Author: Jing Pan

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

As summer grilling season kicks off, Americans may be in for a costly surprise at the meat counter.

Beef prices are climbing — and the latest government data confirms it. According to the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. beef and veal prices have jumped 8.6% over the past year. Ground beef surged 9.9%, beef roasts rose 9.5% and beef steaks were up 6.3%.

Omaha Steaks President and CEO Nate Rempe says the problem boils down to supply.

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“The number of head of cattle in the United States is at a low, really not seen since the 1950s. In fact, it’s wild,” Rempe recently told Fox Business.

As of Jan. 1, 2025, there were 86.7 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms, according to the Department of Agriculture — the lowest count since 1951.

With domestic beef demand still strong, Rempe warned that tight supply is “putting a lot of upward pressure” on prices — and it won’t be resolved overnight.

“Supply is a tricky issue. You can’t just flip a switch [or] adjust a tariff. We need to rebuild the herd, and that’s going to happen over the next roughly 12 months. My guess is by Q3 [20]26 we’ll kind of start to come out of this,” he said in the interview with Fox.

Beef isn’t the only grocery item getting more expensive. The food index from the CPI has surged 26% over the past five years, and the USDA expects food prices to rise another 2.9% in 2025.

To be sure, headline inflation has cooled from its 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022. But the cost of essentials like food and housing remains persistently high.

Fortunately, history has shown that savvy investors and consumers can take steps to protect themselves from inflation’s impact.

Real estate

When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.

This combination makes real estate an attractive option for preserving and growing wealth when the U.S. dollar is losing its value.

Over the last five years, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has surged by more than 50%.

Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work. Managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns). The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today.

For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $35 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.

With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

If you’re not an accredited investor, crowdfunding platforms like Arrived allow you to enter the real estate market for as little as $100.

Arrived offers you access to shares of SEC-qualified investments in rental homes and vacation rentals, curated and vetted for their appreciation and income potential.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived makes it easy to fit these properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your income level. Their flexible investment amounts and simplified process allows accredited and non-accredited investors to take advantage of this inflation-hedging asset class without any extra work on your part.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Gold

Gold has helped preserve wealth for thousands of years — and it remains just as relevant today, especially in the face of modern inflation.

One key reason? Unlike fiat currency, gold can’t be created out of thin air by central banks.

It’s also long been viewed as a classic safe haven. Gold isn’t tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher.

Over the past 12 months, the price of the precious metal has surged by more than 40%.

Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, recently highlighted gold’s importance as part of a resilient portfolio.

“People don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” he told CNBC in February. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an option for those looking to help shield their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can receive up to $10,000 in precious metals for free.

Farmland

The steady rise in food prices serves as a powerful reminder: no matter what happens in the economy, people still need to eat.

That’s why farmland is considered a natural hedge against inflation. As food prices climb, so does the value of the land that produces it. At the same time, farmland is a tangible, income-generating asset that isn’t directly tied to the ups and downs of financial markets.

According to the USDA, U.S. farmland values have steadily climbed over the past few decades, driven by increasing demand for food and limited supply of arable land.

These days, you don’t need to buy an entire farm or know how to grow crops to get in on the opportunity.

FarmTogether is an all-in-one investment platform that lets qualified investors buy stakes in U.S. farmland. The platform identifies high-potential agricultural properties and then partners with experienced local operators to manage the land effectively.

Depending on the type of stake you want, you can potentially get a cut from both the leasing fees and crop sales. Then, years down the line, you can benefit from appreciation and profit from its sale.

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• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Given how much home prices have soared recently, many homeowners may be feeling richer than ever. But real estate mogul Grant Cardone says your house isn’t a smart investment — far from it.

In an interview with podcaster Sean Mike Kelly, Cardone called buying a home “a terrible investment.”

That may sound ironic coming from someone known for investing in residential real estate. But Cardone was quick to explain why: “[A home] doesn’t cash flow. You don’t get big tax write-offs because of it. You have no leverage. You’re living in it. You’re paying for it. You never own it. Even when the loan is paid, you don’t own it, no, you still got to pay property taxes, still got to insure, still got to maintain it.”

When you buy a home to live in, it’s true that it doesn’t generate any cash flow. And even once the mortgage is paid off, there are still ongoing costs: property taxes, insurance premiums, repairs and maintenance. And they can add up fast.

