FIRST THOUGHTS

There are many and varied things that one can do to protect ones assets, one freedoms and ones life. In later pages we shall discuss many of these. But let us first discuss the generalities.

Anyone honestly observing investment in the stock market inevitably comes to the conclusion that a monkey can choose stocks as effectively as the highest-paid analyst.  Success in the stock market is a matter of luck, and is usually short-term.  Because one cannot predict the future of any particular stock, good investment involves spreading one's risk so that a decline in any particular stock or group of stocks is limited to that area and is unlikely to affect other stocks or bonds that one holds.

The same is true for the strategies necessary to protect one's more general assets, one’s home, one's belongings, and ultimately one's life.  The key lessons to be learned is that one can never clearly predict the future and know what disaster is just around the corner.  Therefore one must prepare for a variety of problems and disasters that may occur in ones life.

“SPREAD YOUR RISK” This is the first and perhaps the most important rule. Be sure that no matter what happens you always have enough put away somewhere else to get along and rebuild. In the face of any disaster you should always be able to shrug and say “Oh well, no big deal. I can live without that.”

Another vitally important rule is “to know what is really important to you.” Too many people think that money and belongings are the most important assets that we have. They are not. If you are religious, then surely the most important goal of life is death; the opportunity to ascend to heaven. Of course, few people are religious despite what they hypocritically proclaim.

For most, happiness is the most important goal of life, your own happiness and perhaps that of your children. For that, one would be wise to keep in mind the results of many psychological studies of happiness. Happiness is not found in belongings, in cars, fine clothes, or a big house. Happiness is found with friends and family. Get that right and all else falls into place.

There are many disasters that can occur that could wipe out your assets. We shall be discussing these in the following pages. Consider each one. Have a plan or strategy to protect you if one of these disasters occurs. Then you can get on with your life without worry and without later looking back and saying, “if only I had prepared for that”.