Are you better prepared for future rainy days

Are you better prepared for future rainy days ahead as recent events would have shown up many weaknesses. It is important to learn from them so as we don't have the same consequences.

As the bestselling book 'The Black Swan' emphasized it is the rare event that produces a disproportionately large result.
We intend to see the film 'Black Swan' as that is a different story.

What the floods demonstrated here in Brisbane was the volunteers were all ready with their gumboots & gloves & any tools to go and help others in need. Did they need any encouragement from big government? They all contributed to the various flood appears but will they do so again when they are asked to do so again with a levy or is it a taxxa>.

There has been some useful articles after the event that have suggested what could have been done before the floods. It certainly struck us why were there generators in the basements [except the AMP gold tower] & how do you charge a mobile phone if the power is switched off?

There are useful comments from Peter Skinner a UQ professor on floodgates & valves on drains that make sense & we wonder if these solutions had been discussed in the last 10 years.

The simple levees that Peter suggests makes far more sense than the 0.5% levy that the Red Queen suggests. Since when has a government removed a taxx once it is on. We know that the average battler needs that 400+ to keep their heads above the financial waters.

This is all part of risk management as all good plans protect the downside. Risk management means now all have the camping stove & generator & baked beans & bourbon ready for the next black swan event.

If it is financial where is that 5K+ cash or silver coins.

It means as neighbour Paul had as we write a compression bandage for the snake bite on his daughter's hand. Damian stated he had one in his glove box.

it means we have a computer backed up & our logins & passwords easily found.

Chris rang us this week to determine if he could access his super. Good luck Chris as generally you need to be on Centrelink for 26 weeks before you can apply for a release.

HMC suggested that we should all have that 5K+ in the PVC pipe which we trust hasn't floated away as Chris's car did.

The lightweights came out with a paltry amount for those in need & of course the heavyweights came later to validate any claims. These payments were only income tested as even they realised that many assets were now worth very little.

Unfortunately many are now under water financially as their debt is above their equity.

The light weights came out to heavy the insurance companies. Insurance is only part of risk management. However those who listen to the direct marketers or do themselves usually have only one measure i.e. cost to compare policies. The cost is dear & one reason is the inefficient state stamp duties on them . They were supposed to have been replaced by the GST. If the average 8-10% that states use for their own purposes was removed then maybe more could take out such. Yes we will agree that wordings need to be better defined or plain English. We received on our policy renewals in December the documents to read so there is no excuse for those who don't read them.

We had calls on 07 3848 1088 from 'Derik' & Paul & others in January who have made New Year's resolutions & want to act on them. They are aware that they could be more efficient at what they do.

We observe as we exercise watching the tennis that all players have coaches. We enjoyed 'The Kings Speech' last week with the theme that the King George VI had an Aussie speech therapist with every speech he made.

Nothing is ever as simple as it looks we commented today & finances for many are a struggle.

We are here to coach the willing so that they are have a home paid off & the black swan events don't wipe them out.

We are here to help those who don't want to sell their home if they move into a nursing home.

We are here to help 'Derik' pay off his mortgage years early & fund for Sophia's education.

We are here to help on 07 3848 1088 or