For example, Ratehub did a case study of the cost of "hidden fees" that come with homeownership. For a property worth $1,128,100 with a $902,480 mortgage at 5.14% amortized over 25 years, the additional monthly costs totalled $8,532, including the mortgage payment, property tax, home insurance, utilities, internet, as well as putting money away for a home emergency fund or funds spent on maintenance/repairs. If you were to take out the mortgage cost, the total would still be $3,211 per month, or $38,532 yearly.

Cardone says that what keeps people from recognizing the financial downsides is emotion.

“People get emotional about their house — ‘It’s my house!’” he said. “It ain’t your house. You’re a partner in this house with the state.”

‘Never buy a house’ says Grant Cardone

Cardone’s suggestion is simple: “Never buy a house, rent where you live.”

But that doesn’t mean he’s against real estate entirely.

“I’m not saying don’t own real estate,” he clarified. “I’m saying live in a house and pay rent. Take all the money that you would have spent on that house and invest in real estate that cash flows — that pays you every month.”

So, what kind of real estate is he talking about?

Cardone listed several options: “Could be retail, storage, apartment buildings like we invest in. Could be land — if you’re a farmer or rancher and you know how to get cows to cash flow, then do that.”

Let’s break down some of these opportunities.

Invest in retail real estate, instead

Cardone pointed to retail real estate as one potential opportunity — but not all retail is created equal.

With the rise of e-commerce, many brick-and-mortar stores have struggled, which can directly affect the income stream for retail property owners. That’s why selectivity is key.

Ben Mallah, another fellow Florida-based real estate mogul, says he focuses on what he calls “essential real estate” — specifically, “retail that the internet can’t hurt” and “Amazon can’t hurt.”

As online shopping continues to disrupt traditional retail, properties that serve everyday, in-person needs — like grocery stores and pharmacies — tend to offer more resilience. Big-box retailers may come and go, but think about your local supermarket. How long has it been in the same spot? Likely for years, if not decades. That kind of staying power is what makes grocery-anchored real estate attractive.

Invest in residential real estate, such as apartments

Another type of real estate Cardone suggests? Apartments — a sector he’s heavily invested in himself.

Multifamily properties offer a key advantage: consistent cash flow. Unlike single-family homes, apartment buildings typically house multiple tenants, which helps spread out risk. If one unit sits vacant, the others can still generate income.

Apartments also tend to be resilient during economic shifts. No matter what’s happening in the broader economy, people still need a place to live. And with elevated home prices making ownership less accessible for many Canadians, more people are turning to renting — which helps drive demand and keep occupancy rates high.

As with retail, real estate investment platforms and REITs have made it easier than ever for everyday investors to access the apartment market.

Invest in farmland

Cardone also mentioned agricultural land — though with a caveat: It’s best suited for those who understand how to make it cash flow.

While farmland isn’t as commonly discussed as retail or apartment buildings, it can be a compelling long-term investment. The logic is simple: come what may, people still need to eat.

That consistent demand makes farmland a resilient asset, often serving as a hedge during times of economic uncertainty.

According to Farm Credit Canada, the national average farmland value increased 9.3% in 2024. And while this represents a slower pace of appreciation from the previous year, it remains higher than the average of the last 10 years (9.1%). However, for 2025, uncertainty and volatility are expected to be significant due to potential trade disruptions at the U.S./Canada border and the fear of a looming trade war between the two nations at the behest of President Trump.

Sources

1. Ratehub: Monthly carrying costs when buying a home, by Jamie David (May 29, 2024)

2. Farm Credit Canada: 2024 farmland values in Canada: Continued, steady growth (Mar 18, 2025)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

High egg prices have surprised many Americans over the past few years — from viral TikToks showing $12 cartons to the question “Why are eggs so expensive?” climbing to the top of Google search trends. But according to President Donald Trump, the situation has taken a dramatic turn.

“Remember eggs? We weren’t able to buy another egg for the next 20 years — they were so expensive, right?” Trump recently told reporters at the White House. “Eggs have come down 400%. Everybody has eggs now. They have eggs for breakfast again.”

A clip of the speech has gone viral on social media, with users questioning the math behind Trump’s claim. After all, a 100% drop would mean prices fell to zero. A 400% drop would imply prices have turned negative — which clearly hasn’t happened.

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So, how much have egg prices actually dropped?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Egg Markets Overview dated June 6, 2025, the national wholesale price for eggs is $2.63 per dozen. That’s down from $6.55 per dozen during the week ending Jan. 24, 2025 — a decline of roughly 60% since Trump’s inauguration. A sharp drop, no doubt, but a far cry from 400%.

