Author: Moneywise

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The dream of homeownership feels out of reach for many, with 70% of Americans in an IPX study saying buying a home in 2024 seems unrealistic. High mortgage rates are a major obstacle, with over half of potential buyers waiting for rates to drop.’

While the Federal Reserve has cut rates by 0.5% twice this year, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate still averages 6.79% — far higher than expected. Experts predict rates may ease slightly but remain near 6% into 2025, nearly double what they were three years ago. Unfortunately, even lower rates won’t solve the broader affordability challenges in housing. When supply is low and can’t meet demand, prices surge because people are willing to pay more to get their hands on the limited inventory.

A housing shortage has driven up prices

When supply is low and can’t meet demand, prices surge because people are willing to pay more to get their hands on the limited inventory.

Unfortunately, this is one of the most significant issues in the housing market. A Zillow analysis released in 2024 found that, as of 2022, the U.S. had a housing shortfall of 4.5 million homes, up from 4.3 million the year prior. Too few houses were built in the decade following the Great Recession, and strict land-use rules have made it hard for builders to build enough to catch up.

As mortgage rates fall, some experts believe buyers will flood the market, sending prices soaring and putting homes even more out of reach for many.

If you are determined to buy a home, there are ways you can help bring down the cost finance your milestone purchase.

According to a report from LendingTree, shopping around for a mortgage can help you save an average of $76,410 over the lifetime of a 30-year fixed-rate loan.

Once you have picked your desired property and downpayment, you can [compare rates from vetted lenders] ](https://moneywise.com/c/1/33/1938?placement=1) through Mortgage Research Center.

You can then connect with a preferred lender and discuss your mortgage needs. The initial consultation is completely free and with no obligation to hire.

Home insurance costs are also soaring

The cost of the house itself isn’t the only thing that’s rising. Homeowners insurance premiums jumped 11.3% in 2023, up from an average annual increase of 2.5–3.8% between 2018 and 2021, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Insurance costs significantly impact monthly housing payments and are factored into the PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) calculation used to determine loan eligibility. With banks aiming for PITI to stay below 28% of income, rising premiums are pushing homeownership further out of reach.

So, how do existing homeowners protect their investment without breaking the bank on their insurance? Consider using a free service like BestMoney to find home insurance policies and prices near you.

BestMoney simplifies the process of finding coverage that fits your needs and budget. With their user-friendly platform, you can easily compare home insurance rates in your area just by answering a few quick questions about you and your property.

How can we fix it?

Mortgage rate cuts won’t fix soaring housing costs, as the real solution lies in increasing supply.

The National Association of Home Builders suggests reducing regulations, streamlining supply chains, and using tax credits to boost affordable housing. Lawmakers also propose opening federal lands, offering down payment grants, and easing zoning rules.

Invest in high-demand real estate without buying property

There are also plenty of real estate investment trusts (REITs) that cash out monthly dividends to their investors from their rent-paying tenants, not to mention crowdfunding platforms that offer everyday investors access to everything from vacation and rental income to investing in residential rental units in high-demand regions.

When it comes to REITs, there’s also a private-market option worth considering that focuses on property investments that aim to be part of the solution to the housing shortage.

DLP Capital specializes in private REITs designed for accredited investors, focusing on regions across the U.S. where multifamily residential properties are in high-demand.

With a track record of identifying high-potential properties and over $5.2 billion in assets under management, DLP Capital helps investors capitalize on real estate’s long-term value.

DLP Capital’s funds target potential annual returns between 9% and 13% — almost at par with the S&P 500 index’s 10.26% returns annually. But you get two distinct advantages by investing in DLP Capital’s funds — portfolio diversification and a potentially lower tax bill.

If you are interested in tapping into the income generated by vacation rentals, crowdfunding platform Arrived makes investing in these properties simple and accessible for everyday investors.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived offers SEC-qualified investments in rentals and vacation homes and you can invest for as little as $100. The firm handles the hard work, letting you browse their curated properties, select the number of shares you’d like to buy, and add real estate to your portfolio without the hassles that come with being a landlord.

And when it comes to income-producing real estate investments, you aren’t limited to residential opportunities.

In September, the U.S. central bank started moving aggressively in this new direction and cut interest rates by 50 basis points (bps). Rates were cut by a further 0.025% in November.

Commercial real estate typically appreciates in value when interest rates drop because buyers can afford to pay more for assets at lower borrowing costs. If you want to invest in the $22.5 trillion commercial real estate market, First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows accredited investors access to institutional-quality commercial real estate deals, specializing in grocery-anchored retail properties with historically strong return potential.

FNRP has developed relationships with the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods, and provides insights into the best properties both on and off-market while investors can passively collect distribution income.

FNRP’s team makes investing in commercial real estate convenient and simple by offering white-glove service to investors. They act as the deal leader, providing expertise and doing the legwork, while investors can use their secure platform to explore available deals, engage with experts and easily make an allocation through their secure platform.

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.

For many people, the only way to afford a home is to finance it with a mortgage and pay off that loan over time.

During the third quarter of 2024, the median U.S. home sale price was $420,000, according to Federal Reserve data. Given that median annual wages were just over $60,000 during this year’s third quarter, it’s easy to see why the typical working American can barely afford a down payment on a home today, let alone the entire cost in one fell swoop.

But uber-wealthy folks are in a different position. Those with billions of dollars to their name can buy a home outright rather than take out a loan.

Yet celebrities like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Jay-Z have all made headlines for taking out multimillion-dollar mortgages — not out of necessity but to reap a couple of key benefits.

