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Taking a rational look at the risk of threats

Terrorists thrive when they get more bang for their buck, and recent threats on high net worth individuals call for higher levels of security.

THE terrorist attacks in Paris last week that killed 130 people and injured hundreds more instilled fear in millions of people who weren't anywhere near the attacks. That, of course, is the point of terrorism.

The sheer randomness of the attacks will persuade some people who may be at higher risk to dismiss any chance that they could find themselves in a similar situation, while others with no need for concern will worry excessively.

"We as human beings don't perceive risk rationally," said Martin Hartley, chief operating officer of Pure Insurance, a company aimed at wealthy clients. The Paris terrorism, he said, "makes the risk seem far worse by its magnitude not by its probability. That's the...

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