Just came across this interesting historical chart about Samuel Benner's economic cycle theory from 1875. He was basically trying to crack the code on when to make money in markets by identifying repeating patterns. Pretty fascinating stuff if you're into long-term market analysis.

So here's how he broke it down - three distinct periods when to make money or stay cautious:

First, there are the panic years. These show up roughly every 18-20 years and are characterized by financial crises and market collapses. Think 1927, 1945, 1965, 1981, 1999, 2019, and the next one predicted around 2035. During these periods, the advice is clear - don't panic sell. Just sit tight and weather the storm.

Then you've got the boom years where prices surge and markets recover strongly. These are your windows to actually take profits and sell assets. The chart lists years like 1928, 1935, 1943, 1953, 1960, 1968, 1973, 1980, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2007, 2016, 2020, and notably 2026 is flagged as another boom period. Pretty interesting timing given where we are now.

The third category is the recession years - the hard times when prices are depressed and economies slow down. This is actually when you want to be buying, according to Benner's theory. Land, stocks, commodities - all relatively cheap. Years like 1924, 1931, 1942, 1951, 1958, 1969, 1978, 1985, 1996, 2005, 2012, and 2023 fit this pattern. The strategy is simple: accumulate during these periods and hold until the boom years arrive.

The basic playbook from this historical perspective on periods when to make money is straightforward - buy low during recessions, hold through panic years, then sell high when boom periods hit. It's almost too simple, right?

Now, here's the caveat: this is based on historical cycles and patterns, not some immutable law. Real markets get shaped by politics, wars, technological breakthroughs, policy shifts, and countless other variables. So while Benner's framework gives you a useful lens for thinking about long-term market cycles, it's not a guaranteed roadmap. Still, it's worth keeping in mind when you're thinking about your own investment timeline.