It allows for better cash flow

Someone who’s a billionaire a couple or several times over may not have to worry so much about cash flow. But borrowing for a home allows them to hang onto their cash for other purposes, rather than tying their money up in an illiquid investment.

Take Hollywood’s it couple, Jay-Z and Beyonce, with a combined net worth of roughly $3 billion (as of 2023), for instance. But back in 2017, when their net worth was $1.6 billion, the power couple took out a $52 million loan to buy a hillside estate in Los Angeles., worth $88 million, according to a report published by the L.A. Times.

"Depending on how their portfolio looks — what they’ve invested in — I think there could be a huge benefit [to Beyoncé and Jay-Z]. It gives them flexibility, and they could pay the mortgage off anytime," Robert Cohan, managing director at Carlyle Financial, said in an interview with Business Insider.

You can still land an affordable mortgage rate even if you don’t fall in the category of America’s elite 1%](https://moneywise.com/managing-money/american-annual-income-class). The key is to not accept the first offer on the table — and to shop around and get quotes from at least two-three lenders.

According to a study conducted by LendingTree, 45% of homebuyers who received more than one quote got a lower rate than their initial one .

Mortgage Research Center can help you shop around for rates from vetted lenders near you.

All you need to do is enter some basic information about yourself, such as property type and zip code in which it is located, total cost, desired down payment, and your annual income and credit score.

Mortgage Research Center then matches you with lenders best suited to your needs. You can then set up a free, no-obligation consultation to further assess whether they’re the right fit for you.

Free up more money to invest

If you purchased a house in the last couple of years at a fixed rate, chances are you might be able to refinance it at a lower rate right now.

Mark Zuckerberg, the world’s third richest man (according to the Forbes Real Time Billionaires list) did the same.

Back in 2012, when Zuckerberg was #40 on the list with an estimated $15.6 billion net worth, he refinanced his home in Palo Alto, California, with a 30-year adjustable rate mortgage at 1.05%.

While rates probably won’t go down to that level any time soon, the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts over the past few months have already had a noticeable impact. Median mortgage rates are currently hovering around 6.84% — down from 8% in October last year.

With the Fed slated to lower the benchmark rates further in the upcoming months, it might be a good idea to start looking at your options.

Ideally, you can land a lower rate by shopping around. According to a study from LendingTree, 56% of homebuyers shopped around when they refinanced their mortgage. What’s more, 81% of those who chose to refinance, came away with a lower rate than what they started with.

Mortgage Research Center is also a beneficial tool if you are looking to refinance your current mortgage.

The process is the same — you need to enter some information about yourself and your current mortgage, and Mortgage Research Center will match you with vetted lenders offering competitive rates.

More ways to invest in real estate

Buying additional properties to yield rental or investment income can be inconvenient, even for accredited investors. Not only do you have to worry about timely maintenance and property taxes, but you also have to deal with the hassles of being a landlord if you are thinking about renting it out.

Crowdfunding investment opportunities can provide a way to build a passive real estate portfolio without doing any of the heavy lifting.

For example, accredited investors can invest in private REITs through DLP Capital’s investment funds. These investments are tax-advantaged and disburse positive cash flows (if any) through monthly, quarterly, or annual distributions. This means you can potentially generate passive income from real estate.

DLP Capital’s funds aim to generate annual returns in the range of 9% to 13%. This is at par with the S&P 500 index’s average return of 10.26%. But with DLP Capital, you get the added benefit of diversification by incorporating [income-producing real estate funds]](https://ribn.com/c/1/325/1563?placement=6) in your portfolio.

If you want a more affordable option or you want to wade into real estate for the first time, try investing through Arrived.

Backed by prominent investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes and vacation properties without having to worry about managing the property.

You are also eligible to receive distributions from your investment property’s rental income, potentially helping you set up a passive income stream. You can get started with as little as $500.

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.

If you will, allow us to present the hypothetical case of Pete Moneywise, a married, 78-year-old father of three who wants to get his financial affairs in order before his passing.

Though he exists only in the confines of this article, his situation reflects what countless retirement-age people face as they draw up their wills and create their trusts.

“I hate probate,” Pete tells us in an exclusive interview (what else did you expect? We created him). “I went through it when my father died, and my family spent the next year talking to lawyers, trying to get things squared away.”

He shares how the probate process caused tension between his siblings. He also harbored frustration over one unanswerable question: “Why didn’t Dad create a living trust? It would’ve made things so much simpler.”

Credit Pete for following his own advice. He has set up a living trust. Now, he must decide what, if anything, to leave out of it. He has done the homework for you: Here are five things to consider as you structure your living trust.

Probate explained: Best not go there

Many folks don’t even know what the word “probate” means until they’re in the thick of it.

Sometimes, not always, when a person dies — even if they left a will — a legal process is required to validate the will, name an executor to administer the estate if there isn’t one already, pay off liabilities, and then distribute the remaining assets.

The process can sometimes take years, not to mention the piles of paperwork and legal fees. For example, when the beloved entertainer Prince passed away in 2016, the legal dogfight over his estate continued in probate until August 2022.

If you are “of sound mind and body,” then you can make a will — and it’s a good idea to do that, so you don’t leave your friends and family scrambling and trying to guess at your wishes. With Trust & Will, an online service that makes it easy to create, store, edit and share your will, you can make the process as painless as possible.

Trust & Will is an organization seeking to flip that narrative, by providing helpful, concise, and human support for creating wills and estate plans. They want to make estate planning simple, accessible, and affordable for all Americans, meaning you can make sure your loved ones know, understand and have input on exactly what your plan is, before you pass.

