We all know the saying: nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. But there’s another truth we tend to forget—life is full of surprises, and not all of them are good ones.

A sudden job loss. A medical emergency. A serious accident. Even the loss of a loved one. When you think about how many ways life can throw a curveball, the odds of facing at least one major financial shock are high. Many Canadian families are just one missed paycheque away from real trouble. The real question isn’t if something unexpected will happen—it’s when.