04/11/2025
A market crash right before retirement can wipe out decades of savings.
I’ve seen it happen.
A couple I worked with had $700K in their 401(k). But they never considered what would happen if the market dropped 40% right before they retired.
Here’s what they learned:
❌ A 50% loss requires a 100% gain just to break even.
❌ Selling investments at a loss locks in those losses permanently.
❌ Market crashes don’t follow a schedule. They happen fast.
We adjusted their plan so they didn’t have to depend on the stock market for security.
✔️ A portion of their money was protected from crashes.
✔️ They had guaranteed income streams that wouldn’t be affected by downturns.
✔️ They could retire on time—without worrying about the next recession.
No one wants to spend retirement glued to the stock market, hoping they don’t lose everything.
The good news? You don’t have to. There are ways to create security, no matter what happens with the economy.
Most people just don’t know where to start.
Have you thought about how market risk could affect your retirement timeline?