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Crisis-proof investment in 2025: you should know these tips!
It has already happened to many investors: A crisis shook the economy, which had a negative impact on financial investments. As a result, many investors have already lost large portions of their hard-earned money. It is therefore understandable that you are wondering how you can build up a stable portfolio. Is there such a thing as a crisis-proof investment? In this article, you will find out which aspects you should consider in order to protect your portfolio so that you can remain calm in difficult economic times.
In brief:
- Economic crises such as those caused by the coronavirus pandemic in recent years have a strong impact on many asset classes
- Crisis-proof investments such as precious metals, fixed-term deposits or overnight money can offer security and balance your portfolio
- By focussing on different asset classes, you can generate returns and still attach importance to security
- Follow these tips to increase the security of high-yielding asset classes
How investments behave in economic crises
The economy has been subject to various influences in recent years: Ukraine war, high inflation or the corona pandemic. Within a few years, there can be strong fluctuations that affect the economy.
Effects of crises on financial investments
These times are particularly difficult for young investors. You may also not yet feel confident about managing your money in economic crises. The question arises as to what to do with your assets. Which asset classes are crisis-proof? How can you invest your money to protect it from inflation?
Attention!
In times of economic crisis, the economic strength of private households declines. As a result, companies make less turnover, causing the economy to slump further. You may also have noticed that your share prices have fallen during these times. All of this leads to an increase in demand for crisis-proof investments.
- Different investments react differently to economic crises
- If you have invested in economy-dependent forms of investment and there is an economic crisis, you will also feel the consequences: there may be short-term losses
- It is important not to sell in difficult economic times
- Stock markets usually recover quite quickly after economic crises
- Experienced investors react prudently to crises and do not sell their investments
- In principle, the risk of your portfolio can be reduced
- If you pay attention to sufficient diversification in different asset classes, not all investments fall equally in economic crises
- Gold and share prices often move in opposite directions during economic crises, for example
- Economic crises are much less likely to lead to financial losses, especially for long-term investors, as they simply ‘sit out’ the crisis in question
The special nature of the current economy
The current war in Ukraine is having an impact on the economy. The situation is particularly difficult as the last few years have also been full of difficult economic times. The coronavirus pandemic and high inflation are impacting the economy.
Good to know:
The coronavirus pandemic in particular caused difficulties for many companies, as they had to close for long periods of time and were barely able to sell any goods or services. In these uncertain times, private households spent significantly less money, which further fuelled the crisis for many companies.
Some of the consequences of this period are still being felt: energy prices have risen sharply and there is a prolonged shortage of certain raw materials. No one can predict how long the war in Ukraine, for example, will last and what economic consequences households will face.
High energy prices and strong inflation often lead to a reluctance to buy. This is particularly felt by companies that subsequently have higher costs themselves. These problems are exacerbated by production stoppages in China, transport bottlenecks and supply chain disruptions.
Opportunities and risks of crisis-proof investments
Economic crises not only bring risks, but also opportunities that experienced investors can capitalise on. It is important that you do not make any hasty sales, but take a calm look at your own financial situation.
Opportunities in times of economic crisis:
- Rising yields: Over time, the economy will recover from a crisis. This will also cause asset class prices to rise again. This phase offers you attractive opportunities to achieve high returns.
- Favourable prices: The sometimes sharp fall in prices during economic crises has the advantage that they can be purchased at favourable prices. These are often good opportunities for experienced investors to buy at favourable prices and benefit from the subsequent rise in prices after the crisis.
- Diversification: Different asset classes react differently to crises. Especially in times of crisis, investors often realise how important sufficient diversification is in order to make the portfolio more resilient and safer overall.
Risks in times of economic crisis:
- Uncertainties: Difficult economic times are often accompanied by uncertainty and emotionality. In such phases, it is often more difficult to make well-founded investment decisions without being overly influenced by the current situation and thinking long-term.
- High volatility: Volatility often increases during economic crises. There can be strong, unpredictable fluctuations in different investments. In some cases, this can lead to nervousness among investors and result in panic selling.
Crisis-proof investing with these asset classes
As you have seen, investors are facing a number of difficulties due to various crises and their consequences. These economic crises are increasing the demand for crisis-proof investments. But which is the best investment without risk?
1. Fixed-term deposits, savings accounts and call money as an investment
Fixed-term deposits, savings books and call money accounts are considered particularly secure investments. They are particularly popular with investors with a very high need for security. However, they offer hardly any interest and are below the inflation rate, which is why it is advisable to invest in more than just these forms of investment.
Good to know:
The statutory deposit guarantee ensures the high security aspect of these asset classes. In the event of a bank failure, 100,000 euros per bank and customer are protected by law.
If you have invested part of your assets in these investments, it is advisable to check them regularly. Banks are always changing their conditions, which is why you could consider switching banks if you find a particularly attractive offer.
Offers on the Internet are helpful as they allow you to make comparisons quickly and effectively. If you find it too time-consuming to change your bank regularly, it is advisable to carry out extensive research before making a final decision.
Attention!
Ideally, you should store two to three months’ net income in these asset classes. Should unforeseen events occur, you will have a crisis-proof reserve fund that you can access quickly and at any time.
2. Precious metals asset class
You have probably heard that precious metals, especially gold investments, are seen as a crisis-proof asset class. Precious metals such as silver, gold or platinum are finite resources, meaning they are not available indefinitely. This has the advantage that a certain level of value retention is guaranteed.
Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that the price of gold can also be subject to strong fluctuations. A certain currency risk also comes into play when buying gold, as gold is traded in US dollars.