Of course, eggs are just one part of the grocery bill, and food prices remain a burden for many American households. The Food in U.S. City Average Consumer Price Index has climbed roughly 26% over the past five years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In other words, while headline inflation has cooled since peaking at a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022, food prices remain stubbornly high. The USDA projects overall food prices will rise another 2.9% in 2025.

The blunt reality is, inflation is still chipping away at Americans’ purchasing power. The good news? Throughout history, savvy investors have often found ways to shield themselves from inflation’s bite — regardless of who’s in the White House.

A classic safe haven

When it comes to preserving wealth and guarding against inflation, few assets have stood the test of time like gold.

Its appeal is simple. Unlike fiat currency, the yellow metal can’t be printed at will by central banks.

Gold is also considered a classic safe haven. It’s not tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher.

That may help explain why, while markets are getting whipsawed by tariff uncertainty and global tensions, gold has emerged as a bright spot. Over the past 12 months, the price of the precious metal has surged by more than 40%.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an option for those looking to help shield their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can receive up to $10,000 in silver for free.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

A time-tested income play

Gold isn’t the only asset investors turn to during inflationary times. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.

When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.

Over the past five years, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by more than 50%, reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply.

One way to invest in real estate is by purchasing rental properties and becoming a landlord. But for the average American who wants to avoid the need for a hefty down payment or the burden of property management, crowdfunding platforms like Arrived make it easier to slice yourself up a piece of that pie.

Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase, and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

Another option is Homeshares, which gives accredited investors access to the $35 trillion U.S. home equity market — a space that’s historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.

With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

A finer alternative

It’s easy to see why great works of art tend to appreciate over time. Supply is limited and many famous pieces have already been snatched up by museums and collectors. Art also has a low correlation with stocks and bonds, which helps with diversification.

In 2022, a collection of art owned by the late Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen sold for $1.5 billion at Christie’s New York, making it the most valuable collection in auction history.

Investing in art was traditionally a privilege reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

Now, that’s changed with Masterworks — a platform for investing in shares of blue-chip artwork by renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Banksy. It’s easy to use, and with 23 successful exits to date, every one of them has been profitable thus far.

Simply browse their impressive portfolio of paintings and choose how many shares you’d like to buy. Masterworks will handle all the details, making high-end art investments both accessible and effortless.

Masterworks has distributed roughly $61 million back to investors. New offerings have sold out in minutes, but you can skip their waitlist here.

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• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

Real estate has long been a go-to asset for building wealth in America, offering income through rent and potential gains through appreciation. But according to investing legend Warren Buffett, there’s one asset class he — and his late business partner Charlie Munger — would take over property any day.

“There’s just so much more opportunity — at least in the United States — that presents itself in the security market than it does in real estate,” Buffett said at Berkshire Hathaway’s latest annual shareholders meeting, when asked why he isn’t buying more real estate.

Buffett pointed to the complexity and sluggishness of real estate deals compared to the ease and speed of stock transactions.

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“In respect to real estate, it’s so much harder than stocks in terms of negotiation of deals, time spent, the involvement of multiple parties in the ownership,” he said. “Usually when real estate gets in trouble, you find out you’re dealing with more than an equity holder.”

While Munger, who served as Berkshire’s vice chairman until his death in 2023, “enjoyed” real estate and did “a fair number” of deals in his final years, Buffett believes Munger’s true allegiance was always clear.

“I think if you’d asked him to make a choice when he was 21, that he’d either be in stocks exclusively the rest of his life or real estate the rest of his life, he would have chosen stocks in a second,” Buffett said.

For Buffett, the simplicity of stock investing is hard to beat. He noted that you can walk down to the New York Stock Exchange and “do billions of dollars worth of business totally anonymously,” all within five minutes.

Real estate, by contrast, is a slow grind. “[The negotiation] just begins when you agree on deals — and then they take forever,” he said.

At his age, Buffett’s takeaway is clear: “For a guy at 94, it’s not the most interesting thing to get involved in something where the negotiations could take years.”

How to invest like Buffett

Buffett has built his legacy on seizing opportunities in the stock market. Under his leadership, Berkshire Hathaway has delivered enormous returns to shareholders over the decades.