If you want an extra layer of security and peace of mind, you can create a revocable living trust. A trust would have helped Pete’s family avoid probate, protect their privacy, and minimize estate taxes when his father died. A trust is a document that allows you to keep control of your money and property and designate who receives it once you die.

“Revocable” means you can change the terms at any time while you are alive. As the assets aren’t considered a part of your estate, they sidestep the probate process.

It also lets you continue to use assets transferred into the trust, such as property or investments you own.

If you have a large estate with plenty of investments, you may want to consider both consolidating your asset management on a single platform, and using that platform to manage the distribution of your wealth after your passing.

Arta Finance is a digital wealth management service where users can access exclusive financial strategies for the public market and alternative investments to diversify their portfolios.

In partnership with Camelot Trust, Arta Finance also offers guidance on estate planning to help safeguard estates and ensure assets are managed appropriately.

However, the advantages of trusts have their limits and certain items will only create headaches if held there.

Five items to leave out of a revocable living trust

Vehicles. Whether it’s a 1963 Corvette, a Harley chopper or a prop plane, all that’s required to pass it on is a simple written instruction to transfer the title to a beneficiary. If it’s held in a trust, you could be vulnerable to lawsuits over accidents involving the vehicle.

Annuities and retirement accounts. A trust can turn non-taxed accounts into taxable ones. However, you can ​make the trust itself the beneficiary, so that these accounts pass directly to your trustees without an IRS agent crashing the wake.

One way to ensure the money in your retirement accounts grows at a stable rate and gives your beneficiaries as much as they deserve is to invest in a gold IRA with the help of American Hartford Gold – a precious metals dealer offering support for opening IRAs and direct purchases of precious metals and coins.

Gold has historically acted as a hedge against inflation, and many find it to be a more secure place to invest your retirement fund.

Life insurance. No need to put this in a revocable trust. Simply name your beneficiaries within the policy. Or, create an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) to avoid estate taxes.

If you’re worried about your loved ones having access to funds to cover your funeral expenses, or other costs and debts immediately after your passing, life insurance can offer a versatile solution to help support your family, providing coverage to potentially replace lost income or settle outstanding debts in the event of your death.

Opting for term life insurance through a provider like Ethos, ensures that as you age, your loved ones are protected from unexpected costs. With term life insurance, you can secure affordable coverage while managing your other financial responsibilities.

Ethos offers an easy online process that allows you to get up to $2 million in coverage with terms spanning from 10 to 30 years. To get a free quote, simply answer a few questions about yourself. Then, you can compare various policies and choose one that best suits your needs.

Assets held in other countries. This gets complicated, as you may not be permitted to place international assets in a trust. To find out if it’s possible, you’ll need to consult an estate attorney licensed in the country where your international assets are located.

Checking and savings accounts. If you use these to pay monthly bills, you may run into financial complications unless you’re the trustee and granted full control of trust assets. There’s a much easier route to take: Keep these accounts out of the trust.

And if Pete were real, he’d surely remind you that the information in this article does not constitute legal advice. Talk to a trust lawyer in your state, financial adviser, or other professional before making any decisions. Pete’s imaginary kids — and your real ones — will be grateful you did.

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.

Inflation is still hitting hard across America, and even Eric Trump, son of President-elect Donald Trump, claims to feel the pinch in his wallet.

During a September Fox News interview, Eric Trump lamented, “It cost me $130 to fill up my SUV. People can’t afford life anymore.”

Gas prices peaked at $5.016 per gallon in June 2022, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), before falling to $3.009 by November 2024.

Still, many households remain burdened by high costs, so it might be time to start strategizing how you can better protect the value of your dollar and build your net worth.

Protecting your purchasing power

President-elect Trump’s promises on gas aside, inflation continues to erode purchasing power across the board.

Eric Trump’s claim about his $130 fill-up sparked a wave of skepticism online.

“What kind of SUV is he driving? Mine costs me about $55 at Costco gas,” commented lawyer Bradley P. Moss on X.com.

Whether you buy into Trump’s $130 fill-up story or not,, prices for essentials like food and shelter remain high, with the food CPI up 26% and the shelter index up 24% since 2020.

The good news? Americans now have more tools than ever to protect against inflation’s impact.

For example, One way to turn inflation into an opportunity is by finding ways to invest while you spend. Acorns makes this effortless.

By simply linking your bank account to the app, every purchase you make with your debit or credit cards helps grow your investments automatically by rounding up the price to the nearest dollar and placing the excess in a smart investment portfolio.This way, even the most essential spending translates to money saved and invested for the future.

Sign up now and you can get a $20 bonus investment.

Investing to hedge against persistent inflation

Nowadays, there are plenty of accessible strategies for investors to shield themselves — and their portfolios — from inflation’s bite.

Real estate

Real estate has long been a reliable way to hedge against inflation. As material and labor costs rise, building new properties becomes more expensive, driving up the value of existing real estate.

In addition to price appreciation, well-chosen properties generate rental income, which typically increases with inflation, helping to preserve and grow real income over time.

But you don’t need to buy a house to start investing, real estate crowdfunding platforms make it accessible to more investors.

For instance, if you are interested in tapping into the income-generating properties, Arrived makes investing in those assets simple and accessible no matter your income or portfolio size. Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived offers SEC-qualified investments in rental homes and vacation properties — and you can invest with as just $100.

The Arrived team handles the hard work of finding and managing the properties. As an investor, you can simply browse curated properties, select the amount of shares, and enjoy the benefits of investing in real estate without becoming a landlord.

