Jamie Dimon warns US economy is ‘weakening’ — but doesn’t know if we’re headed for recession. Here’s how to shockproof your wealth no matter what

In a recent interview with CNBC’s Leslie Picker, Dimon offered a blunt assessment of the economy: “I think the economy is weakening. Whether it’s on the way to recession or just weakening, I don’t know” [1].

He pointed to the Labor Department’s annual revision to nonfarm payrolls, which he called a “big revision.” The numbers back him up [2]. For the year through March 2025, the U.S. economy added 911,000 fewer jobs than initially reported — the steepest preliminary downgrade on record.

The downward revisions were widespread. Leisure and hospitality lost 176,000 jobs compared to prior estimates, professional and business services dropped 158,000 and retail trade was slashed by 126,200.

The takeaway: the labor market has been far weaker than headlines suggested. And that weakness ripples beyond employment.

“Importantly, the slower job creation implies income growth was also on a softer footing even prior to the recent rise in policy uncertainty and economic slowdown we’ve seen since the spring,” explained Oren Klachkin, market economist at Nationwide Financial [3].

While Dimon may be uncertain about whether a full-blown recession is coming, other experts are less equivocal. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, recently warned: “State-level data makes it clear why the U.S. economy is on the edge of recession,” noting that states accounting for nearly a third of America’s GDP are already “either in or at high risk of recession” [4].

So, how can investors protect themselves as risks mount?

A safe haven in shaky times

When economic clouds gather, gold has a way of stepping back into the spotlight.

Unlike paper currency, the precious metal can’t be printed at will — and it isn’t tied to the fortunes of any single country or economy. That’s why, when growth slows, jobs vanish and confidences waver, investors often flock to gold — the one asset that never seems to lose its luster.

Over the past 12 months, gold prices have surged by more than 40%.

Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has repeatedly emphasized gold’s importance in a resilient portfolio.

“People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” he told CNBC earlier this year. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an option for those looking to help shield their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can receive up to $10,000 in precious metals for free.

A time-tested income play

While gold is known for preserving wealth during turbulence, real estate offers something different — the ability to generate steady rental income month after month, without having to sell the underlying asset, even when the broader economy stumbles.

In fact, investing legend Warren Buffett has often pointed to real estate as a prime example of a productive, income-generating asset. In 2022, Buffett remarked that if you offered him “1% of all the apartment houses in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check” [5].

Why? Because no matter what’s happening in the economy, people still need a place to live and apartments can consistently produce rent money.

Of course, you don’t need billions — or even to buy an entire property outright — to benefit from real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms like Mogul offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, Mogul offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties starting at $250, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a $250,000 down payment or 3 A.M. tenant calls.

Mogul’s team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide. Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10-12% annually.

Another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.

With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.

Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.

Save where it counts — and make your spare change work for you

At the end of the day, building wealth isn’t only about where you invest — it’s also about how much you keep. To free up more money for investing, you need to stay on top of where your cash goes each month, starting with the essentials.

For instance, car insurance is a major recurring expense and many people overpay without realizing it. According to Forbes, the average cost of full-coverage car insurance is $2,149 per year (or $179 per month).

However, rates can vary widely depending on your state, driving history and vehicle type and you could be paying more than necessary.

By using OfficialCarInsurance.com, you can easily compare quotes from multiple insurers, such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO, to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

In just two minutes, you could find rates as low as $29 per month.

Another way to accelerate wealth building is by putting your spare change to work instead of letting it sit idle. That’s where micro-investing apps like Acorns come in.