Good to know:
Precious metals can make sense if a small proportion of your own assets are invested in them. In this way, gold can be added to the portfolio and reduce the overall risk of your portfolio. However, if you want to make a return, provide for your family or make provisions for old age, they are less suitable.
If you are interested in gold, you should also consider storing it. Gold can be stored at home in a safe, but this involves a certain amount of risk. Theft insurance or bank safe deposit boxes are also possible, but these also cost money.
3. Secure investment through property
Property is in high demand and offers a safe investment option. In uncertain economic times, property is more resistant to inflation, for example. There are different ways to profit from the property market.
Good to know:
On the one hand, it is possible for you to purchase a property for your own use. This would allow you to sell at a later date and benefit from the increase in value.
Another option is yield-producing properties, i.e. letting properties that have already been purchased. These are investments with high returns. Perhaps you have only just started working and do not yet have the opportunity to buy a property at this time. However, if you still want to benefit from the property market, the third investment option may appeal to you.
Open-ended property funds are also available to investors with smaller assets. Property funds offer less security, but increase the chance of an attractive return. As part of your portfolio, they could serve as a partial admixture and offset the safe but less profitable investments.
Crisis-proof and yield? Pay attention to these aspects!
The investment options we have presented to you so far are designed to build a safety component into your portfolio. This can reduce the overall risk of your portfolio, making it more resilient, especially in difficult economic times.
Attention!
Nevertheless, there is one problem: as you have now seen, many of the asset classes mentioned so far offer hardly any realistic opportunities to achieve financial freedom. Especially if you also want to use an asset class to provide for your family or save for old age, you should find ways to achieve returns.
Once you realise this, the question arises: are there ways to achieve attractive returns and still increase security? If you think about yield-generating asset classes, shares or P2P might come to mind. But shares are all high-risk, aren’t they? And is a P2P portfolio even serious, given the high returns?
Returns and security with P2P and ETFs?
P2P or peer-to-peer loans are granted by one private person to another private person. This trade is made possible by P2P platforms. They help investors to find suitable loans and enable direct investments. In this way, private individuals can also obtain loans without taking out a traditional bank loan.
P2P loans have a number of advantages. They enable high returns and investment in a variety of different loans. This allows you to achieve attractive interest rates. But can you get through the crisis with P2P loans, even if they are riskier than other asset classes?
Let’s ask ourselves briefly, what are the P2P loan risks?
- Default risk: Default risk means that a borrower may no longer be able to pay. Investors who know the risks of P2P loans also know how to reduce them. You can reduce the default risk of P2P loans through diversification.
- Insolvency of the P2P provider: The actual platform also harbours a risk. Some of the providers are not regulated and are therefore risky for investors. If they become insolvent, investors can lose their money as there is no deposit protection. However, there are regulated P2P exchanges that are audited and are therefore much safer. In principle, you should invest in European loans.
- Incorrect credit rating: P2P providers issue so-called credit ratings to their borrowers. These are intended to help assess the risk for investors. However, the marketplaces are still relatively young and sometimes lack experience, which can mean that certain loans are actually riskier than their rating indicates. It is therefore particularly important that loan information is read carefully and scrutinised critically. Additional security is provided by splitting the loan between different P2P platforms.
ETFs offer another way to achieve attractive returns. ETF strategies enable investors to invest in shares cheaply and easily. The particular advantage here is diversification. This makes them much safer than investing money in individual shares. One particular ETF recommendation is global world ETFs, which allow investors to invest in the world’s strongest companies.
ETFs are also popular due to their low costs. They are not actively managed, which is why the costs are usually well below one per cent. They are also liquid as they are traded on the stock exchange and can be bought and sold quickly. Nevertheless, ETFs are a long-term investment class with an investment horizon of at least 10 years.
How you can increase security and still make a return
The following tips can help you to invest your money in a crisis-proof manner and still achieve attractive returns:
- Stay calm: Times of crisis are often chaotic and confusing. This makes it all the more important that you keep your emotions under control and don’t make any spontaneous sales. Economic crises will occur again and again over time, but they also harbour opportunities.
- Diversification: Experts recommend building a portfolio of different asset classes. One part should act as a security component, another as a yield component. This way, your portfolio is balanced and offers you both.
- Pay attention to liquidity: Especially in difficult times, it is important to know which investments you can and cannot fall back on in an emergency. Get a precise overview of the liquidity of your investments and only invest money that you won’t actively need in the near future.
- Reserve funds: This point is also related to liquidity. Build up a reserve fund of two to three months’ salary so that you don’t have to fall back on investments in difficult times, which will have a negative impact on your returns and future financial plans.
Conclusion: Returns and security through the right financial strategy
The topic of security is also an important aspect when it comes to finances. Perhaps you also know people who have suffered financial damage in difficult economic times. For example, inexperienced investors who panicked during the coronavirus pandemic and sold their shares.
In principle, there are no investments that are completely safe. Conversely, you can achieve little or no return with very safe investments. Mixed portfolios, consisting of a security component and a return component, therefore offer a good middle ground.
Crisis-proof investments such as call money accounts, savings accounts or fixed-term deposit accounts are suitable for the security component. Precious metals such as platinum, gold and silver are also popular for balancing the portfolio and building in a little more security.
On the other hand, there are high-yield investment opportunities such as P2P loans and ETFs, which enable investors to achieve good returns and generate passive income or build up assets.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about crisis-proof investments 2025
Aleks Bleck is the face of Northern Finance and was already a shareholder, lender and ETF investor at the age of 18. His focus is on P2P loans and passive ETFs. Aleks founded Northern Finance in 2017 while studying business administration in Lu00fcneburg.
He built up the YouTube channel alongside his main job in investment and corporate banking before finally focusing full-time on Northern Finance.
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