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Three years ago, Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos sounded the alarm.
In an interview with CNN, Bezos said that the economy “does not look good right now (1).”
“Things are slowing down. You’re seeing layoffs in many, many sectors of the economy.”
He doubled down, even recommending, “If you’re an individual considering purchasing a big-screen TV, you might want to wait, hold onto your money, and see what transpires.”
He added, “The same is true with a new automobile, refrigerator, or whatever else. Just remove some risk from the equation.”
But that was back in 2022. Are things improving now? With tariff uncertainty and broader geopolitical shifts, it’s hard to say. And besides, what are the best ways to protect yourself from an economic slowdown, regardless of Bezos’ predictions?
Despite Bezos’s warnings, the S&P 500 has surged about 83% since November 2022, when he initially made his claims (2). This would certainly suggest the stock market sped up, not slowed down.
However, Bezos was specifically remarking on the economy, which is not necessarily the same as the stock market.
For instance, the “Warren Buffett Indicator” is a ratio that the famed investor invented, which compares the U.S. stock market to the U.S. economy. Buffett once warned that if the ratio approaches 200%, investors were “playing with fire” — given that it indicates stock valuations are rising significantly faster than GDP (3). Currently, the Buffett Indicator is sitting around 230% (4).
So while the stock market is tearing up the charts, the economy is lagging by comparison.
Not all stock markets have an exploding Warren Buffett Indicator, though. And diversifying by investing in international stock markets can be a good way to protect your investments from local market conditions.
But if you want to invest worldwide, you’ll need the tools to do so.
With Robinhood — a commission-free investing app — you have access to over 650 global stocks through American Depository Receipts (ADRs). This can be a simple and convenient way to invest in a wide variety of stocks, ETFs and options.
Robinhood offers a range of account types with no account minimums, making it easy for anyone to start investing in the global stock market, regardless of how much (or how little) they have to spend. If you’re more interested in local markets, Robinhood also offers access to American stocks.
New Robinhood customers can even get a free stock once they sign up and link their bank account to the app.
Your stock reward can range from $5 to $200, and you can pick from a selection of top American companies.
While Bezos might try to convince you it’s a bad time to buy big-ticket items, the fact is, it’s almost never a bad time to invest. Trying to time the market — waiting for its next big drop — is a very challenging game to play. Especially because you then need to time it again, choosing when to reinvest your money. Being right twice is no small feat.
Here’s why it’s often best to invest steadily instead: The S&P 500 generated an annualized return of 10.7% between 1990 and 2024 for investors who remained invested during the entire period, according to Morgan Stanley (5). Investors who missed just the 15 best days during that period only saw returns of 7.6% — a sizable difference when you account for compounding interest.
Public is a self-directed investing platform that charges no commission on stock and ETF trades. You can also invest in bonds and alternative asset classes such as fine arts and luxury goods to diversify your portfolio. The platform also has interactive social features — meaning you can follow, share ideas, and learn from other investors.
As an added bonus, Public also offers a no-fee account with an industry-leading 4.10% APY and no minimum balance requirements — so you can easily manage your portfolio and grow your savings all in one place.
If you’re concerned about overvaluations in the stock market, it’s worth looking at alternative assets.
While it’s true that mortgage rates have been on the rise, real estate has actually demonstrated its resilience in times of rising interest rates, according to a report by investment management company Invesco.
“Between 1978 and 2021, there have been 10 distinct years where the Federal Funds rate increased,” the report said (6). During this interval, U.S. private real estate outperformed equities and bonds seven times, while U.S. public real estate outperformed six times.
Well-chosen properties can provide more than just price appreciation. Investors can also earn a steady stream of rental income. But you don’t need to be a landlord to start investing in real estate.
First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties, without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to triple net leases, you can invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into potential returns. This means the tenants take care of property taxes, building insurance and common area maintenance — plus base rent.
But commercial real estate isn’t the only option available. If you’re just getting started, it might make more sense to start with investing in residential instead — and no, that doesn’t necessarily mean a mortgage.
That’s where mogul, a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, comes in. They can offer investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits without the need for a hefty down payment or managing 3 a.m. tenant calls.
Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10 to 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
Gold is considered a natural hedge against inflation because, unlike paper currency, it can’t be printed at will by central banks. That scarcity is part of what gives the metal its enduring appeal.
It’s also widely viewed as the ultimate safe-haven asset. Gold isn’t tied to any single country, currency or economy, and when financial markets turn volatile or geopolitical tensions flare, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher. The precious yellow metal also had a banner year in 2025, with growth of about 60% year-over-year, while hitting highs of over $4,300 per ounce in December (6).
A gold IRA is one way to build up your retirement fund with inflation-resistant assets.
Opening a gold IRA with the help of Goldco allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical forms while also providing the significant tax advantages of an IRA.
If you’re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today. Just keep in mind that gold is typically just one part of a well-diversified portfolio.
You might think of art as a nice way to spruce up some plain, white walls. But fine art has quietly outperformed other asset classes as an alternative investment for years.
Billionaires have long carved out a slice of their portfolios in an asset class with low correlation to the market and strong rebound potential: post-war and contemporary art.
Until now, accessing this vertical has relied on knowing the right people — from brokers and dealers to curators and appraisers. However, now there are ways to get into art as an investment without needing a robust, personal network connected to the art world.
This is where Masterworks, which helps investors connect with pieces of blue-chip art, comes in. Since 2019 over 70,000 members have joined the platform, and can now own fractional shares of works by iconic artists like Banksy, Basquiat, Picasso and more.
Masterworks has sold 25 artworks so far, yielding net annualized returns like 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8% among assets held for longer than a year. All told, Masterworks has already distributed back over $65 million in total proceeds (including principal) to investors.
And the best part? Moneywise readers can get priority access to diversify with art by skipping the waitlist.
Note that past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investing involves risk. See important Regulation A disclosures at Masterworks.com/cd.
One thing Bezos was right about? It can be better to wait out a big purchase before pulling the trigger.
Make sure you have the money needed for that big-ticket item, and that, in the event of an emergency, you’ll still be comfortable after the purchase. But, with all your expenses, it’s sometimes easy to lose sight of where all your money is going.
From groceries to bills to subscriptions to streaming services, these days, there are countless goods and services that put pressure on our wallets.
A quick daily check-in of your accounts can show you exactly where your money is going.
An app like Rocket Money can easily flag recurring subscriptions, upcoming bills and unusual charges by pulling in transactions from all your linked accounts.
This can help you cut unnecessary costs, and then you can manually redirect savings straight into your retirement fund. No spreadsheets, no guesswork, no stress. Small habits like this can make a big difference over time.
Rocket Money’s intuitive app offers a variety of free and premium tools. Free features include subscription tracking, bill reminders and budgeting basics, while premium features — like automated savings, net worth tracking, customizable dashboards, and more — make it easier to stay on top of your retirement contributions and overall financial goals.
And, who knows, maybe you can afford that ‘refrigerator, or whatever’ after all.
