Legacy in the Face of November
A Call to Protect What Matters Most
By Joel Rodriguez-Tirado
The Year of Greatness and Grief
This year has been both rewarding and heartbreaking. There were milestones worth celebrating — moments of progress, growth, and beauty. Yet, alongside them came devastating loss.
I lost a close friend at just 39 years old — gone far too soon, without warning. Not long after, I faced the passing of my father at 72, following my mother’s death only a year and a half earlier. Losing both parents in such close succession breaks you in ways you cannot prepare for.
What made it even harder was the reality: neither had protection in place. On top of grief came immediate financial and logistical burdens — funeral arrangements, travel expenses, bills, and the lingering question of what now?
Loss strips away the illusion of time. It forces us to confront what we often avoid: life is fragile, and the legacy we leave is shaped not only by our love, but by our preparation.
November Awareness — The Yellow Ribbon’s Call
As October’s pink ribbons fade, November carries its own powerful symbol: the yellow ribbon.
Traditionally tied to honoring military service and sacrifice, it is also a symbol of suicide prevention — reminding us to check in on those quietly battling pain. In health, it represents awareness for bladder, bone, and liver cancers.
Simple in design, profound in meaning, the yellow ribbon calls us to remember that behind every symbol is a story, a family, and a legacy.
For me, November is not only about honoring service and raising awareness — but also about asking a deeper question: how can we protect, prepare, and empower our families, no matter what life brings?
Why I Do What I Do
My journey in financial services is personal. I know the devastation of loss without protection — and I never want others to face the same.
My mission is clear: to educate families on financial security and legacy planning. That means:
Life Insurance — ensuring loss does not also mean financial ruin.
Retirement Planning — so later years bring peace, not panic.
Debt Freedom — breaking chains that weigh families down.
Entrepreneurship — building income streams that outlast us.
This work is about more than numbers or accounts. It’s about dignity. It’s about ensuring that when the unthinkable happens, families are secure. It’s about asking: What legacy will I leave?
The Questions We Avoid — The Reality We Must Face
Here’s the question most avoid: If your loved one were gone tomorrow, what would happen?
Would your family be financially secure, or scrambling to cover expenses? Would they find strength in your planning, or struggle with what wasn’t prepared?
Funerals cost thousands. Bills don’t disappear. Families deserve time to grieve — not pressure to
survive. Planning ahead is not about fear. It is about love. It is saying: Even if I’m not here, I’ve made sure you’ll be okay.
That is love in its truest form.
How Will You Be Remembered?
November’s yellow ribbons remind us to honor our military, to stand for prevention, and to raise awareness for hidden health battles. But they also remind us of something greater: legacy.
What will you leave behind? Memories, yes. Love, yes. But will you also leave protection? Will you leave stability? Will you leave a foundation that allows your family not only to survive, but to thrive?
Legacy is never an accident. It is built by the choices you make today — by preparing, protecting, and valuing tomorrow as much as you value today.
So this November, I urge you: be wise. Educate yourself. Put protection in place. Build freedom. Plan your legacy.
Because one day, all that remains will be your story.
And the question will be: How will you be remembered?
I know how I will be.