And you aren’t limited to residential real estate.

Commercial real estate has also long been touted as a wise investment for adding stability to your portfolio, outperforming the S&P 500 over a 25-year period.

While commercial properties leased as office spaces have taken a serious hit over the past few years, two sectors have remained surprisingly resilient: grocery-anchored properties and health-care facililities. These sectors are necessity-based, meaning their demand tends to remain strong no matter how the economy shifts.

For accredited investors looking to dive into commercial real estate, First National Realty Partners (FNRP) allows you to invest in institutional-quality commercial real estate.

FNRP’s team makes investing in commercial real estate convenient and simple by offering white-glove service to investors. They act as the deal leader, providing expertise and doing the legwork, while investors can use their secure platform to explore available deals, engage with experts and easily make an allocation.

FNRP has developed relationships with the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods, and provides insights into the best properties both on and off-market while investors have an opportunity to passively collect distribution income.

Gold

Gold has been a trusted store of wealth for centuries, and is prized for its stability during economic downturns and inflation by professional investors like Peter Schiff and Ben Mallah.

Over 2024, gold is up 34%, surpassing $2,700 per ounce.

For investors seeking tax advantages and long-term stability, a gold IRA is an excellent option if you’re looking to hedge your retirement fund against inflation. By including physical gold in your retirement portfolio, you diversify beyond stocks and bonds while cushioning your savings against inflation and market volatility.

One way to invest in precious metals that also provides significant tax advantages is with a gold IRA — and you can open one with the help of American Hartford Gold.

One of the country’s most trusted precious metals companies – with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau – American Hartford Gold has helped thousands of clients protect their retirement.

Economist Peter Schiff has previously told investors that the metal was underpriced due to persistent inflationary pressures.

“I think it has to be repriced higher to reflect the reality of much higher inflation. We’re not going to go back to 2%, probably in my lifetime,” he said. “It’s going to be much higher than that, and when investors come to terms with that, they’re going to bid up the price of gold much higher.”

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.

A former owner of a pet shop and mahjong parlors in Japan has invested his way to eight figures — and earned the nickname Japan’s Warren Buffett.

At 88, Shigeru Fujimoto of Kobe, often seen in simple pullovers before three monitors, has quietly amassed a $14 million fortune. Investing since 19, according to The Asahi Shimbun, he became a full-time investor in 1986 and took up day trading in 2015.

In a country where over half of household assets are in cash, Fujimoto urges boldness. “Age doesn’t matter when you are making a new effort,” he once said.

He refuses to retire

In declining health, Shigeru Fujimoto’s wisdom is in demand, with his teachings hitting bestseller status on Amazon Japan. Still eager to trade, he told The Asahi Shimbun: “I will be retiring when I die.”

With enough wealth to spend $3,800 daily for a decade, Fujimoto rates his life a “75 out of 100,” focused on perfecting spirit, technique, and fitness—a stark contrast to the anxiety of U.S. retirees, whose median savings at ages 55–64 is just $204,000. With the guidance of a professional like those available through WiserAdvisor, planning your ideal retirement — when, where, and how —becomes much easier.

WiserAdvisor is a free matching service that helps you find a financial advisor who can help you reach your financial goals by matching you with a pre-screened financial advisor from their database of thousands.

All it takes is a few minutes to answer some questions about yourself, and WiserAdvisor will provide you with a personalized match of two to three advisors. From there, you can book a free, no-obligation consultation to confirm if your match is right for you.

Fujimoto built his wealth as a day trader, which means he invests in the market with an iron stomach. You don’t necessarily need his resolve to make safe returns for your retirement, however. You might consider backing your retirement with a traditionally stable asset like gold.

With a self-directed gold IRA, you can invest directly in physical precious metals, offering both portfolio diversification and a hedge against market instability.

Thor Metals is an industry leader in precious metals and authorized dealer for the U.S. Mint and they can help you seamlessly manage the complexities of setting up and managing your gold IRA. They also partner with the top IRS-approved depositors to make sure your metals are stored safely.

You can fill out your name and email to get a free 2024 Wealth Protection Guide to help you determine if this investment is right for you and your retirement.

Two investing pathways to abundance

You can avoid brooding and embrace prosperity if you follow Fujimoto’s precepts — which bear a strong Buffett influence. Put these three lessons into action now.

1. Purchase quality stocks at cheap prices:

Buffett famously said investors should be “fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” After Japan’s Nikkei market tanked 12.4% on Aug. 5, Fujimoto remained calm, telling Bloomberg: “When the stock price gets low, then it’s time for me to buy stocks.”

But waiting for companies to have a bad day before buying isn’t the right strategy for everyone. To take the guesswork out of which of those stocks to pick, you could consider trying out Moby.

The team of former hedge fund analysts and experts at Moby spend hundreds of hours each week sifting through financial news and data to provide superior stock and ETF research to keep you up-to-date on what’s moving the markets.

In four years, across almost 400 stock picks, Moby’s recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12%, on average. With their easy-to-understand formats, you can become a wiser investor in just five minutes, backed by a 30-day money back guarantee.

Once you’ve got the names picked, you’ll need the right account where you can park and grow your cash. Social investing platform Public is a commission-free, self-directed investing platform that empowers users to manage diverse assets —including stocks, ETFs, crypto, treasuries, and alternatives—while learning from a community of fellow investors.

With real-time insights, social features, and no "payment for order flow" model, Public prioritizes transparency and user trust. It’s ideal for both beginner and experienced investors seeking to build wealth, invest fractionally, and stay informed on market trends without hidden fees.

