Natural disasters are becoming more severe and costly—who should bear the financial burden? We explore the tension between socialized risk and market-based insurance. Topics covered include: The surprisingly large percentage of natural disaster losses that are uninsured Why natural disaster severity is increasing A deep dive into the complexity of the home insurance market, including state-run home insurance plans How California has tried to update its home insurance … [Read more...]
481: How to Navigate the Crippling Home Insurance Crisis
Why are homeowners seeing home insurance premiums increases of up to 70%, as David has? What can you do if your insurer drops you, you get a huge premium increase, or you can no longer afford coverage? Topics covered include: What are the primary drivers of home insurance price increases Why these increases don't show up in the U.S. consumer price index How the reinsurance market works and why reinsurers are passing on 50% premium increases to property and casualty … [Read more...]
444: Natural Disasters: Are They Truly Increasing?
From raging wildfires to devastating floods, how are these natural events reshaping our financial landscape? What if anything, should we be doing with our investments as a result? Topics covered include: The devastating Maui wildfire: What are the factors that led to one of the deadliest wildfires in US history. Global wildfire trends: Are they really increasing? The data might surprise you. The role of insurance companies: Learn how the giants of the reinsurance world, like … [Read more...]
What Is Risk vs Uncertainty?
Risk is when the odds or probabilities of future events can be estimated. Uncertainty is when the list of possible future events is unknown, so their odds of occurring cannot be estimated. So how do we make decisions under risk versus uncertainty? ARTICLE TABLE OF CONTENTS (Skip to Section) Risk and InsuranceUncertainty DefinedRisk Versus UncertaintyMaking Decisions Under Risk Making Decisions Under UncertaintyConfusing Risk Versus UncertaintyHow To Make Better … [Read more...]
268: How To Better Manage Risk
What are the three steps to better manage risk and get what you really want. In this episode you’ll learn: Why goods and services that lessen risk tend to cost more.What is the three-step process for assessing and managing risk.Why defining the risk-free option or asset is critical to managing risk.Why immediate annuities are the retirement risk-free option rather than a conservative investment portfolio.What are the two types of risk and how do we mitigate them.What is the … [Read more...]
213: Why Health Insurance Is A Mess
How health insurance isn't really protection against a catastrophic illness but prepayment of routine healthcare consumption, leading to overconsumption of healthcare and over treatment by medical professionals that drive up costs. What would it take to reform the health insurance marketplace so it is more fair and functions more like life insurance or homeowners insurance. In this episode you’ll learn: What has been the traditional role of insurance and why health insurance market isn't … [Read more...]
Should You Buy Insurance or Self Insure? The Case of Long-term Care Insurance
This audio lesson discusses the criteria to consider when deciding whether to purchase insurance or to self-insure. It uses long-term care insurance as an example to walk through the insurance decision process. The episode length is 14 minutes. … [Read more...]
