buffer, yet locking long savings—pain arrives when cash tightens.
- Stuffing medical reimbursement into a “dividend story”—admission needs bill coverage, not an illustration curve.