2. Buy and hold:

In a 1988 letter to Berkshire shareholders, Buffett declared, “Our favorite holding period is forever.” Fujimoto may practice day trading, but his advice is to secure good stocks for the long term. “It’s important to hold good stocks for the long term,” he said. “Don’t buy or sell immediately like a day trader. If you hold such stocks for a while, they will surely bear fruit.”

You can’t go wrong with holding long, but you can also open accounts with Acorns that allow you to save and invest while you’re spending.

With Acorns, every purchase on your credit or debit card is rounded up to the nearest dollar, with the spare change invested into a diversified portfolio for long-term savings. Plus, Acorns lets you customize how you save. With an Acorns Silver plan, you get access to Acorns Later, a retirement investment account with a 1% IRA match on new contributions. With Acorns Gold, you get a 3% IRA match on new contributions, an investment account for your kids, and the ability to customize your portfolio by selecting your own stocks.

If you sign up now, you can get a $20 bonus investment.

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.

Pickleball has exploded in popularity across the U.S.

The fast-paced paddle sport bagged the title of the fastest-growing sport in the world for three consecutive years between 2020 and 2023, growing by 223.5%, according to the 2024 Topline Participation Report published by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). Between 2022 and 2023 alone, the sport grew by a whopping 51.2%.

Celebs are cashing in on this trend, buying up teams as the nascent industry forms professional leagues in which the teams compete annually.

But there’s another way for investors to get started — investing in pickleball arenas.

“There’s a gold rush mentality going on right now with a lot of different brands jumping in and competing for space,” said Ace Pickleball founder and president Joe Sexton.

Companies are racing to grab available spaces to set up pickleball courts, and you can get in on the action, too, as a passive investor.

What’s fuelling the fire?

Pickleball has been the sport of choice for many Americans, with roughly 13.6 million “picklers” in the U.S. as of 2023.

According to a report from the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), 48.3 million adult Americans (19% of the adult population) have played pickleball at least once in the past year.

America’s premier athletes are capitalizing on the “pickleball gold rush,” with A-list athletes and celebrities like LeBron James, Tom Brady, Drake, Eva Longoria, and Michael B. Jordan investing in pickleball teams. There are at least 38 celebrity pickleball enthusiasts, with many investing in professional pickleball teams as the sport quickly ramps up its ecosystem of professional-level play.

Tom Brady teamed up with tennis champion Kim Clijsters to buy an expansion team through Knighthead Capital Management.

"Look, I’ve been trying to find a way to extend my professional sports career, in my 40s, even into my 50s, 60s, 70s! As long as I can, right? And I think I got the answer," Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl Champion, said on Instagram back in 2022, "Seems like everyone else has the answer too — pickleball!"

But you don’t need to be a nationally-recognized sports star or celebrity to ride the pickleball wave.

You can get in on the ground floor of this growing industry by investing in the places people play.

Step into the pickleball arena as an investor

If you want to get in on the action but don’t want to deal with the hassles and financial obligations of owning or leasing a franchise, you can look into fractional investing in a Pickleball club.

Accredited investors can potentially earn attractive returns through passive ownership of pickleball courts through PickleRage.

PickleRage aims to deliver 21-25% returns over a three to five-year hold period. They estimate the value of the properties will grow 1.75 to 2.25 times the original principal invested.

Backed by private equity firm GreenPeak Venture Partners, PickleRage has a distinct advantage over other pickleball franchises popping up across the country.

“What we do and how we differentiate ourselves is being a real estate owner and developer,”

Eric O’Connor, vice president of franchise development at PickleRage, told the Franchise Times.

“That’s our expertise, along with the automation technology we’ve incorporated into the system that makes court reservation, scheduling, and overall operations much easier for operators by maximizing efficiencies and revenue per square foot.”

An underserved market

It might seem as though there’s a new pickleball court opening every day, but space for this fast-growing sport is actually at a premium right now. There are currently just over 50,000 courts serving over 13 million picklers across the U.S.

PickleRage is on track to open 50 clubs by next year, primarily in Michigan, Florida, Texas and the Carolinas. These regions have highly trafficked retail corridors with strong income demographics, potentially generating substantial membership revenues.

As the number of pickleball enthusiasts continues to grow unabated, estimated to reach 40 million worldwide over the next six years, CNBC forecasts that an additional 250,000 courts need to be built to meet the demand.

PickleRage aims to capitalize on this trend by building more than 500 courts nationwide over the next five years.

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

Matthew A. Killingsworth of the University of Pennsylvania has made it his mission to uncover the answer to the age-old question: Can money buy happiness?

In short: yes. Moreover, he claims more money might make you happier — even if you’re already rich.

His latest research builds on his 2023 study, which produced the opposite result of a well-known 2010 survey that claimed people’s happiness levels peaked at a surprisingly low income level: about $75,000 per year (well over $100,000 based on the cost of living today).

Killingsworth found that the ultra-wealthy are, indeed, quite happy — and that money plays a large role in their satisfaction.

Using data from a survey of 33,269 employed Americans between the ages of 18 and 65, including some millionaires with assets between $3 million and $7.9 million, Killingsworth found that the tonier group had higher life satisfaction than those with six-figure incomes.

"The money-happiness curve continues rising well beyond $500,000 a year," Killingsworth told CBS MoneyWatch. "I think a big part of what’s happening is that when people have more money, they have more control over their lives."

