It’s a question that seems ripped from the plot of a dystopian novel, but one that crosses many minds, especially in an age of climate instability, political upheaval, and global conflict. And, it came up last week in the Boldin Facebook group. Can you protect your wealth from total societal collapse?
And perhaps more importantly: Should you even try?
Let’s break it down.
First, Let’s Define Societal Collapse
With a societal collapse, we’re not talking about a bad stock market year or a temporary recession. We’re talking about a scenario in which the systems we rely on – government, banks, the rule of law, and currency –cease to function in a meaningful way.
Think Mad Max, not market correction.
Here is what the Boldin subscriber asked the Boldin Facebook group: “My husband is going through his cyclical end-of-the-world worries/paranoia and thinks I’m just naive (I handle ALL of our finances and have done so for the last 20+ yrs.) He’s curious if any of you have some “reserve” of some asset in hand (such as physical gold, offshore accounts, bitcoin on a drive, etc) in case of the downfall of the entire US financial system. My argument is that, in that worst case scenario, those assets will not actually have value. If the US system were to ever reach full collapse like that, the most valuable assets would be things like water, food, sugar, spices, lumber, metal, tools, etc. I’m having a hard time understanding the full scenario as to how these “assets in hand” would even be helpful. He’s saying we move to another country and have these monetary resources available to pull from. This goes far beyond what I’m comfortable doing. Any advice on how to ease his worry and compromise on some solutions? ”
There were nearly 100 thoughtful (and humorous) responses.
A True Financial Collapse is Unlikely
While headlines often traffic in fear, most economists and historians agree: a complete societal collapse in the U.S. is highly unlikely. The U.S. has one of the most resilient, diversified economies in the world, with built-in safeguards like the Federal Reserve, deposit insurance, and global reserve currency status. Even during major shocks—like the Great Depression, the 2008 financial crisis, or the COVID-19 pandemic—systems bent, but didn’t break.
However, localized disruptions, political dysfunction, or prolonged inflationary periods can erode financial security for individuals and communities. And, a new book from Dr Luke Kemp of the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge, Goliath’s Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse, explores the remote possibilities of societal collapse and what we can do to avoid it.
Disruption vs. Collapse
While financial collapse is unlikely, financial disruptions happen, to various degrees of severity.
Financial disruption – like a recession, market crash, government shutdown, or supply chain breakdown – is far more common than true societal collapse. Disruptions can be painful and unpredictable, but they’re typically temporary and recoverable. They might rattle the stock market, stress your budget, or test your resilience, but they don’t erase the entire system.
What Happens to Wealth in a Societal Collapse?
Many Boldin users were quick to point out that wealth is not what you are going to worry about in a financial collapse. Most traditional assets – stocks, bonds, digital bank accounts – depend on infrastructure, markets, and social order. If those vanish, so might your access to them.
So what happens then?
- Cash may become worthless.
- Gold (in hand) might be valuable, but difficult to trade (and even dangerous to own).
- Real estate could be uninhabitable or seized.
- Cryptocurrency? Hard to use without internet, electricity, or trust.
In true collapse scenarios, resources – not assets – become the new currency. Food. Water. Shelter. Medical care. Skills.
Scott wrote: “I’m not the most knowledgeable about this subject, but I’ve worked for decades in the financial sector. Every asset you can’t directly use for survival has marginal value that is dependent upon functioning social systems.”
As one person commented, “How would we even cash in our silver/gold [in a collapse]? The only people it would be worth anything to are those who also have it and/or are interested in bartering. In which case, food, ammunition, fi*earms, medical supplies, commodities, tools, and *skills* become primary assets. What good does an offshore account do you if there is economic collapse?
Bill said, “If the entire US financial system collapses, there will be plenty to worry about, but reserves of monetary assets won’t be one of them. Maybe buy him a can of zombie spray to make him feel more secure?”
One group member added his personal experiences: “I have been through a collapse of a monetary system in another country when I was in my late teens-early twenties. All money goes to the wind (ie, need to be spent asap before they disappear) and you go back to barter;) You can grow potatoes, transport things from one place to sell in another, sell things others don’t have, start a small business, etc. Gold might help, but I didn’t have it.”
Another person commented on the futility and folly of hard assets: “I have a friend who panic buys silver and literally hides it in totes in the bushes on a farm. And they do not have the funds to be doing so. It’s so sad to watch.”
Sharissa pointed out that during a disruption (not collapse), there are opportunities to increase wealth: “You can build up a larger cash & cash-like reserve in order to buy stocks when they go ‘on sale”. Not everyone loses during financial downturns.”
Boldin Users Advise Against Planning for a Collapse
While Boldin users acknowledge there’s a non-zero chance of total societal collapse, most believe it’s so unlikely—and so out of our control—that planning for it is more harmful than helpful. The consensus? Dwelling on collapse diminishes your ability to enjoy life, build financial confidence, and focus on what you can control.
