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Personal risk is the potential for losses that impact an individual or family. Risk surrounds everything in life such that individuals inherently manage risk in everyday situations. It is also possible for individuals to apply formal risk management techniques such as identifying and treating risks. The following are common examples of personal risks.
Safety RiskThe risk of an accident or crime that impacts your health or quality of life.Health RiskThe risk of negative health outcomes such as a disease. For example, the health risks associated with living in a location with poor air quality.Property RiskRisk to your property such as fire, flood or theft risk.
The risk that bad weather will result in losses.The risk of a large scale negative event such as a disaster or war. This is often not insurable or requires highly specialized insurance.Pure RiskPure risk is risk that only has a downside such as fire risk. This can be contrasted to risk taking that is done for a potential gain such as purchasing a risky investment. Generally speaking, pure risk is insurable.
Opportunity CostsAn opportunity cost is what you must give up in order to do something with your life. For example, if you spend three years studying economics in university, that is three years that you could have done anything else. Opportunity costs are the fundamental reason that all things are surrounded in risk. If you make a poor choice, you may waste your time, health, youth, energy and resources such as money and influence.
VenturesTaking risks as part of your day to day behavior or your grand plan for your life. For example, meeting new people and being outgoing can be viewed as a form of social risk taking.Financial RiskFinancial risks including investment risk, tax risk, interest rate risk, refinancing risk, recession risk and liquidity risk. For example, the risk that your employer will not pay you and you will be unable to pay your creditors.
Information Security RiskThe risk that your technology will be accessed, modified, controlled, disrupted or destroyed by a malicious agent. For example, the risk that someone will access your private information and media on your phone.The risk of a negative outcome in your career due to action or inaction. For example, the risk that your skills will become out of demand in the labor market.
The risks to a business owned by an individual or family. For example, the risk that the only restaurant in a small town will face stronger competition.The potential for political events or conditions to result in losses. For example, a student studying in a foreign country who risks an inability to complete their degree due to a sudden change in immigration policy.Purchase RiskThe risk that a purchase will not have the value you anticipate. For example, a student who buys an expensive laptop risks that it will break such that they have to spend more or go without a critical tool.Risk that people particularly fear such as the risk of an airplane crash. In some cases, people focus on dread risk and ignore other risks that are less emotional.Passive RiskPassive risk is the risk of doing nothing. Risk is too often associated with action but inaction can be equally risky. For example, inactivity may be a health risk.Secondary RiskSecondary risks are risks that are created by attempts to reduce risk. The classic example of this is an individual who puts money under their mattress to avoid investment risk only to face inflation risk as the value of the money declines over time.|
Type | | Definition | The potential for losses that impact an individual or family. | Related Concepts | |
Risk
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