Risk Management 101

Dec 22, 2025

6 min read

A Classroom Conversation with Dr. Linh Trinh An, Risk Management Advisor

For educational purposes only.

Welcome to Class 👩🏻‍🏫

Risk. Risk. Risk. I see risks everywhere.

Am I too young to be this risk-averse? LOL.

People keep telling me that spiritually, this is not my first — or even my second — time on this earth.

I don’t know about that… but my EQ assessment did place me in my late 50s.

So maybe I was a Risk Management Advisor in my last five lives. Who knows? 😌

What I do know is this:

Every stage of your life comes with its own set of risks. And if you don’t see them clearly, they will run your money, your health, and your peace of mind.

Today’s “class” is about seeing those risks clearly — and understanding how insurance fits into the bigger risk portfolio, instead of being random policies floating around in your drawer.

Lesson 1: I Don’t Sell Policies. I Build Risk Portfolios.

Technically, yes, I am a licensed life and health insurance agent.

But that’s not how I think about my work.

I don’t “sell life insurance policies.” I build risk portfolios.

A mentor once nudged me to claim the title that actually matches what I do:

Risk Management Advisor.

Why does that matter?

Because when you see yourself as “someone who buys a policy,” you ask:

“What’s the cheapest thing I can get?”

When you see yourself as “someone with a risk portfolio,” you ask:

“What could possibly go wrong in my life — and how do I design protection around that?”

Very different energy. Very different results.

Lesson 2: Life Stages = Different Risk Profiles

Let’s turn this into a classroom exercise. Imagine I’m drawing three big boxes on the board:

Just Graduated / Early Career
Marriage + Family + Stable Career
Retirement + Slowing Income

We’re going to walk through each “stage,” look at:

What can go wrong (risk profile)
Which tools usually make sense (possible solutions)

This is not a one-size-fits-all formula. It’s a framework to get your brain thinking like a risk advisor, not just a consumer.

Stage 1: Just Graduated & Entering the Real World

You’re out of school. No dependents yet.Maybe a roommate. Definitely some debt. And a whole lot of dreams.

Risk Profile at This Stage

Income loss — HIGH You are one accident, illness, or job loss away from zero paycheck.
Taxes — LOW You’re usually in a lower tax bracket.
Health — Mild (but unpredictable) You’re young, but “young” doesn’t mean “invincible.”
Down market exposure — LOW Most of your cash is going to rent, debt, and survival.
Debt load — HIGH (for many) Student loans, credit cards, car loans.

Tools That Often Make Sense

Think of this stage as “Lock It In Early”.

Early term life insurance Lock in your good health while you have it. Many people skip this. That’s often a deadly mistake, especially if health changes later.
Health insurance You can’t build wealth if one ER visit wipes out your savings.
Start disability insurance (if budget allows) Your biggest asset right now isn’t your car or your apartment. It’s your ability to earn an income.
Emergency fund + employer retirement match 3–6 months of expenses, and at least grab the free money if your employer offers a match.

Professor’s Note: In Stage 1, your job is to protect your future earning power and avoid getting derailed before you even start.

Stage 2: Marriage, Family & Stable Career

Now the picture changes.

Someone is depending on you. Maybe little someones. You might own a home, a business, or both.

Risk Profile at This Stage

Income loss — Medium to High If something happens to you, it’s not just you who’s affected.
Taxes — Mild → Medium Your income is usually higher now.
Health — Mild → Medium Life is stressful; health risks creep up.
Down market exposure — Medium You likely have investments now.
Liability risk — HIGHER Kids, home, cars, maybe even a side business — more moving parts to protect.

Tools That Often Make Sense

Welcome to “Build & Protect”.

Term + Permanent life insurance combo Term: high coverage for protection. Permanent: long-term planning, tax-advantaged cash value, legacy.
Disability insurance (non-negotiable) This is the paycheck protector. If your income funds everyone’s life, protect it.
Health insurance Still essential. Medical bills are one of the biggest causes of bankruptcy.
Umbrella liability insurance Extra layer of protection over your home and auto if you’re sued.
Long-term care planning (optional but smart) Some people like to start early if their goals and family history are crystal clear.

Professor’s Note: Stage 2 is where “I’m fine” optimism can be the most dangerous. The more people and assets linked to you, the more one event can ripple through everyone’s life.

Stage 3: Retirement & Slowing Income

You’ve worked hard. You’re supposed to be coasting. But this is actually where certain risks peak, not disappear.

Risk Profile at This Stage

Taxes — HIGH Especially when required minimum distributions (RMDs), Social Security, and pensions all stack on top of each other.
Health — HIGH Healthcare and long-term care costs can destroy a beautiful retirement.
Longevity risk — HIGH You might outlive your money.
Sequence of returns risk — EXTREMELY HIGH Market losses early in retirement, while you’re withdrawing, can be devastating.
Down market risk — HIGH You’re not adding new money — you’re taking money out.

Tools That Often Make Sense

This is the “Preserve & Distribute” phase.

Permanent life insurance As a tool for:– tax-advantaged leverage– legacy for heirs or charity– liquidity for estate planning
Annuities To generate lifetime income and protect part of your portfolio from market volatility.
Long-term care solutions Traditional LTC policies, hybrid life/LTC, or other creative structures.
Coordinated planning Align Social Security, pensions, investments, and insurance so they work together for maximum longevity and legacy.

Professor’s Note: At this stage, the question is no longer “How do I grow the pile?”

It’s “How do I keep this pile feeding me and my loved ones for as long as I’m here — without letting taxes, markets, or healthcare eat it alive?”

Advanced Class: When “Mo Money, Mo Problems” Becomes Very Real

Everything above is written for average Americans — people in the broad middle.

If you are high net worth (HNW) or ultra-high net worth (UHNW), your risk picture is more complex:

Concentrated business ownership
Large real estate portfolios
Liquidity issues
Estate taxes
Multi-generation planning
Complex family structures

At that level, you usually need a full team, not just one advisor:

Risk management advisor
Investment professionals
Tax strategists
Estate planning attorneys

And they all need to be willing to talk to each other, not just operate in silos.

As I always say:

“Mo money, mo problems.” 🤓 But also — mo options, if you plan well.

How to Use This Lesson

If you’re still here, congratulations. You just made it through a mini-class in risk-based financial planning.

Here’s your “homework”:

Identify your life stage. Stage 1, 2, or 3 — where are you right now?
List your top 3 risks. Job loss? Health? A dependent? Market drop? Longevity?
Check what you already have. Policies, benefits, accounts — are they random, or do they match your stage?
Ask better questions. Instead of, “Is this policy good?” ask, “What specific risk does this tool solve in my life?”