Bad things, unfortunately, happen to good people. When life’s woes come along, it’s important to have the right people in your corner. Sadly, far too many people wait until after a problem arises to put together the support team they need.

When I started my first business, a wise and well-established friend gave me some very good advice: “Before you do anything, you need the Big Four: an attorney, an accountant, an insurance agent, and a banker.” My first move, before I picked out business cards or ordered furniture for my home office, was to line up my own Big Four. Now, well into my second business, I’m very glad I did.

I think that the Big Four are important to everybody, not just those in business. I also think there are two other professionals that are just as important: a doctor and a therapist.

The Big Four:

Attorney: Legal trouble lurks around the corner all the time. The fender-bender in the supermarket parking lot, a punch-up with some jerk in a bar, that missed payment from three months ago, and the burnt-out taillight you keep forgetting to fix. The last thing you have time to do when a trip to the courtroom looms is hunt for a good lawyer. If you have an existing relationship with a quality barrister, you have a much better chance of preventing your legal headaches from becoming legal nightmares.

Accountant: Not everyone has complex finances that demand the attention of a CPA — until I went into business, I never filed anything more complex than a 1040EZ at tax time. However, financial questions can pop up anytime. For me, it was how best to handle my business income; for you, it might be how to handle an unexpected inheritance, a superstar stock-pick, or your kid’s college fund. Knowing who you’ll go to when and if you need them is the first step to assuring yourself sound financial advice.

Insurance Agent: The need for insurance is a fact of life. From individual health coverage to providing for your final expenses through life insurance, you need someone who can help you navigate the ins and outs of being covered. Having a quality agent who understands your life and your needs is essential to getting the right coverage. When your needs change, you’ll know just where to go to keep yourself protected.

Banker: Most of the people I know don’t really have a relationship with their bank. They drop off the occasional deposit with a teller, and maybe the girl at the drive-thru remembers their name, but it really ends there. Most of them think having a banker comes with having lots of money to keep track of, but it doesn’t have to. When I opened my business accounts with one of the national banks in town, I was assigned a personal banker to handle whatever I might need. Because I knew how important it would be, I nurtured the relationship, and when I changed banks, I did the same. Now, no matter what I need or what goes wrong, my personal banker handles it with a smile, a wave, and a “Have a nice day, Justin!”

Plus Two

Doctor: We’re all going to get sick sometime — hopefully, it’ll just be the flu. When the time does come and you feel like death warmed up, you want to be sure you have a good physician to call. Sadly, these days it’s made harder by health insurance networks, but there are still good ones out there who can put even the most medi-phobic at ease.

Therapist: We’re all a little bit crazy. I don’t think there is anyone who couldn’t benefit from at least a few sessions with a good therapist — having someone you can call on, someone who listens without judging, is an invaluable resource. If you start your relationship with a therapist early, they’ll know who you are and hopefully what makes you tick long before you need them to help you through life’s twists and turns.

Where do you find the Super Six?

With the Big Four, my advice is to start with what you have. If you have an existing relationship with a pro you really like, ask them for recommendations. I personally went with young professionals, because my work is tech-heavy and I wanted people who would understand what I do. I had an existing relationship with an attorney at a venerable firm in town; he recommended an associate who he felt would be a good fit. From there, my new attorney was able to point me towards an accountant and an insurance agent that would understand my needs.

I didn’t have to hunt for my banker: when I walked in the door, they assigned one to me. However, if I’d preferred, I could have asked for any of the others in the branch, or opted for another local branch with a different staff.

As for your medical staff, you’re probably stuck with whomever your insurance has on their network. I recommend asking around about the ones on your provider list — it wouldn’t hurt to ask the Big Four, they’ll likely have a number among their clientèle — and then call to see if you can meet the doctor between appointments. Once you’ve met one you feel is a good fit, schedule a physical (which most insurance will cover 100%).

Once you’ve found your Super Six, you’ll have a leg up the next time you hear trouble come knocking.