The stock market is trading at unsustainable levels that could eventually lead to a major sell-off, with a possible 40 percent drop in stock prices, hedge fund executive Mark Spitznagel told CNBC.
"The simple answer, the mom and pop answer, I think, is just to step aside," said Spitznagel, founder of Universa Investments and an associate of "Black Swan" pioneer Nassim Taleb.
Appearing on "Closing Bell," Spitznagel suggested the Federal Reserve, which last month reaffirmed its policies on bond purchases and record-low interest rates, is basically propping up stocks and otherwise distorting the market.
"It's a market that is sort of set up, I think, for a major crash, a major sell-off," said Spitznagel. "I would argue all the major tops we've seen in the market over the last 100 years look very much like it does today."