Challenging the happiness-money connection

While those in the study earning $30,000 or less gave themselves an average score of four out of seven for life satisfaction, those in the $500,000 range had a median answer of five. However, multimillionaires had an average rating of six — by far the highest score.

Unsurprisingly, people who make six figures and multimillionaires have the highest satisfaction scores. And if you want to one day get to that point, you’ll need to manage your finances. With Arta Finance, accredited investors can build their own portfolio with stocks, bonds, ETFs, and alternative investments — all through one comprehensive platform.

You can also benefit from Arta’s Family Office Services, which include personal investment advisors, estate and tax planning services, as well as lines of credit at competitive rates. What’s more, the first $100,000 of your investments are managed completely for free. You can create a free account in less than two minutes.

Killingsworth admits that his research doesn’t consider any additional factors besides wealth in his studies of happiness. However, Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, does.

Gilovich conducted four studies over a period of decades in an attempt to pinpoint the money-happiness connection. The major conclusion he reached: investing in experiences — like travel, the arts, and quality time — ultimately makes people happier than material things do.

So, how can you afford to buy these enriching experiences on your current budget? Acorns makes it possible to set aside funds while you do your routine shopping.

Each time you shop with your linked debit or credit card, Acorns automatically rounds up the price of your purchase to the nearest dollar and deposits the difference into a smart investment portfolio for you.

By signing up and linking your bank account, you can grow your savings without even thinking about it.

There are other ways to make your daily spending more fun, too. Swagbucks is a rewards program that gives you free gift cards and cash for shopping online at your favorite stores. Simply sign up and earn points while you shop, or play games and answer surveys to boost your points balance.

How to boost your income

Want to test the theory that greater wealth equals greater happiness? The stock market might be your best bet.

For example, based on more than a decade of market activity, $3,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the outset of 2014 could return nearly $11,000 by the end of 2024. This is a return on investment of 264% (13.22% annually).

Some savvy investors can even beat the performance of the S&P 500. Moby, a stock market advisory service, has beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average in the last four years across almost 400 stock picks.

Moby’s team of former hedge fund analysts and experts spend hundreds of hours each week sifting through financial news and data to provide top-tier stock and crypto reports to keep you up-to-date on what’s moving the markets.

With their easy-to-understand formats, you can become a wiser investor in just five minutes, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For those drawn to a dividend-focused strategy, platforms like Public make it easy to invest in dividend stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Public not only offers commission-free trading, it also provides a high-yield account where you can park your cash between investments.

Public also has social features, enabling users to follow and learn from other investors, share ideas, and stay updated on market trends with real-time insights.

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.

During your working years, it’s important to have cash savings for unplanned expenses. These could run the gamut from home repairs to medical emergencies to a period of unemployment.

But what if you’re retired and are therefore relying on your savings and investments to fund your lifestyle? In that case, the guidelines for keeping cash on hand change quite a bit.

Here’s what you need to know before you retire.

Why do retirees need cash?

In the context of retirement, cash can mean funds in a checking or savings account, or certificates of deposit (CDs) —essentially, money that’s shielded from market fluctuations.

Here are some reasons you’ll need cash as a retiree.

1. You’re living off of savings now

While Social Security offers income, the average benefit of $1,918 per month may not cover all expenses. Once that’s spent, cash allows you to handle surprises like car repairs or home maintenance without selling stocks or draining your savings.

If you want to grow your savings more efficiently, you can so just that with a high-yield cash account like the one offered by Wealthfront.

Wealthfront is a financial services platform offering a range of products, from automated investing to cash accounts. The Wealthfront Cash Account offers 5.00% APY — that’s 10x the national average.

With full access to your money at all times, Wealthfront also offers fast (and free) transfers to internal Wealthfront investing accounts, as well as external accounts

To get started, you can fund your cash account with as little as $1 and start stacking up your savings.

To compare all the best savings options, you can check out Moneywise’s Best High Yield Savings Accounts of 2024 to find some savvy savings options that earn you more than the national average of 0.4% APY.

Like the sound of high-yield account rates?

Then you might also be interested in exploring certificates of deposit (CDs). A CD is a low-risk savings option that can yield interest comparable to, or even higher than, the top savings accounts. The trade-off for this higher rate is that your money stays locked in the account for a set period.

For example, Discover offers CDs with competitive rates and terms ranging from three months to 10 years.

Currently, Discover’s 12-month CD offers a competitive 4.10% APY — significantly above the rate offered many large U.S. banks provide on similar accounts. Plus, Discover CDs have no fees, and there’s no minimum deposit required to get started.

2. You will face unplanned expenses

For workers, an emergency fund doesn’t just safeguard against a job loss. It can also be the ticket to covering surprise expenses without going into debt. And being retired doesn’t make you immune from surprises.

Many retirees face home repairs as their properties age alongside them. Your monthly Social Security check may not be enough to replace a water heater, or cover hospital expenses if you encounter a medical emergency.

If you’re concerned that Medicare might not cover your expenses, there are other insurance options you can consider.

If you’re looking for a policy that will last a lifetime, with a locked-in premium and a cash value that can be tapped into while the policyholder is still alive, a whole life insurance policy from Mutual of Omaha is the right fit for you.

With coverage amounts ranging from $2,000 to $25,000 (in WA, $5,000 to $25,000), you can rest assured that you and your family will always be ready to cover those unexpected expenses.

It only takes five minutes to fill out an online application with your personal and beneficiary information. Once you register, not only will you be guaranteed coverage, but your benefits will never be reduced due to age or health. Plus, no medical exams or health questionnaires are needed to join.

