Pessimists aren't the only ones preparing for the next financial crisis

Who can forget the financial crisis and the Great Recession?

Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen recently said that another financial crisis isn't likely "in our lifetime."

That sounded very strange. I thought back to the many financial calamities I've witnessed as an adult:

The 1987 stock market crash. The 1997 Asian financial crisis. The 1998 collapse of hedge fund Long Term Capital Management. The 2001 terror attacks, which hurt the economy and the New York financial sector. And of course, the 2007-2008 financial crisis and stock market meltdown.

All of those occurred within just two decades. I wouldn't want to bet that I've witnessed my last shock to the economy.

Even the smartest minds aren't able to predict when or how severely a financial crisis will hit. What we can assume is that unexpected events of all kinds will occur.

Be ready for whatever comes. Take these steps to protect your finances for those times when things go bad.

Pay down debt. Particularly high-interest borrowing such as credit cards and personal loans.

Live beneath your means. Just because you can afford something doesn't mean you should buy it.

Think of the long run. Remember that most dramatic financial events, including stock market declines, tend to be short-term in nature. When you are investing for the long-term, including for retirement, taking on some risk is appropriate to maximize your returns over time.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned that the next source of trouble could be the Fed's unprecedented plan to wind down its $4.5 trillion balance sheet of bonds it bought to boost the economy after the crisis.

Yellen earlier this month reassured members of Congress that the central bank will proceed cautiously. The Fed chief also has been rethinking her statement about the next financial crisis.

"I think that we can never be confident that there won't be another financial crisis," she added.

You don't need to live in fear of the next financial storm. But have your umbrella handy.