Everyone's asking the same thing right now: are stocks crashing? I get it. Around 80% of Americans are genuinely worried about a recession happening soon, and some market metrics are definitely flashing yellow lights.

The Shiller CAPE Ratio just hit levels we haven't seen since the dot-com bubble blew up in the early 2000s. That's the kind of thing that makes people nervous. But here's what I've learned from watching markets over the years: panic is usually the worst move you can make.

Look at the actual numbers. The average bear market since 1929 lasts about 286 days—basically 9.5 months. Meanwhile, bull markets? Those stick around for over 1,000 days on average. That's nearly three years. The math is pretty clear: if you just stay patient, the odds are heavily in your favor.

People always ask me what to do if are stocks crashing. My answer is always the same: don't sell. I know that sounds crazy when prices are dropping, but selling after a crash locks in your losses. The S&P 500 has recovered from every single downturn in history. Every single one. Since January 2022, when the last bear market started, the index is up nearly 45%. Since 2000, it's up almost 400%.

The real protection for your portfolio isn't timing the market or trying to predict crashes. It's staying invested through the volatility. History shows that patience actually pays off way better than panic selling ever does.

Yes, another downturn could happen anytime. But regardless of when it starts or how bad it gets, the market has always come back. The longer your money stays in the game, the better your chances of making real returns. That's not a guarantee, but it's about as close as you get in investing.