Just came across this interesting theory about market cycles from Samuel Benner back in 1875. The guy was onto something when he tried to map out when to make money in financial markets – and honestly, the patterns he identified still feel relevant today.

His core idea is pretty simple: markets move in predictable cycles, and if you understand the periods when to make money, you can actually time your moves. He basically broke it down into three distinct phases that keep repeating.

First, there are the panic years – the scary ones when financial crises hit and everything collapses. Think 1927, 1945, 1965, 1981, 1999, 2019. These show up roughly every 18-20 years. His advice? Don't panic sell during these. Just sit tight and wait it out. The next ones on his radar are 2035 and 2053.

Then you've got the boom years – the money-making periods when prices surge and markets recover hard. These are your windows to actually sell and lock in profits. The list is long: 1928, 1935, 1943, 1960, 1973, 1989, 2000, 2007, 2016, 2020, and interestingly, 2026 is marked as one. Future ones include 2034, 2043, 2054. These are the periods when to make money by taking profits off the table.

Finally, there are the recession and hard times – when prices are crushed and the economy is struggling. But here's the thing: this is actually when savvy investors make their moves. Buy stocks, land, commodities, whatever – prices are low. Then hold until the boom cycle comes around. Examples: 1924, 1931, 1942, 1958, 1978, 1985, 1996, 2005, 2012, 2023. More coming in 2032, 2040, 2050, 2059.

So the playbook is straightforward: accumulate during recessions when everything's cheap, wait for the boom years to roll around, then sell at the peak. Avoid getting wrecked in panic years by not making emotional decisions.

Now, here's the disclaimer – this is based on historical patterns and cyclical thinking, not some guarantee. Real markets get hit by tons of variables: politics, wars, tech breakthroughs, policy shifts. But as a framework for thinking about long-term market cycles and periods when to make money? It's definitely worth keeping in mind. The cycle gives you perspective on what might come next.