Investor and entrepreneur Codie Sanchez offered a straightforward strategy for building financial resilience during economic downturns, emphasizing that wealth flows toward necessity and affluence even in tough times.

“If you want to make money in a downturn, ask two questions,” Sanchez wrote in a post on X. “1. What do people need to spend $ on no matter what? 2. What do rich people spend money on?”

She explained that industries tied to essential goods and services—or to affluent discretionary spending—tend to hold up or even thrive when the broader economy contracts. Entrepreneurs and investors who position themselves in these sectors can ride out volatility while others struggle.

Sanchez’s focus on strategic sector selection reflects her broader philosophy of finding asymmetric opportunities—where the odds are stacked in favor of survival and growth even when conditions worsen.

Codie Sanchez is the founder of Contrarian Thinking, a platform that teaches financial freedom through owning small businesses, investing, and building cash flow from overlooked or misunderstood industries.