Your Anti-Panic Toolkit

Surviving a crash is about preparation, not courage. Build these habits before the next red day:

• Write a crash plan when markets are calm — decide exactly what you will and won't do if your portfolio drops 20%, 30%, or 40%.
• Automate contributions so you keep buying when prices are low.
• Pre-commit to a buy list of what you'll add if prices fall, so a crash becomes a shopping list instead of a panic.
• Zoom out — pull up a 20-year chart and notice how every terrifying dip is just a blip.
• Keep 3-6 months of expenses in cash so you never sell investments to cover bills during a downturn.

A cash buffer turns market crashes from emergencies into buying opportunities.