Why Even Smart Investors Get Wiped Out (and How to Protect Your Wealth Now)

In This Article

Most investors think that diversity is the key to protecting their wealth. They’ve got money in real estate, the stock market, and maybe even some private equity deals. 

That’s good, right? Not always.

The problem? Diversification is NOT the same as liquidity. Too many accredited investors have their wealth tied up in assets that can’t be accessed when they need it most. And in today’s environment, where banks are tightening credit, real estate distributions are slowing, and cash flow isn’t as predictable, that’s a major risk.

Imagine needing $50K, $100K, or even $250K—tomorrow. 

Could you get it without selling assets at a loss? If the answer is no, your balance sheet isn’t as strong as you think.

The good news? You can fix this before a crisis forces your hand.

Let’s talk about how to build a fortress balance sheet that ensures you have cash flow, liquidity, and protection—no matter what the market throws at you.

What Happens When Investors Ignore Liquidity?

Let’s look at two investors: Ryan and Emily. Both are accredited investors with $2M+ in net worth. Both invest in private real estate deals, stocks, and alternative assets. But when the market shifted, only one of them stayed in control.

Ryan: The investor who got stuck

Ryan had $1.5M in rental real estate, $500K in stocks, and only $50K in cash reserves. He thought his rentals would always provide cash flow. Until he had to lower rents to keep his rentals filled, and suddenly—Ryan had zero cash flow.

When he needed liquidity, he had to sell stocks at a loss and pull money from a high-rate margin loan. Stressful. Expensive. Unnecessary

Emily: The investor who stayed in control

Emily structured her investments differently. She had $150K in liquid reserves, spread across multiple banks, T-bills, and money market funds. She also secured a $300K line of credit before she needed it. 

When her rental cash flow slowed, Emily didn’t panic—she had access to cash and credit. She stayed invested, avoided forced sales, and when a great investment opportunity came up, she had the liquidity to take advantage of it.

Key takeaway

Investors like Emily win long-term because they control their liquidity. Investors like Ryan? They learn this lesson the hard way.

Which one are you?

How: 5 Steps to Build Your Fortress Balance Sheet

The best investors don’t just think about returns—they think about risk, liquidity, and flexibility. Here’s how you can start protecting your wealth today.

Step 1: Take the portfolio stress test

Most investors don’t realize they have a liquidity problem until it’s too late. Let’s test your balance sheet right now.

If your passive income stopped today, how long could you cover your expenses?

• A) 6+ months 
• B) 3-6 months 
• C) Less than 3 months (High risk!)

If you needed $50K tomorrow, where would it come from?

• A) Liquid reserves/LOC
• B) Forced asset sale
• C) No clue (Fix this ASAP!)

If you answered B or C, your liquidity plan needs work.

Step 2: Hold enough cash reserves (but not too much)

• Aim for six to 12 months of living and business expenses in liquid cash.
• Spread reserves across multiple banks to stay within FDIC insurance limits.
• Use high-yield money market accounts and T-bills instead of leaving cash in low-interest checking.

Action item: Check how much liquidity you have. Would it cover you for six months if all cash flow stopped tomorrow?

Step 3: Secure lines of credit before you need them

When a recession or credit crunch hits, banks stop lending. Get access to capital before you need it.

• Open a HELOC, business line of credit, or securities-backed loan.
• Don’t use it to invest—just have it ready as an emergency buffer.
• If you already have a line of credit, request a credit increase now.

Action item: Call your bank this week and inquire about setting up a line of credit.

Step 4: Diversify banking and use alternative cash storage

Bank failures are rare—but they happen. Protect your liquidity with multiple banking relationships.

• Keep cash in at least two different banks with separate account types.
• Use Treasury bills (T-bills) and brokerage accounts for higher yields and protection.
• Have an emergency reserve in a money market fund or cash value life insurance.

Action item: Check how much cash you have in one bank versus spread out across different institutions. If you’re overexposed to a single bank, fix it.

Step 5: Strengthen your risk protection plan

• Do you have an umbrella liability policy? If not, get one.
• Is your property insurance replacement cost or cash value? Make sure you have the right coverage.
• Do you have estate planning in place? If not, schedule a review with an attorney.

Action item: Pull up your insurance policies. Are they structured to protect your wealth?

Want to Protect and Scale Your Wealth?

Building a fortress balance sheet isn’t about fear—it’s about power and control. If you want to ensure your investments are structured for both protection and growth, I’ve put together a Liquidity & Wealth Protection Playbook to help you optimize your financial security.

• Follow me on BiggerPockets (insert link).
• DM me the codeword “FORTRESS” and I’ll send you my Liquidity & Wealth Protection Playbook—the same system I use to help investors stay in control, no matter what the market does.

With the right structure, you don’t just survive market shifts—you profit from them. Let’s make sure you’re on the right side of that equation.