As we head into 2026, one thing's clear—market volatility isn't going away. Financial institutions like UBS are already flagging the importance of getting your portfolio right before the next round of shocks hits.

So what's the play? Think of it in two parts:

**First, the defense.** Market corrections happen. Whether it's geopolitical tensions, rate surprises, or crypto winter scenarios, your portfolio needs shock absorbers. This means diversification beyond just your main holdings—think about uncorrelated assets that don't all move in the same direction when things get messy.

**Second, positioning for upside.** While you're protecting downside, don't sleep on emerging opportunities. 2026 could bring sector rotations, new tech adoption curves, or macro regime shifts. The winners won't be those who play it safe entirely—they'll be the ones who balanced caution with selective exposure to high-conviction opportunities.

The UBS thesis boils down to this: active portfolio rebalancing, scenario planning, and staying nimble matter more than ever. Whether you're managing crypto positions or traditional assets, the fundamentals remain the same—know your risk tolerance, stress-test your holdings, and keep dry powder for when opportunities present themselves.

Timing the market is impossible. But timing your preparation? That's entirely in your hands.