Living here in the beautiful Tarn countryside of France, life has a rhythm of its own. Every morning, as the sun spills over the rolling hills, I step into the garden to check on our chickens—the beloved YuillesPoules. (Although, to be fair, it’s often raining!)
Over the years, these clucking little philosophers have provided more than just eggs. They’ve taught me lessons about patience, consistency, and yes, even risk.
When it comes to financial planning, risk is a term that gets thrown around a lot. Often, people think of it in terms of investments: stock market volatility, fluctuating currencies, or property values.
But risk management isn’t just about investing—it’s about protecting the things that matter most in life, be it your health, your family, or your financial future. And oddly enough, our chickens provide a perfect metaphor for how to think about and mitigate risk in practical, everyday ways.
Protecting the coop: The importance of insurance
Here’s the thing about chickens: they’re delicious to just about every predator in the French countryside. Foxes, hawks, and even the neighbour’s overly curious dog are all potential threats. So, we don’t leave our chickens to fend for themselves. We’ve built a secure coop, complete with reinforced fencing, and we lock them up safely every night.
This is essentially what insurance does for your finances. Life is full of unpredictability, and while we can’t control every twist and turn, we can build safeguards to protect ourselves and those we care about.
Just as the coop ensures our chickens stay safe from foxes, having life insurance, income protection, or critical illness cover can safeguard your family’s financial security if something unexpected happens.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
We’ve had several chickens in the last little while, and they all have their quirks. Some lay large brown eggs, others produce smaller, cream-coloured ones. But not every chicken lays every day. If we relied on just one chicken for all our eggs, we’d probably end up scrambling (no pun intended) when she decided to take a day off.
The same principle applies to managing financial risk. Diversification—whether it’s in your income streams, investments, or retirement plans—is key to reducing reliance on any single source.
Life can be unpredictable, and spreading risk ensures that if one area falters, you’ve got other “chickens” laying eggs to keep things running smoothly.
Planning for the unexpected
Despite our best efforts, things don’t go as planned. A storm might blow through, a chicken might fall ill, or a fence might need repairing. We’ve learned to plan for the unexpected by keeping supplies on hand and staying vigilant.
Similarly, in financial planning, having an emergency fund is your buffer for life’s unexpected storms (or the increased cost of chicken feed…). Whether it’s a sudden medical expense, a car repair, or an unexpected job loss, having a safety net ensures that you don’t have to scramble in a crisis.
Risk and reward: Finding the balance
At the end of the day, keeping chickens comes with its fair share of risks, but the rewards far outweigh them. Fresh eggs, happy clucking in the garden, and the satisfaction of watching them thrive remind us why the effort is worth it. They’re our pets, and we love them.
Financial planning is no different. Managing risk isn’t about avoiding it altogether; it’s about understanding it, preparing for it, and finding the right balance for your life.
Whether you’re thinking about protecting your income, planning for retirement, or ensuring your family’s future, it’s important to take a step back and ask: What’s in your financial coop, and is it secure? If you’re ready to talk about how to protect what matters most, let’s have a chat.
Because when it comes to financial planning, it’s better to be the one guarding the coop than the fox circling it.
