Just came across something interesting – there's this old chart from Samuel Benner back in 1875 where he was mapping out economic cycles, basically trying to predict when markets would boom, crash, or stabilize. Wild that someone figured out patterns this far back.

So the theory breaks down into three main periods when to make money or protect yourself. First, there are the panic years – roughly every 18-20 years, markets just implode. Think 1927, 1945, 1965, 1981, 1999, 2019... and supposedly 2035 next. During these periods you're supposed to sit tight and not panic sell, which is easier said than done when everything's red.

Then you've got the boom years – the money-making windows. These are when prices surge and recovery is real. Years like 1928, 1960, 1989, 2000, 2007, 2016, 2020 saw significant rallies. Benner's chart suggests 2026 and 2034 should be in this category too. That's when you're supposed to take profits and exit positions.

The third type is the recession years – 1924, 1931, 1942, 1951, 1969, 1985, 2005, 2012, 2023... These are actually the buying opportunities. Prices are crushed, assets are cheap. If you can stomach it, this is when you accumulate for the next boom.

The pattern is pretty straightforward: buy during hard times when everything's down, hold through the chaos, then sell when the boom periods arrive and valuations peak. Avoid getting wrecked during panic years by staying defensive.

Obviously this isn't a law of physics – markets get shaped by wars, politics, tech breakthroughs, all kinds of unpredictable stuff. But looking at it from a historical lens, there's definitely a cyclical rhythm to how markets move over decades. Worth keeping in mind if you're thinking long-term.