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The saying “hope springs eternal” may capture the sentiments of most couples on the cusp of remarriage. But hope alone doesn’t assure smooth sailing the second time around.

Once the kids have flown the nest, or a family business has matured and changed hands, you might decide that a life insurance policy purchased years ago is no longer needed. As life circumstances change, the coverage may not seem worth the premiums.

For most of human history, there was no such thing as retirement. Life was short, and most workers kept on working until they could not work any longer. Then came the 20th century. Social Security, pension plans, and a growing leisure industry helped invent retirement to move aging workers out of the way of their younger and, presumably, more productive colleagues. In many workplaces, mandatory retirement rules made it official. If you were 65, it was time to trade your desk chair in for a recliner.

“After mom died, Dad quickly started dating someone new. He seemed so happy but I couldn’t help but wonder if his new girlfriend was interested in him—or his money?”

Then things really snowballed. First, he had a bad fall that caused a head injury and landed him in the emergency room. A few years later, he was back in the hospital with the early stages of colon cancer and signs of cognitive decline.

In this issue, we examine the impact of potential tax reform on the municipal bond market, steps to take as you enter your retirement homestretch, and creative ways business owners can use insurance.

Parents with growing children often walk a financial tightrope.

Here’s what a typical work history used to look like: You got an education and training, took a job, and stuck with it. If you moved up, it was often with the same employer. A few decades later, when you were 65 or so, you retired to a life of leisure—or at least a life without paid work.