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As sage billionaires go, BlackRock chairman and CEO Larry Fink belongs in the same rarefied air as Warren Buffett.
And while he probably stopped worrying about his own nest egg a long time ago, as Fink’s firm hit a record $11.6 trillion in assets under management in Q4 of 2024, he has a warning for his peers without substantial retirement savings in the bank.
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"Record government deficits and tighter bank lending means people, companies, and countries will increasingly turn to markets to finance their retirements, their business, and their economies," he said in the Q3 earnings call.
While Fink recently told a crowd assembled for the conference hosted by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association that it “doesn’t matter” who won the election and that he remains bullish on the market, less optimistic investors may be worried about their funds in retirement and the future of Social Security with Donald Trump beginning his second term.
Here’s what you need to know now to build a strong nest egg for whatever the future may bring.
Building on the ‘fantastic foundation’ of Social Security
"Social Security is a fantastic foundation for retirement," Fink said in an interview with Bloomberg last March. "But if that’s all you have when you retire, you’re going to be living below the poverty line. It’s supplemental but it’s not meant to be the totality of what you have in retirement."
As of April 2025, the average monthly benefit for retirees is $1,976, or under $24,000 a year, according to the Social Security Administration. The maximum benefit for an individual retiring at age 70 in 2025 is $5,108 per month or $61,296 a year.
Planning for retirement isn’t easy, and it’s natural to have lots of questions about how much you should save per month, and how to ensure you have a healthy income after you leave your career behind. If you want expert advice on planning your retirement, seeking a financial advisor is a smart first step.
Finding a financial advisor that suits your specific needs and financial goals is simple with Vanguard.
Vanguard’s hybrid advisory system combines advice from professional advisers and automated portfolio management to make sure your investments are working to achieve your financial goals.
With a minimum portfolio size of $50,000, this service is best for clients who already have a nest egg built and would like to try to grow their wealth with a variety of different investments. All you have to do is set up a consultation with a Vanguard advisor, and they will help you set a tailored plan and stick to it.
Social Security likely won’t come close to covering your needs in retirement. In order to live the retirement you want, you’ll need to save up a separate nest egg to supplement your benefits. One of the ways you can do that is by consistently contributing to a retirement account like a 401K or IRA.
Diversify your IRA
With the inconsistent performance of the markets in the last few years, many of those close to retirement may be worried about putting their hard-earned dollars into stocks and bonds.
However, alternative assets can help you reduce your reliance on the stock market to grow your retirement fund.
Gold
A traditional hedge against inflation is gold. Unlike fiat currencies, the precious metal can’t be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks. And because its value isn’t tied to any one currency or economy, gold could provide protection during periods of economic uncertainty. This unique characteristic has earned it the reputation of being a “safe haven” asset.
In 2024, gold has lived up to its reputation, soaring by over 25% and surpassing $2,600 per ounce.
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
Real estate
Many Americans consider buying investment properties for income in retirement, but the current market — plus the work associated with finding and managing tenants — may make buying property less appealing.
Several real estate crowdfunding platforms are currently stripping out the management and admin that’s usually required when you invest in real estate.
If you are an accredited investor looking to make a larger allocation in this sector, commercial real estate investments might be worth looking into. U.S. commercial properties typically deliver 4%-6% returns annually, while residential returns generate 1.5%-3% returns per annum.
For years, direct access to the $22.5 trillion commercial real estate sector has been limited to a select group of elite investors — until now.
First National Realty Partners (FNRP) 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.
You can also tap into this market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.
Backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.
To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.
Invest as you spend to save for your future
"We need to really educate our citizens about the need for savings," said Fink — though not via vanilla bank accounts. Investing, he stressed, allows people to take advantage of capital markets and compounding.
Thankfully, there are ways to invest for retirement no matter the size of your income or portfolio, so you don’t need to be reliant on Social Security benefits alone.
If you want to boost your nest egg over time without having to think about it, you can use Acorns to start saving and investing for retirement with just your spare change.
When you make a purchase on your credit or debit card, Acorns automatically rounds up the price to the nearest dollar and places the excess into a smart investment portfolio. This way, even the most essential spending translates to money saved for the future.
For those looking to enhance their investing strategy as well, Acorns offers different tier memberships, including a gold tier that allows you to customize your portfolio by adding individual stocks and includes a retirement account with a 3% IRA match.
If you sign up for Acorns today, you can get a $20 bonus investment.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
