Not just another question about 'going pro'

[Rizen]

I don't want to make another silly thread about going pro. I've done the search and read all the material on it. In looking through it, there is really only one question I didn't find answered. If anyone out there uses either poker or some other form of self employment as their primary source of income and also has a family, how do you handle replacing the 'benefits' you get from a 'real job'? Mainly what you do to replace insurance, cafeteria plans, 401k, etc.

I do apologize if this has been covered before, but I'm seriously contemplating quitting my 'real job' after March of next year once I get my yearly bonus and doing a combination of poker playing and freelance programming (I'm a software engineer) to pay the bills, but having a young child and planning to have another some time in the near future I'm a little worried about insurance and some of the other niceties that come from a 'real job'.

Thanks in advance, and if you'd rather discuss in PM please feel free to PM me.

-Rizen