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When you think of the top 1% of American earners, the first people who might come to mind are likely well-known investors and entrepreneurs like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates — but it might surprise you to learn that those ultra-wealthy Americans make up just 0.001% of the population.
Landing in the top 10% can be a fairly attainable goal for upwardly mobile Americans. A study published by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) in 2022 found that the average earnings of those in the top 10% were roughly $169,639 in 2021.
Salaries start to jump significantly the closer you get to the top 1%. You’ll start to see dramatic shifts in the top 5%, where the EPI found the average earners significantly increased to $335,891 in 2021, up from $322,349 the year before.
While the income of the top 1% varies, Forbes reported in 2023 that the bracket’s minimum net worth is much higher — a cool $11.1 million. Finding your way into these financial brackets isn’t impossible, especially if you use these three simple money-optimizing tactics.
3. Put your cash to work
If you think of savings as a seed, the best thing you can do to help them grow is to find some solid soil to plant them in.
A certificate of deposit (CD) can be a great place to start. 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.
But which CD and what term should you choose?
With SavingsAccounts.com, you can easily compare CD rates and terms from various banks nationwide, all with real-time data.
With tailored recommendations and clear details on fees, it saves time and helps users make informed decisions.
If you want to make the most of your accessible cash, make sure your everyday bank account is working for you.
For example, SoFi’s checking and savings account can help you make the most of your everyday cash flow. The two-in-one account offers up to 4.20% APY on savings balances and 0.50% on checking account balances.
You can enjoy no-fee overdraft protection, early paycheck deposits, and access to over 55,000 ATMs within the Allpoint network.
Speaking of deposits, sign up now and you can earn a bonus up to $300 for setting up direct deposit.
If you’re still trying to decide where to park your hard-earned cash, don’t just let it sit in a low- or no-interest checking account.
Check out the Moneywise list of Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2024 so you can have a streamlined look at what high-yield savings account is best for your savings to grow over time.
Every little bit counts as you climb your way up the ladder to your preferred wealth bracket.
2. Diversify your portfolio
Now that you’ve made sure your savings are optimized, you can look at your investments.
While you might not have the same resources as investing legends like Warren Buffett or Bill Gates, your wealth status doesn’t have to stop you from building a diversified portfolio and increasing your financial standing.
But how should you diversify?
Automate your saving and investing
If you are just starting to build your portfolio or you just want an easy way to diversify it, there’s a way to build your portfolio without even thinking about it, simply by making your daily purchases.
By creating an account with Acorns, you can open an investment portfolio with pennies. Acorns automatically rounds up the price of each of your purchases on your debit or credit card to the nearest dollar, and [deposits the difference into a smart investment portfolio].
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 and the ability to customize your portfolio by selecting your own stocks.
Sign up now and you can get a $20 bonus investment to help kickstart your investing efforts.
Real estate
Federal Reserve data also shows that the top 1% of Americans hold over $6 trillion in real estate assets.
Real estate has long been considered a solid portfolio hedge, as rent and property values tend to increase with inflation. It’s no surprise that high-net-worth individuals — regardless of their age — see opportunity in this asset.
With the rising popularity of real estate crowdfunding platforms, you can diversify your portfolio with real estate at almost any wealth level.
If you are still a few income brackets from the top 10%, you can invest in real estate without having to pay a high price to buy and manage an investment property
For example, With Arrived, you can add rental properties to your investment portfolio for as little as $100 without needing to do any of the heavy lifting or legwork associated with being a landlord.
Arrived’s easy-to-use platform offers SEC-qualified investments such as rental homes and vacation rentals.
Its 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, like paying for maintenance or securing tenants.
Here’s how it works: You can start by browsing a curated selection of homes, vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, choose the number of shares you want to buy.
If you are a few more rungs up the ladder toward the top 1% and you’ve achieved the title of accredited investor, you may want to consider commercial real estate as part of your expanded portfolio. CBRE, the world’s biggest commercial real estate firm, anticipates a boost to commercial real estate activity and values. They’re expecting a 15-20% increase in transactions.
First National Realty Partners (FNRP) offers accredited investors access to quality retail-anchored real estate investments, without the legwork of finding deals yourself.
The FNRP team has developed relationships with shopping centers and health-care facilities across the U.S., as well as the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods.
They also offer white-glove service for investors, providing key market insights and finding the best properties both on and off-market, while investors can passively collect distribution income.
You can engage with experts, explore available deals and easily make an allocation, all in one personalized secure portal.
1. Work with a professional
Sometimes, accepting that you need help is the first step to getting a hold on your finances or boosting them to a new level — especially if you’re aiming to reach the top 1%.
With Advisor.com, you can find the right financial professional to help you fulfill your wealth goals. It’s a free service that helps you find the right financial advisor for you,by matching you with a small list of the best options for you to choose from.
Set up a free, no-obligation consultation with one of their pre-screened financial advisors today.
If you’re already among the high net worth set, you’ll want to find a financial advisor with the right expertise for handling your portfolio of investments. You might be pleased to learn that you have options outside of typical private banking — including a more personal touch with Arta Finance.
Arta Finance is a digital wealth management service that offers exclusive financial strategies, primarily serving individuals with an array of assets and accredited investors. One of their aims is to democratize access to sophisticated investment strategies traditionally available only to ultra-high-net-worth clients.
Arta Finance provides a range of family office services, including investment in alternative assets, personalized portfolio management, financial planning and tax strategy, all aimed at supporting your long term financial growth.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