And while the Oracle of Omaha plans to step down as CEO later this year, everyday investors can still follow one timeless strategy he champions — no stock-picking skills required.

“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund,” Buffett famously said.

This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active management.

Buffett’s belief in this strategy runs so deep, he’s built it into his own estate plan — directing that 90% of his wife’s inheritance be invested in “a very low-cost S&P 500 index fund” after his passing.

The beauty of this approach is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time, and some apps like Acorns automatically invest your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: link your cards, and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio. With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5 — and if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

How to invest in real estate without the headaches

While Buffett doesn’t mince words about the complexities of real estate, he still points to it as a prime example of a productive, income-generating asset.

In 2022, Buffett stated that if you offered him “1% of all the apartment houses in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check.”

Why? Regardless of what’s happening in the broader economy, people still need a place to live. And with an estimated shortage of 4.5 million homes in the U.S., the demand for rental housing remains strong, helping keep occupancy rates high and rental income flowing.

But Buffett’s caution about how real estate transactions still holds true — even at the individual level. In the U.S., it typically takes 30 to 60 days to close on a home after an offer is accepted. Conditions, clauses and financing delays can drag the process out even further.

The good news? These days, you don’t need to buy an entire property — or hunt for deals yourself — to start investing in real estate.

For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.

With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

If you’re not an accredited investor, crowdfunding platforms like Arrived allow you to enter the real estate market for as little as $100.

Arrived offers you access to shares of SEC-qualified investments in rental homes and vacation rentals, curated and vetted for their appreciation and income potential.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived makes it easy to fit these properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your income level. Their flexible investment amounts and simplified process allow accredited and non-accredited investors to take advantage of this inflation-hedging asset class without any extra work on your part.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

Investors may be feeling uneasy as stocks struggle amid ongoing trade tensions and tariffs. But according to economist Peter Schiff, one asset is standing out amid the uncertainty: gold.

“Today marks a monumental moment in gold history as the spot price closes above $3,000 an ounce. Despite the media’s silence, this development is significant,” Schiff wrote on Instagram on March 17.

Despite gold’s 40% surge over the past year, Schiff believes the rally is just getting started.

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• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10

“While central banks stockpile gold, retail investors have a unique opportunity to capitalize. With gold expected to rise to $4,000 and beyond, now is the perfect time to invest,” he wrote.

In 2024, central banks added 1,045 tonnes to global reserves, marking the third consecutive year of net purchases exceeding 1,000 tonnes, according to the World Gold Council.

For Schiff, central bank buying isn’t just about portfolio diversification — it’s a warning sign.

‘Dumping dollars to buy gold’

Many investors turn to gold as a hedge against inflation, since — unlike fiat currencies — it can’t be printed at will by central banks.

Schiff argues that central banks’ growing appetite for gold signals something deeper.

“Investors haven’t even woken up to what central banks are doing, but the central bankers are the insiders of the fiat monetary system,” he said. “The insiders in the fiat monetary system have been dumping their dollars to buy gold. They obviously know something, and the public hasn’t caught on yet.”

So, what do they know that retail investors don’t?

Schiff believes it’s simple: inflation isn’t going away.

“Investors haven’t woken up to the reality of high inflation, as far as the eye can see, they still believe that the Fed is going to be able to bring inflation back down to 2% — there’s no chance that’s going to happen,” he stated. “Inflation isn’t going anywhere near that. In fact, it’s already bottomed out and is headed much higher — none of that has really been priced into gold yet.”

So, just how high can gold prices go?

“If gold can go from $20 an ounce to $2,600 an ounce, it can go from $2,600 to $26,000, or even to $100,000. There’s no limit because, again, gold isn’t changing — it’s the value of the dollar that’s decreasing,” he said in October 2024.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

1 income-producing alternative

Gold has long been a go-to hedge against inflation. But it’s not the only option. Real estate has also served as a reliable store of value, with the added benefit of generating income.

When inflation rises, property values often increase in tandem, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to climb, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.

Over the past decade, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has climbed by 94%.

These days, you don’t need to purchase a property outright to invest in real estate. First National Realty Partners (FNRP), for instance, allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties, without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.

With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.

Simply answer a few questions – including how much you would like to invest – to start browsing their full list of available properties.

New investing platforms are also making it easier than ever to tap into the residential real estate market.

For accredited investors, Homeshares gives access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market, which has historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.

With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

If you’re not an accredited investor, crowdfunding platforms like Arrived allow you to enter the real estate market for as little as $100.

