Gold might be the oldest and most universally accepted hedge against stock market crashes, inflation, currency devaluation, and general economic or geopolitical turmoil. Precious metals generally, and gold in particular, are seen not just as investable assets but as a true store of value in good times and bad.
If you are a short-term investor, certificates of deposit (CDs) issued by banks and Treasury securities are a good bet. If you invest for a longer period, fixed or indexed annuities or even indexed universal life insurance products can provide better returns than Treasury bonds.
Your investment is put into various asset options, including stocks. The value of those stocks is directly tied to the stock market's performance. This means that when the stock market is up, so is your investment, and vice versa. The odds are the value of your retirement savings may decline if the market crashes.
Treasuries are safe investments because they are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the US federal government. The US government has never defaulted on a debt obligation. One special category of treasury securities is Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). TIPS interest rates are indexed to inflation.
Gold. The potential of investing in gold is a rewarding move. Gold is typically seen as a safe investment, which is why it's a popular investment in times of recession. “Due to its reputation for being a safe-haven asset, gold tends to perform well during a recession,” per Bloomberg.
The Bottom Line
CDs are a comparatively safe investment. They can provide a stable income regardless of stock market conditions when they're managed properly. Always consider emergency money that you might need in the future when you're thinking of purchasing a CD or starting a CD ladder.
Avoiding highly indebted companies, high-yield bonds and speculative investments will be important during a recession to ensure your portfolio is not exposed to unnecessary risk. Instead, it's better to focus on high-quality government securities, investment-grade bonds and companies with sound balance sheets.
Key Takeaways. Stock price drops reflect changes in perceived value, not actual money disappearing. Market value losses aren't redistributed but represent a decrease in market capitalization. Short sellers can profit from declining prices, but their gains don't come directly from long investors' losses.
In other words, if you have a solid financial plan, and your 401(k) is well-optimized, sometimes the best thing to do in a market downturn is to stay the course, especially if you are a younger investor with years until retirement.
There are rules of thumb as to how the individual asset classes usually behave – such as the stock market flourishing in times of economic boom, government bonds being significantly less risky investments than stocks, and gold shining the most in times of crisis.
What are the best investments during a stock market? Some investments that may provide positive returns during a stock market crash can include safe-havens such as gold and the US dollar. Companies related to consumer staples also tend to rise in value, such as utility, food or pharmaceutical stocks.
Stocks and bonds have relatively low transaction costs, allow you to diversify more easily and leave your cash more liquid than real estate (although the stock market is typically more volatile than the housing market). Meanwhile, real estate is a hedge against inflation and has tax advantages.
Financial advisers generally suggest rebalancing (adjusting the mix of your stocks and bonds) whenever your portfolio gets more than 7% to 10% away from your original asset allocation, which was constructed to match your time horizon, risk tolerance, and financial goals.
Inflation Is Eating Away at Your Funds
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average rate of inflation from April 2023 to April 2024 was 3.4%. If you've been keeping your money in a savings account with a lower yield than the rate of inflation, you should switch over to a higher-yield account.
While longer-term CDs may tie up your funds for years, a 6-month CD allows you to access your money relatively quickly. If you suddenly need your $5,000 for an emergency or a more lucrative investment opportunity arises, you won't have to wait years to access your funds without incurring hefty penalties.
Banking regulation has changed over the last 100 years to provide more protection to consumers. You can keep money in a bank account during a recession and it will be safe through FDIC and NCUA deposit insurance. Up to $250,000 is secure in individual bank accounts and $500,000 is safe in joint bank accounts.
Saving Accounts
Like checking accounts, they're federally insured and are generally the simplest and safest place to keep cash in good times and bad.
“The demand for travel and hospitality services typically declines as consumers cut back on discretionary spending,” Sarib Rehman, CEO of Flipcost, said. “To attract customers, airlines, hotels and travel agencies often lower their prices and offer more promotions.”
The $1,000 per month rule is designed to help you estimate the amount of savings required to generate a steady monthly income during retirement. According to this rule, for every $240,000 you save, you can withdraw $1,000 per month if you stick to a 5% annual withdrawal rate.