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You’ve been planning for this for years: the ability to retire. You’ve saved diligently, discussed the transition with your family, and developed a succession plan at work. You’ve even celebrated the upcoming milestone by sharing a champagne toast with friends! And then a bear market hits and appears to upset all your plans. The retirement paycheck that you’ve carefully arranged for may be in question. After ten years of a bull market, the stock market volatility is making you feel anxious and unsettled. Your illusion of control is shattered.

A: If you lost your health insurance, be sure to replace it, says Laura Rotter, a financial planner in Harrison, N.Y. If you have insurance through your job, a job loss generally qualifies you for special enrollment under the Affordable Care Act. Other options may include electing Cobra insurance or being added to your spouse’s employer-based health insurance. Make sure you both have life insurance, Ms. Rotter says. If the breadwinner isn’t already signed up for long-term disability insurance, now is the time to do so, says Lorenzo Sanchez, a financial planner in San Diego. “Disability insurance is a big safety net that everyone should have in place,” he says.

Susan and Bob came to my office to discuss their financial situation. They proudly announced, “We have no debt; we even repaid our mortgage.” Like many clients, Susan and Bob had bought into the belief that no debt is good debt. However, unlike credit card debt or other consumer debt, your home mortgage is actually good debt that can be used to your advantage.

You’re planning that long-awaited, well-deserved vacation. You’ve researched the itinerary, booked the airfare and hotels, and even made some restaurant reservations. Nothing left to do but arrange for transportation to the airport. Right? Wrong. There is one more important decision to make before you leave for your trip. You will need to determine if you should pay an additional fee for insurance on your rental car. Here’s what you need to know in order to decide:

Perhaps you’re finding yourself in a situation similar to mine. My bright orange 2004 SUV has seen better days, and I’m tired of its never-ending need for repairs. Time for a new car! But there are decisions to be made. What make? What model? And, importantly, should the next car be leased or bought? Here are some key questions to help guide the decision:

Define your financial goals and values and then study how and why you already spend your money. Websites and smartphone apps can help with tracking spending patterns. Developing "mindful awareness" of emotions and judgments that create spending "needs" will lead to change.