Arrived offers you access to shares of SEC-qualified investments in rental homes and vacation rentals, curated and vetted for their appreciation and income potential.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived makes it easy to fit these properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your income level. Their flexible investment amounts and simplified process allows accredited and non-accredited investors to take advantage of this inflation-hedging asset class without any extra work on your part.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

With the annual price of attending Brown University approaching six figures, sophomore Alex Shieh wanted to know where all that money was going. In particular, he wanted to know what the school’s thousands of non-faculty employees were doing each day. So, he sent them a DOGE-style email asking that exact question.

Now, he’s facing disciplinary action.

“The inspiration for this is the rising cost of tuition,” Shieh told Fox News in a story published April 4. “Next year, it’s set to be $93,064 to go to Brown.”

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• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now
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This figure reflects the direct costs associated with attending Brown for one year, as shown on the school’s website, including tuition, fees and allowances for food and housing. First-time students are billed an extra $100. Brown’s undergraduate enrollment stands at 7,272.

To illustrate what he saw as administrative bloat, Shieh compiled a database of 3,805 non-faculty employees, according to Fox News. In an email similar to those sent by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to federal workers, he asked them: “What do you do all day?”

Shieh says only 20 people responded — some with profane replies — and soon after the university moved to discipline him.

"Brown is charging me for misrepresentation — for saying I am affiliated with The Brown Spectator," Shieh said in a follow-up story published by Fox News on April 30. In his emails, Shieh identified himself as a journalist for The Spectator — a long-inactive student journal that Shieh claims he and other students are trying to bring back.

“Brown is also charging me for violating their IT policies for publishing Brown employee data,” Shieh said. A website was created identifying what was deemed to be wasteful spending at Brown, and the names and titles of employees were published. Shieh insisted to the Brown Daily Herald all of the information was publicly available.

Brown University, however, expressed a different view.

“In spite of what has been reported publicly framing this as a free speech issue, it absolutely is not,” a university spokesperson told Fox News. “At the center of Brown’s review are questions focused on whether improper use of non-public Brown data, non-public data systems and/or targeting of individual employees violated law or policy.”

Whether or not you agree Shieh’s approach was an appropriate way to investigate wastefulness, it’s an issue many of us deal with in our everyday lives, including in our personal finances.

Here are three simple ways to cut waste in your own life in 2025.

1. Stop overpaying for car insurance

Car insurance is a major recurring expense, and many people overpay without realizing it. According to Forbes, the average cost of full-coverage car insurance is $2,149 per year (or $179 per month).

However, rates can vary widely depending on your state, driving history and vehicle type, and you could be paying more than necessary.

By using OfficialCarInsurance.com, you can easily compare quotes from multiple insurers, such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO, to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

In just two minutes, you could find rates as low as $29 per month.

2. Stop wasting money on bank fees

Bank fees can quietly drain your finances over time. In reality, many traditional banks will issue a charge if you don’t maintain a minimum balance, along with other actions such as overdrafting.

Online banks, on the other hand, typically offer lower fees (or none at all) since they don’t have the same overhead costs as brick-and-mortar institutions.

For example, you can open a high-yield checking and savings account with SoFi and earn up to 3.80% APY Plus, SoFi charges no account, monthly or overdraft fees.

The best part? You can get up to $300 when you sign up with SoFi and set up a direct deposit.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

3. Let your spare change grow

One of the easiest ways to cut financial waste is by putting your spare change to work instead of letting it sit idle. That’s where micro-investing apps like Acorns come in.

When you make a purchase on your credit or debit card, Acorns automatically rounds up the price to the nearest dollar and invests the difference — the coins that would wind up in your pocket if you were paying cash — into a diversified portfolio of ETFs.

Buy a coffee for $3.40? The app rounds it up to $4 and invests the extra $0.60. Over time, those small amounts can add up — especially if you’re consistently spending and saving.

It’s a simple, set-it-and-forget-it way to build wealth from money you might not even miss — and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence. Some or all links contained within this article are paid links.

Since peaking at a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022, headline inflation in the U.S. has eased. But according to “Rich Dad Poor Dad” author Robert Kiyosaki, the worst may be yet to come.

“The end is here: what if you threw a party and no one showed up? That is what happened yesterday,” he wrote in a May 21 post on X. “The Fed held an auction for U.S. bonds and no one showed up. So the Fed quietly bought $50 billion of its own fake money with fake money.”

