Oct 21, 2026 · 44 min
Defensive investing offers a calmer path through market crashes
5 Stocks & ETFs to Protect Your Portfolio During a Market Crash (Starting With $100)
The episode addresses the costly tension between protecting a portfolio during a downturn and staying invested for long-term recovery.
- 1Defensive assets tied to essential goods, services, utilities, and dividends can help investors remain invested during downturns.
- 2Moving entirely to savings risks missing the market’s strongest recovery days, while panic selling can lock in losses.
- 3With fractional shares, investors can begin with $100 by splitting contributions between consumer staples and utilities ETFs.
Don't miss
Courtney’s $100 allocation uses fractional shares and a 50/50 split between XLP and XLU, turning the defensive strategy into a concrete starting point.
The brief
Courtney Hale frames defensive investing around essentials people continue buying, pointing to Coca-Cola, Walmart, SCHD, XLP, and XLU as possible anchors during market stress.
The central argument is against panic: moving everything to savings may feel safer, but missing a small number of the market’s best days can damage long-term returns.
Walmart may benefit when shoppers trade down, while Coca-Cola’s brand portfolio and pricing power are presented as reasons for resilience during declines.
The practical test arrives at $100: use fractional shares and split the money between XLP and XLU, then broaden exposure as contributions grow.
Rather than calling a precise market bottom, the hosts emphasize patience, keeping existing investments intact, and shifting gradually back toward growth when conditions improve.
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