At a Glance:<\/strong><\/p>\n There are legit reasons to fear financial risks like asset bubbles, inflation, and geopolitical crises right now<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n I continue investing every month \u2013 while exploring contingencies<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The day before Halloween, I find myself asking \u201cWhat scares me right now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few things that jumped out at me:<\/strong><\/p>\n Reheating inflation: since April\u2019s 2.3% CPI reading, it\u2019s climbed back above 3% last month<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Asset bubbles: risk in stocks, AI & Big Tech, gold, and crypto<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Risk of a 1929-style crash and depression that takes decades to recover from<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Fraying geopolitical ties<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Risk of political extremism leading to capital controls, soaring tax rates, or both<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n AI widening the opportunity gap so dramatically that it causes more polarization and higher taxes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Looking at all of those in the same place actually is spooking me a little. So let\u2019s embrace the terror and explore these further.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or investment advice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Always consult a licensed real estate consultant and\/or financial advisor about your investment decisions.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Real estate investing involves risks; past performance does not indicate future results. We make no representations or warranties about the accuracy or reliability of the information provided.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our articles may have affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link, the affiliate may compensate our website at no cost to you. You can view our <\/span>Privacy Policy<\/span><\/a> here for more information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n For my entire adult life, I\u2019ve focused on wealth accumulation. As you should in your 20s, 30s, and early 40s.<\/span><\/p>\n With economic and political storm clouds seemingly brewing on every horizon, I find myself starting to think a little more defensively.<\/span><\/p>\n How do I protect what I\u2019ve built?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Don\u2019t get me wrong, I continue investing in stocks on auto-pilot every week, and investing in passive real estate every month as a member of the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Co-Investing Club<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n But I also find myself asking \u201c<\/span>How would this investment hold up in an economic crash?\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Last year, I read a book called<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The Fourth Turning Is Here: What the Seasons of History Tell Us About How and When This Crisis Will End<\/span><\/em><\/a>\u00a0by historian Neil Howe. It makes the worrying case that every human civilization in history has experienced a four-generation cycle, culminating in an existential crisis that reshapes society and kicks off the next cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n Part of that has to do with building strong institutions in the midst and wake of the crisis, and those institutions gradually decaying over the next four generations.<\/span><\/p>\n The last of those crises in our civilization \u2013 the one-two punch of the Great Depression and World War II \u2013 happened four generations ago. And it definitely feels like there\u2019s some electricity-in-the-air-before-the-storm today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I do believe some type of crisis will hit in the next 3-7 years. A major war? An internal political revolution? Something painful and ugly, even it\u2019s still too distant to see clearly now.<\/span><\/p>\n Whenever and whatever the next crisis is, I want to survive it with my wealth intact. But that\u2019s easier said than done.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n (article continues below)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n Learn how to earn 15%+ on passive real estate investments in our free video course.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n What contingencies can you put in place to protect against the risk of a major crisis?<\/span><\/p>\n Most people jump to Treasury bonds as their first answer. I totally disagree, due to inflation risk. Don\u2019t believe me? Consider the <\/span>debt-to-GDP ratio in the US<\/span><\/a>, which is in the not-so-esteemed company of Venezuela, Zambia, Greece, France, and Sudan. Governments have a playbook when their public debt gets too high: they inflate it away.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Disclaimer<\/h5>\n
![\"financially](\"https:\/\/sparkrental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/financially-scare.jpg\" "\\"financially")
<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\nWealth Accumulation vs. Wealth Protection<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
The 4-Generation Cycle<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Real estate investments? Awesome.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Being a landlord? Less fun.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
![\"Course:](\"https:\/\/sparkrental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Katie-Millie-Hiking.jpg\" "\\"Katie")
<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\nContingencies for Economic Risk<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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