The good news is your money is protected as long as your bank is federally insured (FDIC). The FDIC is an independent agency created by Congress in 1933 in response to the many bank failures during the Great Depression.
Federal Bond Funds
Several types of bond funds are particularly popular with risk-averse investors. Funds made up of U.S. Treasury bonds lead the pack, as they are considered to be one of the safest.
Even though stocks cratered in the 1929 crash, government bonds were safe havens for investors. A position in bonds probably wouldn't have shielded you completely from stock-market losses, but it certainly would have softened the blow. 2. Keep cash in reserve.
If you are a short-term investor, bank CDs and Treasury securities are a good bet. If you are investing for a longer time period, fixed or indexed annuities or even indexed universal life insurance products can provide better returns than Treasury bonds.
Single earners: Put aside 6 months or more
Recessions typically go hand in hand with higher unemployment, and finding a new job may not happen quickly. Catherine Valega, a CFP and wealth consultant at Green Bee Advisory in Winchester, Massachusetts, suggests keeping 12 to 24 months of expenses in cash.
Business titans such as William Boeing and Walter Chrysler actually grew their fortunes during the Great Depression.
Treasury Bills, Notes and Bonds
While stocks and mutual funds are bound to be a gamble during a depression, default-proof Treasury bills, Treasury notes and Treasury bonds may be a good investment. These are issued by the U.S. government and offer a fixed rate of interest after they mature.
In short, yes, your money is safe in a bank during a recession. As long as the bank is FDIC-insured.
It's far better to keep your funds tucked away in an Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-insured bank or credit union where it will earn interest and have the full protection of the FDIC. 2. You may not be protected if it is stolen or destroyed in the event of a robbery or fire.
Investor takeaway. There are a lot of better choices than holding cash in 2022. Inflation will deteriorate the value of your savings if you decide to stash your cash in a bank account. Over the long run, you'll be better off investing now, even if expected returns are lower than they've been historically.
Your 401(k) grows on a tax deferred basis. You pay income tax on your withdrawals and a 10 percent penalty on withdrawals made prior to reaching the age of 59 1/2. If the dollar collapsed, the federal government might attempt to rectify the issue by raising taxes to settle debts.
Could a Great Depression happen again? Possibly, but it would take a repeat of the bipartisan and devastatingly foolish policies of the 1920s and ' 30s to bring it about. For the most part, economists now know that the stock market did not cause the 1929 crash.
In that decade, significant professional careers were accounting, law and medicine. The Great Depression lasted during most of the 1930s; however, as the country began its slow progress toward economic recovery, retail and service jobs also increased.
To save money, families neglected medical and dental care. Many families sought to cope by planting gardens, canning food, buying used bread, and using cardboard and cotton for shoe soles. Despite a steep decline in food prices, many families did without milk or meat.
There's no legal limit on how much money you can keep at home. Some limits exist with bringing money into the country and in the form of cash gifts, but there's no regulation on how much you can keep at home.
Most financial experts end up suggesting you need a cash stash equal to six months of expenses: If you need $5,000 to survive every month, save $30,000.
An emergency fund can serve as your personal safety net during periods of financial stress. While you're working, we recommend you set aside at least $1,000 for emergencies to start and then build up to an amount that can cover three to six months of expenses.
It's important to remember that during a recession or depression, cash is king.
What happens to your money if a bank closes? The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures bank accounts up to $250,000 per depositor for each bank and has a great past record of honouring this policy.