Crash Survival Rules

You can't predict crashes, but you can prepare for them:

Rule 1: Never invest money you'll need within 5 years. Short-term money belongs in high-yield savings or Treasury bills.

Rule 2: Build an emergency fund before investing. Three to six months of expenses means you won't be forced to sell during a downturn.

Rule 3: Rebalance during crashes, don't flee. When stocks drop 40%, buying more is how fortunes are built.

Rule 4: Ignore financial media during crashes. Their business model is fear. Yours is patience.

Every crash feels like the end of the world while it's happening. None of them have been.