If your health is excellent, you may be able to cover your health care expenses with relative ease. If you have multiple health issues, it’s a good idea to stockpile extra cash in case your bills start to mount at a time when it’s not advantageous to tap your investments.

3. You want to protect yourself from investment losses

You may have the majority of your retirement savings in a portfolio of investments that include stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. The upside of holding these investments in retirement is that they can continue to generate growth, giving you access to more money. The downside is that their value can change based on market conditions.

If you have a riskier portfolio more concentrated in stocks, then you may want more cash on hand to balance that out. If your portfolio is largely bonds, you might get away with less cash, since bonds are less volatile than stocks and can provide predictable interest payments that you can use as income.

If you’re optimizing your investments for stability, gold is typically more stable than stocks during economic downturns and recessions. In fact, gold has increased in value sevenfold over the last 100 years.

These things are especially important for retirement planning. For instance, by opening a gold IRA with the help of American Hartford Gold, you can invest directly in physical precious metals rather than stocks and bonds.

American Hartford Gold is a leading dealer of precious metals, and offers IRAs and direct purchases of precious metals and coins.

You’ll get expert guidance to help you navigate the complexities of setting up and managing your IRA, secure storage with IRS-approved depositories, and flexible investment plans tailored to your goals — plus, transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Sign up now for your free information guide to find out if a gold IRA is the right move for your retirement goals.

How much cash should you aim for in retirement?

Just as there are different opinions when it comes to building an emergency fund for your working years, the guidance varies over how much cash you might need in retirement.

Remember that it’s never a bad idea to speak with a qualified financial advisor.

Based on your expenses, needs, and investment portfolio, services like WiserAdvisor may help you find a financial professional who can strike the ideal balance in your portfolio so you have enough cash on hand without going overboard.

WiserAdvisor is a free service that helps you find a financial advisor who can co-create your financial goals. All it takes is a few minutes to answer some questions about yourself, and WiserAdvisor will provide you with a personalized match of two to three advisors from their database of thousands.

From there, you can book a free, no-obligation consultation to confirm if your match is right for you.

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.

The Social Security system in the United States is in deep trouble.

According to the 2024 Trustees report, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund, which pays benefits to retirees and survivors, could be depleted by 2033, leaving it able to cover only 79% of obligations.

With time running out, experts and lawmakers are divided on solutions, from benefit cuts and raising the retirement age to expanding revenue sources. And U.S. President-elect [Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to cut income taxes]https://moneywise.com/retirement/trump-social-security-taxes-seniors), a move that could drain the program’s funds even faster than forecasted.

Labor economist Teresa Ghilarducci, a renowned thought-leader on U.S. retirement issues, believes there are “many easy fixes” — here’s what she recommends.

Expanding Social Security’s revenue sources

Ghilarducci believes the solution to Social Security’s challenges is simple: bring in more revenue.

“We are past the point where we can fix Social Security by cutting benefits,” she told Bloomberg. “That is a non-starter because the benefits for Social Security are keeping almost all of the people on Social Security… above the poverty level.”

But sitting above the poverty level isn’t exactly the stuff of hallmark cards. If you’re concerned that Social Security might not replace your income and fully support the retirement you want, finding a professional advisor through WiserAdvisor could help you create a stronger bankroll for your golden years.

WiserAdvisor is a free matching service that connects you with a pre-screened financial professional whose expertise is tailored to your goals. Just answer a few questions, and WiserAdvisor will provide a personalized recommendation of two to three advisors.

You can then schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to find the right fit and start building a retirement plan beyond Social Security.

Grow a nest egg to supplement shrinking benefits

Building a solid nest egg is crucial for a secure retirement — especially if you want to rely less on Social Security.

Finance experts like Suze Orman have long touted the idea that by focusing on growing your retirement accounts and diversifying your investments, you can create a stronger financial foundation.

Equally important is having an emergency fund, which can protect your savings from unexpected expenses without jeopardizing your retirement goals.

Contribute to and diversify retirement accounts

In an era of economic uncertainty, securing your financial future may require a more proactive approach than in the past — one that goes further than old age security.

For instance, if you’re optimizing your investments for stability, gold is typically more stable than stocks during economic downturns and recessions. In fact, gold has increased in value sevenfold over the last 100 years.

These things are especially important for retirement planning. For instance, by opening a gold IRA with the help of American Hartford Gold, you can invest directly in physical precious metals rather than stocks and bonds.

American Hartford Gold is a leading dealer of precious metals, and offers IRAs and direct purchases of precious metals and coins.

You’ll get expert guidance to help you navigate the complexities of setting up and managing your IRA, secure storage with IRS-approved depositories, and flexible investment plans tailored to your goals — plus, transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Sign up now for your free information guide to find out if a gold IRA is the right move for your retirement goals.

Make sure you have an emergency fund now and in retirement

While building personal wealth through smart, independent investing has never been more essential, it’s also important not to forget about putting aside an emergency fund — distinct from retirement savings so you don’t have to dip into long-term investments when unexpected expenses arise.

Daunting as it may be to think about, there are ways to manage your investments and your emergency fund in the same place that are less stressful and more hands-off than you would think.

You can check out Moneywise’s Best High Yield Savings Accounts of 2024 to find some savvy savings options that earn you more than the national average of 0.4% APY.

Like the sound of high yield interest rates? Then you might also be interested in exploring certificates of deposit (CDs).

A CD is a low-risk savings option that can yield interest comparable to, or even higher than, the top savings accounts. The trade-off for this higher rate is that your money stays locked in the account for a set period. For example, Discover offers CDs with competitive rates and terms ranging from three months to 10 years.

