In a recent interview, J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon expressed growing concerns about what’s happening in the world today, highlighting rising geopolitical risks, inflationary pressures, and the lingering effects of interest rate hikes.
Dimon said, “The world is facing some of the most dangerous times in decades, and the risks are both treacherous and getting worse.”
As the leader of one of the world’s largest financial institutions, his words are worth listening to.
So, what should the average investor do to protect their wealth in times like these?
Here are some steps to consider now:
1. Consider gold
Why gold? As Dimon points out, “We haven’t seen this level of unpredictability in decades.” In such an environment, preserving wealth becomes a top priority. Gold provides protection against inflation, maintains its value over time, and is a hedge against a declining dollar or stock market downturn. During times of extreme risk, the demand for gold often rises, and its price tends to follow suit.
What you can do: Allocate a portion of your investment portfolio to gold. This doesn’t mean you should go all-in, but having 5% to 10% of your portfolio in gold may offer stability in these uncertain times.
Keep in mind, though, that not everyone in the gold business is on the up-and-up. Be careful who you deal with.
Preserve Gold is a family-owned company committed to helping investors protect their wealth and retirement with physical precious metals. They offer gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins and bars delivered directly to your home. Plus, enjoy up to $25,000 in complimentary gold and silver, along with waived IRA storage fees for up to 5 years!
They also lead the industry in retirement account rollovers and will help to facilitate a transfer from your current custodian into a precious metals IRA.
Preserve Gold will beat any competitor’s price on gold and silver, and offers fast, free, insured shipping. And once you’re a client, they’ll buy back your metals and charge no fees.
Gold has been hitting record highs. Why not take a look right now?
2. Get a second set of eyes
While it’s tempting to navigate the stock market on your own, the complexity and volatility that Dimon describes make it difficult for individual investors to succeed without expert guidance. Dimon warns that the economic landscape is changing rapidly, and this makes it harder to predict which sectors or companies will thrive.
Why seek professional help? A professional financial advisor or money manager can help you navigate volatile markets and identify high-quality investment opportunities. They’re equipped with tools and insights that allow them to adjust portfolios in real time as conditions change. Dimon’s JP Morgan team, for example, constantly assesses risks and adjusts strategies accordingly. Individual investors often lack the time or expertise to do the same effectively.
What you can do: If you’re managing your investments on your own, now may be the time to seek professional help.
A Vanguard study found that, on average, a hypothetical $500,000 investment over 25 years would grow to $1.7 million if you manage it yourself, but more than $3.4 million if you work with a financial advisor. That’s twice as much!
If you’ve got $100,000 or more in investments, check out a free service called SmartAsset. You fill out a short questionnaire and instantly get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors in your area, all legally bound to work in your best interests.
Using SmartAsset only takes a few minutes, and in many cases you’ll be offered a free consultation.
Please carefully review the methodologies employed in the Vanguard white paper, “Putting a value on your value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha.”
3. Save on expenses
With economic risks mounting, having a strong savings buffer is more important than ever. Dimon’s warnings about the economic climate suggest that we could face prolonged uncertainty, and having enough money in the bank will be crucial if things take a turn for the worse. Building up your savings now can provide a cushion for job loss, unexpected expenses, or prolonged market downturns.
Why build savings now? In treacherous market conditions, it’s wise to ensure you have sufficient emergency funds to ride out economic storms. Dimon suggests that conservative financial habits—such as cutting unnecessary expenses—are critical for staying afloat when the world becomes more unpredictable.
What you can do: First, look for ways to cut back on expenses. For instance, shop around for better car insurance rates.
Take a minute and use this new insurance shopping tool from FinanceBuzz. It can tell if you’re overpaying for your car insurance with just a few clicks.
To find out if you’re losing up to $600 or more a year, just click this link, answer a few questions, enter your ZIP, email, and phone, and within two minutes you’ll see if you qualify for a lower rate.
4. Get the best rates
Once you start building that savings, make sure it’s working as hard for you as you do for it.
Why care about rates? If you deposit $500 per month in the bank and only earn 0.1%, after 20 years you’ll end up with $121,202.94. But if you can earn 4.3%, you’ll end up with $189,701.99. You made an extra $68,500 by just spending 5 minutes to shop rates.
What you can do: While rates are starting to come down, many banks are still offering higher rates on savings accounts. So search for high-yield savings accounts that offer rates of 4% or more.
Here’s a good option to consider: As I write this, you can Earn a competitive APY and get a cash bonus by opening a high-interest checking and savings account from Sofi.
Earn up to 4.40% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on one SoFi Savings account with a 1.10% APY Boost (added to the 3.30% APY as of 10/20/26) for up to 6 months. Open your first SoFi Checking and Savings account between 10/20/26 and 12/31/27, then within 60 days of account opening receive an eligible direct deposit OR $5,000 or more in qualifying deposits. You must maintain eligible direct deposit or $5,000 in qualifying deposits every 31 days to keep the Boost, for up to 6 months. Rates variable, subject to change.
Terms apply at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Conclusion
Jamie Dimon’s warning about the worsening global risks is a call to action for investors. To protect your wealth during these uncertain times, consider investing in gold, consulting with a professional money manager, and building up your savings by cutting unnecessary expenses and maximizing the interest on your savings accounts. While no one can predict the future, taking these steps can help you weather the economic storms Dimon warns of and emerge stronger on the other side.
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