In an economic downturn, it’s time to take a long-term perspective, said Michael Cuggino, Permanent Portfolio Funds president.

“The economic slowdown we have right now, the economic crises, are all symptoms of a larger disease and that’s confidence,” Cuggino told CNBC's Erin Burnett. “When confidence comes back, all the aches and pains associated with that issue in the marketplace and transacting business will go away rather quickly.”