He added, “The party is over. Hyperinflation is here. Millions, young and old to be wiped out financially.”

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• I’m 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don’t panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast)
• Robert Kiyosaki warns of a ‘Greater Depression’ coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 ‘easy-money’ assets will bring in ‘great wealth’. How to get in now
• Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10

Kiyosaki is no stranger to predictions of economic collapse, and the claims in his recent post couldn’t be independently verified. He didn’t cite a source for the $50 billion “fake money” purchase or the fact that “no one showed up.”

However, the same day he made his post, the U.S. Treasury did see weak demand for a $16 billion sale of 20-year bonds, as investors grew uneasy over the country’s mounting debt.

The auction followed Moody’s downgrade of the U.S. sovereign credit rating last Friday — a move Kiyosaki warns could have dire consequences:

“A Moody’s downgrade will probably mean higher interest rates which means a U.S. recession, which means the economy will slow, unemployment will climb, bond market, housing market, and weak banks may fail … which may mean 1929 Depression.”

But amid the gloom, he also sees a silver lining — literally.

“Good news. Gold will go to $25,000. Silver to $70. Bitcoin to $500k to $1 million,” he wrote, before ending with a stark note: “May God have mercy on our souls.”

Let’s take a closer look at the assets he’s championing.

Precious metals

Kiyosaki’s endorsement of gold and silver is nothing new — he’s been advocating for precious metals for decades.

In October 2023, he wrote on X: “Gold will soon break through $2,100 and then take off. You will wish you had bought gold below $2,000. Next stop, gold $3,700.”

Gold prices surged in 2024 and have continued to climb through 2025, surpassing $3,000 per ounce in April 2025.

Gold has long been viewed as a potential safe-haven investment. It’s not tied to any one country, currency or economy. It can’t be printed out of thin air like fiat money, and investors tend to pile in during times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty — driving up its value.

Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates — the world’s largest hedge fund — told CNBC in February: “People don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” adding that, “when bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”

For those looking to capitalize on gold’s potential while also securing tax advantages, one option is opening a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, which can make it an option for those seeking to help protect their retirement fund against economic uncertainties.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Thor Metals, you can receive up to $20,000 in precious metals for free.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Real estate — revisited

In light of his dire outlook, Kiyosaki suggested a few steps individuals could take to protect themselves — and highlighted the power of one income-generating asset.

“I have always recommended people become entrepreneurs, at least a side hustle, and not need job security. Then invest in income-producing real estate, in a crash, which provides steady cash flow,” he wrote on X.

Real estate has long been a favored asset for income-focused investors. While stock markets can swing wildly on headlines, high-quality properties often continue to generate stable rental income.

It can also be a powerful hedge against inflation. When inflation rises property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts with inflation.

Perhaps that’s why Kiyosaki once disclosed he owns 15,000 houses — strictly for investment purposes.

Today, you don’t need to be as wealthy as Kiyosaki to get started in real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase, and then sit back as you start receiving rental income deposits from your investment.

Another option is Homeshares, which gives accredited investors access to the $36 trillion U.S. home equity market — a space that’s historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.

With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.

With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin has been one of the top-performing assets of the past decade — and Kiyosaki is betting it still has room to run.

On Nov. 29, 2024, he predicted, “Bitcoin will soon break $100,000.” On Dec. 4 the cryptocurrency surpassed that milestone, grabbing headlines worldwide.

But in Kiyosaki’s view, that’s just the beginning. He sees Bitcoin climbing much higher — potentially reaching $500,000 to $1 million.

He’s not alone in that view. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey said in May 2024 that Bitcoin could hit “at least” $1 million by 2030 — and possibly go even higher.

For those looking to hop on the bitcoin bandwagon, new crypto platforms have made it easier for everyday investors.

For instance, Gemini is a full-reserve and regulated cryptocurrency exchange and custodian, which allows users to buy, sell and store bitcoin and 70 other cryptocurrencies.

You can place instant, recurring and limit buys on their growing and vetted list of available cryptos.

But if you’re not ready to buy just yet, you can still invest in crypto with their Gemini credit card.

What to read next

• JPMorgan sees gold soaring to $6,000/ounce — use this 1 simple IRA trick to lock in those potential shiny gains (before it’s too late)
• This is how American car dealers use the ‘4-square method’ to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs
• Here are 5 ‘must have’ items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.