Been seeing a lot of people worried about the economy lately, and honestly, the data backing those concerns is pretty hard to ignore. A recent survey showed 72% of Americans have a negative view right now, with nearly 40% expecting things to get worse over the next year. That kind of sentiment doesn't just come out of nowhere.

Here's what's catching my attention though. Two major market metrics are flashing some pretty serious warning signs about a potential stock market crash. The S&P 500 Shiller CAPE ratio is sitting around 40 right now. For context, that's the highest level we've seen since the dot-com bubble burst more than 25 years ago. The long-term average is around 17, so we're talking nearly double the normal valuation.

Then there's the Buffett indicator, which Warren Buffett himself used to call out the dot-com bubble before it collapsed. He famously said if that ratio hits 200%, 'you're playing with fire.' Guess where we are now? Around 219%. Both of these metrics peaked right before the 2022 bear market, and they're back at those levels again.

Now, I'm not saying a stock market crash is guaranteed to happen tomorrow. Markets don't work that way. Even with these warning signs, we could still see months of gains before any real pullback. But the pattern is definitely worth paying attention to.

The thing that matters most right now is what you actually own. If a correction or bear market does hit, having a portfolio filled with quality companies with solid fundamentals makes all the difference. Those are the kinds of holdings that can weather volatility and actually come out stronger on the other side. It's boring advice, but it works.

So yeah, I'm watching these metrics closely. The stock market crash risk is real enough that it deserves serious consideration in how you're positioned right now.