Still, the topic sparked some honest, sometimes humorous advice for the user whose husband was fixated on prepping for doomsday:
“Spend some time outside, go to the mountains for a hike, swim in a lake, sleep under the stars, and turn off the news and devices.” – Leslie
“Perhaps engage a Financial Counselor to discuss these things together? Part of what they do is provide education, and I think that would be appropriate, as there are educational and psychological pieces to an effective solution to this. By having a 3rd party, it takes you out of the role of convincing your husband that you are right and he’s not, although we know you are. ” – Allen
“Turn off his TV.” – Brian
“Turn off the TV and get him a hobby.” – Carol
“I just move forward blindly optimistic with my life.” – Jin
“Tell him to relax, it’s not gonna happen.” – Ed
In the end, Boldin users are planners—but not doomsday planners. Most agreed: It’s better to build a resilient, adaptable life than to live in fear of a future that probably won’t come. (Find your path to the life you want with the Boldin Retirement Planner.)
Can You Actually Prepare for Total Financial Collapse? What About Disruption?
If you are someone trying to commit to preparations for a collapse or major disruption, here are a few considerations:
Physical Resilience and Community Are Your Best Bets for Total Financial Collapse
In the unlikely event of total financial collapse, your best bets would be physical resilience and community:
- Buying land with natural resources
- Learning survival skills
- Stockpiling food or tools
- Building community networks
While controversial, some Boldin members recommended firearms or stockpiling ammunition to use as currency. “In the event of an entire economic collapse, your best currency is firearms and ammo.” – Todd
“Beans, bullets, and band-aids” was the advice from Lisa.
John is preparing with what he thinks could be useful: “Best asset would be to have a useful skill like gardening, woodworking or animal husbandry.”
Others recommended living in a community with strong bonds so that you can barter and share resources.
If the world truly falls apart, your portfolio won’t save you. Your mindset, adaptability, and relationships just might.
You Can Hedge a Disruption with Hard Assets
While of questionable utility in a total collapse, hard assets like real estate, precious metals, and farmland can serve as a hedge against major financial disruptions. These tangible assets often retain value when inflation rises or markets swing, making them a useful complement to traditional portfolios. They’re not immune to volatility, but they offer something paper assets can’t: physical utility and intrinsic worth.
That said, hard assets come with trade-offs: illiquidity, maintenance, and sometimes high entry costs. They shouldn’t replace a well-diversified plan, but they can add stability during economic shocks. If disruption is your concern, owning a mix of hard and financial assets may give you both staying power and peace of mind.
Jay represented a popular opinion: “I have about a 5% allocation to gold, which has done very well over the last year.”
Apply Diversification to the Physical World
We often talk about diversification in terms of stocks and bonds, but in a disrupted world, physical diversification matters too. Owning real estate in different geographic regions—especially in politically and economically stable areas—can offer a layer of protection if your primary location faces hardship. Property in rural areas with natural resources or access to essentials may offer both refuge and long-term value.
Some people take it a step further by establishing offshore accounts or dual citizenship, not as an act of paranoia, but as a strategic way to build optionality. These steps can provide access to alternative healthcare systems, currencies, or legal protections in the event of political or economic unrest. While not necessary for most people, they’re worth exploring if you value global mobility and the peace of mind that comes with having a backup plan.
So… Should You Even Try to Plan for a Collapse?
In most cases, no… Don’t plan for a collapse
If you’re driven by fear, prepping for collapse can become a full-time, all-consuming project. And that’s not wealth, it’s anxiety.
Here are a few comments from the Boldin Facebook group:
”Retirees and soon-to-be retirees have been panicking for all of time and preparing for the apocalypse. It’s literally never happened- we are all still here and we are all still OK.“
Joseph cautioned against panic. If you are prepping for collapse, “Take a deep breath, turn off the TV and away from social media.”
Cheryl wrote, “I get that thinking – with the devaluing dollar, inflation, wipsawing of tariffs and other things it’s a lot less stability now than we are used to. I am not a worrier, but I got a good book on how to stop worrying, and I am going through it carefully.”
Your best bet is to plan for possibilities that you can control. Here are 21 things that are likely to go wrong and 11 ways to reduce financial stress.
Radical Optimism Is More Worthwhile than Doomsday Prep
It’s easy to spiral into worst-case societal collapse scenarios. But focusing solely on what might go wrong doesn’t just drain your energy—it can distort your decisions, relationships, and sense of purpose. Radical optimism isn’t about denying problems. It’s about choosing to believe in your own agency, your ability to adapt, and the possibility of a good life, even in an imperfect world.
Planning for uncertainty is wise. But planning with fear as your compass often leads to overcorrection—hoarding, isolating, or putting your life on hold for a future that may never arrive. Radical optimism, by contrast, asks: What if things turn out better than expected? What if you prepare, but also keep living fully, generously, and joyfully in the meantime?
Rather than stockpiling canned goods and crypto wallets, ask yourself:
- Can I weather economic disruptions without panicking?
- Do I have a community and people I trust?
- Am I adaptable if my current lifestyle becomes unsustainable?
And yes, have a plan. But make it one that balances today’s joy with tomorrow’s unknowns.
Final Thought
The question isn’t just can you protect your wealth from collapse, but why you want to. At Boldin, we believe real wealth is the freedom to respond wisely to change, not just hoard against it.
Let’s build that kind of wealth, together. Start or update your Boldin Retirement Plan today.
