How to Prepare For The Potential Fall of Democracy

7 Things To Do Now

📌 For daily updates, tips and musings, be sure to follow me on Instagram.

If you’re feeling anxious about and want to prepare for the potential fall of democracy in the U.S., you’re not alone. Repeat after me: I AM NOT ALONE.

I don’t know who needs to hear this (me, everyday!), but do not gaslight yourself into thinking everything will just magically work itself out and go back to normal. Sure, we can hope for that, but we cannot afford to NOT plan for a disaster.

If you are reading this, you are likely watching daily hourly events unfold with a growing sense of dread, wondering what the future holds and how to prepare for a worse-case scenario. Again: the fear of instability, loss of rights, and even political violence isn’t irrational—it’s a natural response to the chaos we see around us.

Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

While no one can predict exactly what will happen, the truth is that waiting until a crisis is at your doorstep will severely limit your choices. Now is the time to take practical steps to safeguard yourself, your family, and your community—before decisions are forced upon you.

Whether it’s securing important documents, strengthening your financial situation, or building a local support network, small actions today can make a significant difference tomorrow.

And I get it. We all have families, homes, kids, businesses and unique circumstances that make it impossible to plan for a worse-case scenario, but I promise you this: you’ll be even less happy and less mentally stable with a scenario where you are forced into something because you didn’t make a plan when you had the chance.

And hey—if we really are overreacting, then GOOD. I’m sure we’ll all welcome with open arms a return to normalcy and a stable democracy. But if you're like me, at this point we cannot be convinced to NOT prepare for the potential fall of democracy

The biggest uncertainty (and source of anxiety) for me is the “when.” I can plan for the how, the where and the what, but the when is very elusive. Dictatorships don’t always take power overnight, but by the time people realize they need to GTFO, it can already be too late. This underscores WHY we need contingency plans in place.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Here are some concrete steps you can take right now to prepare for the potential fall of democracy:

1. Find your community

   • Deep talks with aligned friends & more in-person get togethers - this has been a life saver for me. I feel fortunate to have so many close friends to talk to, share advice and commiserate with. It's important to surround yourself with people who will regularly validate your fears and keep you sane. My husband, who has already escaped one dictator in his life, assures me that it's by design that you start to question your sanity. Stay strong--and the best way to do that is to stay close to those you align with.

   • Therapy

2. Organize your documents

   • Make sure these are updated and in a secure place you can easily access at any given moment:

     • Passport – if it’s set to expire within next 2ish years, update now

     • Drivers Licenses – get a “Real ID”

     • Citizenship documents

     • Social security cards

     • Certified marriage license

     • Original birth certificates

     • Vaccination documents – easily access from your pediatrician if you don’t have those on hand

     • Estate Planning documents (Wills, Powers of Attorney, living wills, etc.)

   • Apply for TSA pre-check or Global Entry - not a high priority, but will be nice to have if you’re planning some “research” trips.

3. Put a clear contingency exit plan in place

   • Which family or friends do you need to have meetings with to discuss?

   • Decide on where and when

   • Research Visa options in countries of interest:

     • Digital Nomad if you can prove consistent income & WFH status

     • Join Facebook groups according to the country you’re looking at

     • Join Reddit groups

     • Research relocation expert companies for extra assistance

       • Connect you with immigration & tax attorneys & real estate team

       • Help you narrow down your location search

       • Help you find schools for your children

       • Ongoing logistical guidanceStart thinking about how to transport your pets—do the research now.

   • Start thinking about everything you would need to take with you if you had to leave suddenly—make the list in your notes now.

4. Security

   • Downloading Signal and creating groups

   • Buy a dash cam

   • Create a VPN

   • “Harden” your phone

   • Upgrade phone if due for an upgrade

   • Use the “Find My” app to create your “people” groups so you can start tracking the location of your loved ones

5. Mindful Spending

   • Tightening the belt on spending, in general

   • Less eating out, more cooking

   • Use your community to borrow things rather than immediately buying new

   • Buying in bulk

   • Shop at stores that align with your values

   • Organize a neighborhood garage sale this Spring

   • Get saving tools

     • Use a good credit card to acquire points

     • Cap One shopping app

     • Shop sales only for new clothes

     • Gas rewards apps

6. Adjusting your investments

   • Watch market news closely

   • Continue to invest, but prioritize your cash Emergency Fund if it's not yet at 3-6 months of living expenses

   • Hoard more cash/increase your Emergency Funds

     • For example, our household Emergency Funds has up until recently been kept at 3 months of living expenses, but we are now decreasing our investment contributions temporarily to fill up Emergency Fund up to months of living expenses.

     • Keep your Emergency Fund in a High Yield Saving Account

   • Decide on an amount of cash to have on hand (like actual dollar bills)

   • Consult a professional financial advisor, preferably a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, who is politically aligned with you for a more customized approach to your investment strategy. Here at Generation Wealth, we're already having one-on-one calls with clients who want to play some defense with their investments, and guess what? Being anxious about your money is the great equalizer. We are developing strategies for clients across the political spectrum.

7. Unplug when you need to

   You need to regulate your nervous system so that you can be strong when you need to. You need your health and a clear mind to plan and carry out your plans. Rest, sign off, unplug when you need to. I don’t need to tell you to not unplug—we’re all addicted, right?

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

While I am planning for a worse-case scenario, don’t confuse that for a white flag. Don't get it twisted: we can and we must fight for our democracy.. My brother and business partner, Dustin Granger, started a new Substack, and his first entry was titled, “Trump's Second Term: What Can You Do?” and it lists some very simple and tangible things you can do to fight and push back. Go HERE for your playbook: practical, doable steps to push back against governmental overreach, reclaim your power, and build something better.

But, by all means, make your plans for a less-than-ideal situation now. AS the saying goes, “buy your straw hats in the winter.” I don’t want to see anyone caught off guard. I want you to have choices, options and freedom to make the most suitable decisions possible for you and your family.

Written by Danielle Nava, CFP® on February 21, 2025.

Disclosure: ​The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.