Warren Buffett gets gloomy: America's 'incredible period' is coming to an end. Here's what nervous investors can do right now

Portfolio shockproofing

Some service sectors are relatively detached from the rest of the economy. Usually, these businesses are backed by a trove of hard, recession-resistant assets that retain their value through inflationary waves.

Caretrust REIT (CTRE) is a good example. The company owns and operates healthcare properties across the country. With over 21,795 hospital beds spread across 23 states and 204 properties, this real estate investment trust could serve as a loose proxy for America’s private health care industry.

The stock offers a 5.56% dividend yield and might be an ideal anchor for a portfolio during a recession.

Commercial real estate is another great option, with the category outperforming the S&P 500 over a 25-year period. And while it's traditionally been an investing opportunity exclusive to the ultra wealthy, new platforms make it possible for everyone to get in on the ground floor.

A single investment can give you access to institutional-quality properties leased by brands like CVS, Kroger and Walmart — and you'll even get to collect stable grocery store-anchored income each quarter.

Read more: 3 big mistakes people make with cash back credit cards that cost them every time they swipe

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International stocks

According to a survey of economists conducted by Bloomberg, the odds of a U.S. recession in 2023 are as high as 65%. The risk is also high in other developed markets like Britain, France, New Zealand and Canada.

But developing markets are far less vulnerable to a recession. In fact, that same survey suggests India’s odds of a recession is 0%.

Put simply, investors could safeguard their wealth by investing in foreign stocks. India’s largest private bank, HDFC Bank, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HDB. The stock has delivered a total return of greater than 4,300% since it was listed in 2001 and held up better than most American banks during the 2008 financial crisis.

India isn’t the only option. American investors can bet on Chinese, Singaporean and Indonesian stocks via ETFs or American Depositary Receipts.

Cash

With Berkshire boasting a cash hoard of $130 billion at the end of Q1, it seems that Buffett’s favorite asset right now is U.S. treasury bills. The Oracle significantly boosted his treasury and cash equivalent holdings during the quarter.

That could be a savvy move for retail investors as well — as the interest rate on savings accounts rises.

You might even want to get creative with your cash holdings: Apple’s new high-yield savings account offers a juicy 4.15% annual percentage yield. The company claims that rate is 10 times higher than the national average. In fact, the yield is greater than the dividend yield on the S&P 500 or a five-year U.S. treasury bond.

There’s no other way to say it: cash is king in 2023.