Currently, Discover’s 12-month CD offers a competitive 4.10% APY — significantly above the rate offered many large U.S. banks provide on similar accounts. Plus, Discover CDs have no fees, and there’s no minimum deposit required to get started.

If you want to invest and save at the same time, Public is a commission-free investing platform where individuals can build diversified portfolios, investing in assets like stocks, ETFs, and crypto — all with community support and real-time insights.

They also offer a high-yield cash account with competitive interest rates on uninvested funds, so that even your cash holdings see more growth over the long term.

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

Following the Federal Reserve’s recent 25-basis-point interest rate cut this month, homebuyers may be feeling a renewed sense of optimism. While lower mortgage rates are anticipated, housing prices may not necessarily follow suit.

However, Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran recently advised on Bloomberg Television that it’s prudent to start house hunting now to avoid increased competition from other buyers who may flood the market if rates continue to decline.

Lower mortgage rates would fuel “tremendous demand,” Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran told Bloomberg Television on Aug. 13. Her advice?

“I would say get out there,” she said. Because if rates continue to plummet, that will “bring everybody out into the market, and what’s going to happen is you’re going to pay more for [a] house.”

The state of the housing market

Consumer prices rose by 0.2% in October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bringing annual inflation to 2.6%, close to the Fed’s 2% target.

On Nov. 7, Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced the second rate cut this year, slashing the benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25%. And on November 12 the rate stayed the course. “Overall, [we’re] feeling good about economic activity,” Powell said during the post-meeting news conference last week.

It’s the kind of news that may give prospective homebuyers pause. If you’re in the market but aren’t sure if now is the right time because of a Fed rate in flux, you can seek advice from professionals through Advisor.com.

They offset the legwork of finding an advisor with their exclusive network of fiduciary advisors who offer personalized strategies.

With Advisor.com, advisors are held to high ethical standards, keeping your best interests front and center.

You’ll receive tailored wealth management services, exclusive investment opportunities, and a dedicated team focused on helping you achieve your financial goals.

While rate cuts may not immediately lower mortgage rates, many experts expect they’ll boost housing demand, which could drive prices up. Freddie Mac noted that high mortgage rates had “led some prospective buyers to step back,” but a drop in rates could spark a “significant surge” in demand, especially from first-time buyers. They forecast home prices to increase by 2.1% in 2024 and 0.6% in 2025.

What can homebuyers do?

The starter home market is “crazy,” says Corcoran. “There’s so much competitive bidding, so much going over the price and so much fear going around because people feel like they can’t get ahead.” That’s why waiting to buy may not deliver the win you want.

“Wait until you see what happens with prices when interest rates come down another percentage point,” she told Bloomberg. If you are considering buying a new home, you need to know your options. Freddie Mac suggests getting mortgage quotes from three to five lenders. This will help you snag the best mortgage rate possible.

Borrowers who received two rate quotes saved up to $600 annually, according to 2023 research from Freddic Mac. That number rose to $1,200 annually for borrowers who visited at least four rate quotes from different lenders.

If you want a quick and efficient way to do this, Mortgage Refinance Center (MRC) can help you quickly compare rates and estimated monthly payments from multiple vetted lenders. All you have to do is enter some basic information about yourself, such as your zip code, your desired property type and price range and annual income.

Based on the information you provide, MRC will show you mortgage offers tailored to your needs so you can shop for a mortgage with confidence.

After you match with a desired lender, you can set up a free, no-obligation consultation to see if you’ve found the right fit.

Alternatives to buying property

Sadly, we don’t all have the money to jump into the housing market at a specific time like when the Fed rate drops. If what Corcoran is hinting at turns out to be true, and lower rates catapult market demand all over again, companies like Cityfunds offer a smart alternative for those hesitant to jump into an overheated housing market.

As a real estate investment platform, Cityfunds allows individuals to invest directly in the future value of owner-occupied homes without needing to buy property outright. As these homes appreciate, your Cityfunds equity investment grows alongside the homeowner’s.

Operating in sought-after major markets like Austin, Dallas, Miami, Tampa, Denver, Phoenix, and Nashville, Cityfunds even offers the potential to invest in homes close to you. With a minimum investment of just $500, you can access the $20 trillion home equity market — bypassing steep home prices, costly mortgages, and the complexities of property ownership.

In a Fed rate-cutting cycle that could drive up demand and make real estate harder to attain, the Arrived Private Credit Fund is another alternative real estate investment that gets you in on the lending side of the building business.

This fund invests in supporting professional real estate projects, such as property renovations, rehabs, and new construction, all secured by residential housing. Loan periods range from 6 to 36 months, and returns are generated through monthly interest payments distributed directly to investors.

With a low minimum investment of $100, the fund has historically yielded 8.1% annualized dividends and aims to deliver 7-9% in cash returns. It features quarterly liquidity, a diversified pool of real estate-backed loans, and monthly dividend payouts, making it an attractive income-focused option with security from real estate collateral.

Determined homebuyers, on the other hand, have two choices: wait and try to time the market, or jump in now, endure short-term challenges, and potentially refinance if rates drop.

If you do end going the refinance route, Mortgage Research Center can also help you shop for a better rate.

Just answer a few quick questions about your current home and loan, and MRC will you show you rates from multiple lenders so you can make a decision with confidence.

For those who can afford it, entering the market before demand spikes might make sense. Rising home prices would build equity, and even if prices stay steady, there’s a better chance of landing a desired home without a buyer frenzy.

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