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Mark Spitznagel, chief investment officer of Universa Investments, told Business Insider in 2024 that he thinks the “worst market crash since 1929” is coming. Now, he claims that the recent market correction is just the beginning.
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“I expect an 80% crash when this is over. I just don’t think this is it. This is a trap,” Spitznagel wrote to MarketWatch on April 3.
After Trump unveiled Liberation Day tariffs on most countries — with some exceeding 100% — major market indexes entered bear market territory. The CBOE Volatility Index, also known as Wall Street’s fear gauge, hit its highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is another selloff to shake people out. This isn’t Armageddon. That time will come as the bubble bursts,” Spitznagel continued to MarketWatch. “This is a most contrarian view right now. Promise.”
Trump has since announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for every country except China, but Spitznagel has been ringing a warning bell since last year. During an interview with the Wall Street Journal, he noted the high levels of national debt and the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes as contributing factors towards the “greatest credit bubble in human history.”
“Credit bubbles end. They pop. There’s no way to stop them from popping,” he said, adding that the Fed has brought the economy to a place “where there’s no turning back.”
Spitznagel’s advice to everyday investors is to not chase the market but build a portfolio that can withstand the next market crash instead.
Preparing for a crash
Spitznagel’s advice to investors is unorthodox.
“Diversification is not the holy grail as it’s been touted by many people. That is a big lie actually.”
While a diversified portfolio is traditionally held as the best way to protect your fortune against a fluctuating market, if Spitznagel’s advice has you unsure, speaking with an experienced financial professional could help bring you clarity and peace of mind.
With Advisor.com — a modern wealth platform — you can connect with professionally vetted financial advisors in as little as three minutes and find the right match for you
When you answer a few questions about yourself, the platform will match you with professionally vetted advisors that fit your needs. Then you can choose your favorite and book a free consultation with no obligation to hire.
Gold
Gold has long been touted as a safe haven asset during market uncertainty.
Gold is regarded as a hedge against inflation for a simple reason: It can’t be printed out of thin air like fiat money.
Priority Gold is an industry leader in precious metals, offering physical delivery of gold and silver. Plus, they have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating from Trust Link.
If you’d like to convert an existing IRA into a gold IRA, Priority Gold offers 100% free rollover, as well as free shipping, and free storage for up to five years. Qualifying purchases will also receive up to $10,000 in free silver.
To learn more about how Priority Gold can help you reduce inflation’s impact on your nest egg, download their free 2025 gold investor bundle.
Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
Real estate
If you’re searching for an investment that offers both stability and potential for tempting returns, commercial real estate might be the answer. Unlike the stock market, which can be highly volatile, commercial real estate can provide steady income streams with generally lower volatility and a low correlation to the S&P 500, according to Nareit data.
Platforms like First National Realty Partners (FNRP) make it easier than ever to get started in this sector with professionally-vetted deals. FNRP gives you access to necessity-based real estate — such as grocery stores or health care facilities. That means the properties are essential to the local community, often leased by national brands, and likely to remain desirable.
Once a deal is closed, FNRP’s team of experts manages the property, so you can focus on finding your next deal. While commercial real estate can provide stability, residential real estate also offers a strong opportunity for further portfolio diversification.
With real estate investments averaging 10% returns over the past two decades, it’s no wonder the market is attractive. However, high prices and mortgage rates have made it increasingly challenging for buyers — until now.
Instead of buying a property outright or taking on an expensive mortgage, there’s are crowdfunding platforms that take a different approach by allowing you to invest directly in in residential properties without the hefty price tag of buying and managing a property yourself.
You can tap into this market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.
Backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.
To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.
Another alternative to the stormy stock market
Over the past 25 years, contemporary art has shown itself to be a unique opportunity to diversify your portfolio outside the stock market.
In fact, fine art has historically outperformed the S&P 500, with contemporary art achieving an annual return of 11.5% from 1995 to 2023, compared to the S&P 500’s 9.6% during the same period.
Now, retail and accredited investors can easily invest in blue-chip art with Masterworks. Masterworks’ team scours the art market for the best deals, buys them at a discount, and offers shares to members. The Masterworks community of more than you 60,000 investors has access to exclusive shares in modern art by the likes of Picasso, Banksy and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Sign up now to get VIP access and skip the waitlist and start building your portfolio outside the volatile stock market.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
