Protect | Witten Financial

CHAPTER ONE
You meet with the congregation just outside of Brandiloch and begin your journey. Twenty miles into your trek you face a large mountain. It is safer to go around, but there is a passageway through the rocky façade that will take several days off of your travels. Which way do you go?
- You brave the passageway and plan to face whatever perils lay within.
- You go around the mountain, which takes valuable time.
You lead the group into the mountain; the only light comes from your torches that cast dancing shadows on the wall. Halfway through, you feel a cold shiver run up your spine as you turn a corner and see the path up ahead littered with undead creatures. You step forward and call upon the divine energies of your patron. The spell emanates toward the creatures and forces them to retreat back to the recesses from whence they came.

You continue to lead the party through the mountain. Only when you reach daylight on the other side do you allow yourself to relax once more.
Guiding your companions around the safer path takes several days, and you don’t have enough food to make the journey.

You invite all of the congregation to pray to Eraminus and ask for the sustenance necessary to carry on. The next day, with supplies running low, you come across a natural meadow. In the center is an ornate table filled with fruits, vegetables, meat, and bread. You hear a rumble in the sky and know that Eraminus has heard your call and provided for you in your time of need.
CHAPTER TWO
Your path continues through an area of forest known for frequent bandit encounters. How do you protect your travelers from a potential attack?
- You cast a camouflage spell on the entire group. Though not entirely invisible, when standing still your people are barely perceptible among the trees.
- You project a barrier around your group and take the lead on the convoy with your trusty warhammer in hand.
With your camouflage in place you are forced to move slowly through the trees. Here and there, you see evidence of bandits – upturned carriages, empty crates – in the distance you see a riderless horse careening off in the night.

At the edge of the forest you spy a camp. Several bandits are sitting around a fire, drinking and pilfering through some ill-gotten treasure. You position yourself in prime attack position should they spot you, but luckily everyone in your party is able to escape detection.
You move quickly through the forest – the faster you get out of it the better. Here and there, you see evidence of bandits – upturned carriages, empty crates – in the distance you see a riderless horse careening off in the night.

At the edge of the forest you see a campsite. The campers are nowhere to be seen. You signal to your party to halt and check around the area. You hear a noise behind you and turn to see a bandit charging in from the east. You feint and bring your warhammer down upon his head as two more bandits rush past you toward the congregation.

Your barrier is holding as the bandits slash at it with their swords. You rush the closest one and, with a roar, smash your hammer into his ribcage. He falls and groans, but does not get up.

The last bandit turns toward you, but before you react an elderly woman within your congregation takes a cooking pan from her satchel and hits the bandit in the back of the head.

With the bandits dealt with, you exit the forest and continue to Nerendal.
CHAPTER THREE
The next day, you arrive in Nerendal and have the group make their way to the house that’s been prepared for them. Though your mission is complete, you want to ensure that these individuals will remain protected when you are no longer there to defend them. How do you help ensure they will be well cared for?
- You head to the local governor’s office and explain the situation. Hopefully the city of Nerendal will rise to the occasion and help your weary travelers.
- The congregation shouldn’t rely on someone else to protect them – they should know how to protect themselves. You select several able-bodied men and women and teach them what you know.
You arrive at the office and make your request to meet with the governor. After several hours of waiting, you are escorted to an ornate office. A tall, well-dressed woman sits behind a table. You go to her and make your case, highlighting the perils that you faced and the oppression your group endured prior to their journey.

The governor stops you by holding up her hand and says, “Thank you for sharing your story. I’ve heard enough to know that these people need our help. You have my word they will be cared for and protected while within the walls of my city.”

Thanking her, you head back to the house to tell the congregation the good news.
You lead your volunteers to a grassy area outside the house, hand them long quarterstaffs, and say, “Your mission is to protect your friends and family. I hope that the lessons I give to you will help you do that.”

The next week you put these new protectors through their paces, teaching them how to parry away blades, disarm opponents, and successfully subdue attackers.

You give warm goodbyes to your trainees and everyone from Brandiloch, confident that they will live a better, happier life in Nerendal.

Chapter One: From the Advisor's Perspective

This scenario reflects a perfect example of the tradeoffs between risk and reward.

Do you go through the mountain, not knowing what’s on the inside but potentially getting to your destination quicker, or do you go with the more known path around the mountain and sacrifice time on your trip?

People are scared to death of the unknown and tend to take the path of the known, even though sometimes the known can still lead to unexpected disaster.

Taking a calculated risk in life can potentially pay off. Keeping your eyes on the goal can help you to take those calculated risks that you normally wouldn’t feel completely comfortable in, but could end up being the right choices for your situation.
Chapter One: From the Advisor's Perspective

This scenario reflects a perfect example of the tradeoffs between risk and reward.

Do you go through the mountain, not knowing what’s on the inside but potentially getting to your destination quicker, or do you go with the more known path around the mountain and sacrifice time on your trip?

People are scared to death of the unknown and tend to take the path of the known, even though sometimes the known can still lead to unexpected disaster.

In this particular situation, the “safe” path became unexpectedly perilous, when an unanticipated consequence of your choice happened with running out of food.

Good thing you had someone up above looking out for you, or your adventure would have been at an end!
Chapter Two: From the Advisor's Perspective

This scenario might best describe the value of risk avoidance.

If you purchase a fancy new car, own a big new house, or wear expensive jewelry, you may be a target for crime because of your gaudy accessories. Similarly, will the big purchases you make now affect your retirement in the future?

By living a modest lifestyle, you can enjoy the finer things in life from time to time without drawing attention to yourself or worrying about future needs.
Chapter Two: From the Advisor's Perspective

When new clients come to us, many do not have an emergency fund. We try to change this philosophy by presenting the concept of “if-when.”

It’s not a matter of if something will ever happen… it’s a matter of when.

And, when it does happens, an emergency fund acts like the force field in our scenario – keeping the problems at bay long enough for you to deal with them properly.
Chapter Three: From the Advisor's Perspective

While not my preferred choice in this scenario, it will do for our fictional storyline.

Sometimes, you just need a leg-up. Local programs, groups, and friends can often help in this manner, as the Governor promised to do in this scenario.

If you find yourself not properly protected from the uncertainty of life, give us a call. We can help you get out of the cycle of dependence and get back on your feet with the coaching and cash flow management solutions we can provide.
Chapter Three: From the Advisor's Perspective

Self-reliance is often the least risky of paths to take in life, because if there’s one person you can trust, it’s yourself.

With a little coaching and training, you can be well on the path to carving your financial future for yourself and your family. Give us a call and we’ll be glad to help.
Protecting oneself from the dangers of the world is difficult. It’s nigh on impossible to predict when misfortune will fall. At Witten Financial, we help our clients identify potential dangers in their financial lives and seek to negate those dangers wherever possible through prudent investment practice and insurance solutions.

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Chapter One: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter One: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter Two: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter Two: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter Three: From the Advisor's Perspective

Chapter Three: From the Advisor's Perspective

Contact Aaron Today