Finance Control your debt – Yes, it’s old, oft-repeated advice. But it bears repeating during troubled times: if you carry any debt – particularly high-interest or variable-rate debt such a credit card balance or a home equity line of credit – make it a priority to pay this down. This is often the single most effective way to minimize the effects of economic shocks and stock market mayhem on your finances. Create a “worst case” budget – track what comes in and out of your chequing account every month. Then identify items which you can reduce (or even eliminate altogether) if your financial situation takes a turn for the worse. This doesn’t have to be a complicated, time-consuming exercise – even a 20-minute review or making a simple spreadsheet will help you feel more confident, less anxious and be in a better position to take steps to minimize vulnerabilities if bad things come to pass. Start an emergency fund – Another piece of timeless financial advice. If you don’t have at least a few months’ worth of living expenses in a dedicated savings account, make it a priority to build one. Consider this to be your financial shock absorber – something on which you can rely, no matter what condition your portfolio is in. Trim speculative positions – Tackling would-be portfolio problems before they spin out of control is a good idea at any time; it’s even more critical during times of turmoil. Take the time now to eliminate small, speculative holdings (e.g. less than 2% of your portfolio) or any position that adds complexity without significantly improving returns. Real estate – apartment buildings, warehouse and industrial property, and self-storage facilities offer steady cash flow (and, therefore, lower volatility) than a lot of other assets – exactly what you want during times of market turmoil. Energy – investments in oil, natural gas and other energy sources such as renewables and uranium. While companies operating in these sectors can be volatile, their performance has historically been a strong hedge against inflation and market uncertainty. Commodities – historically, metals, minerals and industrial materials have held their value during troubled times, largely because of their “necessity value.” Such assets are foundational inputs for a variety of sectors, providing a floor to demand throughout the market cycle. Infrastructure – companies operating toll roads, airports, cell towers, pipelines and similar asset-heavy businesses. Many such assets operate under stable, long-term contracts that include annual adjustments for inflation. This makes them particularly insulated against economic shocks and downturns. Agriculture – food, fertilizer and farmland. The investment case for these is simple: people need to eat, no matter what political or economic crisis is currently making headlines. Remember that while hard assets can offer protection for your portfolio, they are not without their risks: many hard assets can see dramatic price swings and considerable volatility as supply and demand fluctuate. Which means that it makes sense to keep their allocation modest within a larger, well-diversified portfolio rather than going “all in” on them. Clean up your financial house Before we start talking about your portfolio, however, let’s take a bit of a step back and think about how to make your overall financial situation as bulletproof as it can be. The following are simple, obvious tips that can dramatically improve your ability to survive and thrive in almost any economic environment: Hard times? Think hard assets Hard assets are tangible, physical assets that can’t be easily created, replicated or destroyed, and whose value is usually tied to ongoing practical needs. Unlike businesses that rely on trademarks, patents or intellectual property (technology stock is a prime example here), hard assets have a value that’s based on their physical properties or utility, which means that they can be objectively valued and that demand for them doesn’t depend quite so much on positive sentiment and optimistic forecasts. This tends to make their performance more resilient during times of economic and political trouble. By no means should all of your portfolio be geared to hard assets. But if you’re looking for a cushion during the current bout of volatility and you’re overweight technology, bonds or other “paper” assets, now may be a good time to take a look at the following: CSANews | SPRING 2026 | 29
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