Editor's note: This turbulent market could lead to major buying opportunities once the dust settles. But that doesn't mean the pain is over yet. Marc Chaikin, founder of our corporate affiliate Chaikin Analytics, says we've gotten our recession "warning shot." If your portfolio isn't prepared, don't wait on the government to make it official...

It's unquestionable at this point...

The "rolling crash" has rippled into almost every market sector.

The benchmark S&P 500 Index is down about 20% from its early January peak. And the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index is down around 30% from its November 2021 peak.

We're halfway through 2022 already. It's a bloodbath for investors.

But the government might not officially declare that we're in a recession for months. After all, these bureaucrats first want to prove it with their data.

Fortunately, we can take steps today to get ready before the recession officially starts. Here's why...

The term "recession" is a backward-looking designation. In fact, it takes six months after the start of a recession just to be able to say we're in one.

That's because the government officially defines a recession as a fall in gross domestic product ("GDP") for at least two straight quarters. It takes time for the data to roll in. So the "official" declaration lags about six months behind.

And that's if the government even gets around to it that quickly. History shows us that government economists can wait as long as a year before officially declaring a recession.

But that doesn't change the stark reality we're facing today...

U.S. GDP fell by an annualized 1.6% last quarter. We've gotten our warning shot.

Now, 1.6% might not sound like much. But remember, we're talking about a roughly $24 trillion economy...

Imagine that 1.6% decline carrying through the entire year. That would translate to around $384 billion in lost economic activity.

That's about the same as erasing tech giant Apple's (AAPL) entire year of revenue in 2020. And it's like wiping away more than a decade of revenue from fast-food leader McDonald's (MCD).

This decline is a massive event. And I know most investors are feeling it.

We're on the edge of a recession.

It would take a dramatic shift over the next few months to change that. But you need to know something important...

By the time the government officially calls this recession, we'll likely be near the other side of it.

As I noted, the government doesn't "call" a recession until after it has already happened for at least six months. That's critical for investors to understand...

You see, most recessions don't last much longer than that. Take a look...

From 1980 through today, the longest that any U.S. recession lasted was a year and a half. And three of those five recessions didn't even last for an entire year.

That means if you waited until the government officially called for a recession those three times... you would've waited until the end of the recession to adopt a "recession strategy." And the other two times, you would've missed a large chunk of the recession as well.

That's a big deal for investors.

Think about the housing bust and the great financial crisis that followed...

The government waited until December 1, 2008 to officially declare that the U.S. had entered a recession. The problem was, it said the recession had started in December 2007 – a full year earlier.

If you waited for the "official call" to protect yourself, you would've lost a lot more money. By December 2007, the S&P 500 was down roughly 6% from its previous high less than two months earlier. But by December 2008, the index had crashed nearly 50%.

We're in a similar predicament today...

The S&P 500 is already down a staggering 20%. The economy is in turmoil. And yet, it will take the government at least another month before it even thinks about officially calling a recession.

It could take even longer, too. That's just how the wheels of bureaucracy turn.

So remember, when it comes to protecting yourself and your investments... you need more than Uncle Sam.

Recessions may not last long, but they are still brutal. Don't wait on the government to tell you it's happening. The time to get defensive is now.

Good investing,

Marc Chaikin

Editor's note: Three months ago, Marc issued a dire warning to investors... And it's already coming true. Now, he says a new historic shift could soon lead to devastating losses. But there's still time to prepare... Marc explains exactly what's happening – and how to position your money for big gains, even as others are blindsided – in this critical market update. Get the details here.