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Robert Kiyosaki has a controversial take on debt: you shouldn’t avoid it. Instead, just embrace it.
Garrett Gunderson interviewed Kiyosaki in 2019, and that’s how he said the rich get richer. His stance is pretty unique from the other big name financial gurus.
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Suze Orman emphasizes strict budgeting and frugality, and Dave Ramsey champions a debt-free lifestyle. But Kiyosaki’s perspective is markedly different.
By investing in investments that generate cash flow, while minimizing taxes and tapping into debt, Robert Kiyosaki’s strategy is focused on growing assets rather than cutting costs. Here are 3 of his top tips.
1. Invest for maximum returns and minimize taxes
Kiyosaki suggests prioritizing investments with maximum returns and low tax burdens. That means he opts for alternative assets and specific tax-shielded accounts, like IRAs.
Real estate
In Kiyosaki’s words, “The more debt you have, the more real estate you can buy and the less tax you pay."
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.
However, owning a share of a project or property this way holds some risk — for instance, you could receive no returns and these assets are often illiquid. Speak to a professional if this investment is right for you, especially if you are retired or close to retirement.
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 internal 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 allows 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
Kiyosaki is also a proponent of alternative assets like gold. He openly shares that he owns gold as a hedge against economic downturns.
Unlike fiat currency, the precious metal cannot be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks, and its value is not tied to a single economy or currency. These traits make gold a favored “safe haven” asset, particularly during times of economic uncertainty.
Investors seem to be taking note. So far in 2025, the price of gold has surged, surpassing $3,300 per ounce.
Opting for a gold IRA gives you the opportunity to hedge against market volatility by allowing you to invest directly in physical precious metals rather than stocks and bonds.
If you’d like to convert an existing IRA into a gold IRA, companies typically offer 100% free rollover. Others might offer free gold, silver or other metals up to a certain amount when you make a qualifying purchase.
You can check out the Moneywise list of industry-leading companies offering gold IRAs here.
Compare offers instantly and request a free information guide to help you understand how to diversify your portfolio and secure your retirement fund.
Crypto
Kiyosaki certainly isn’t shy about his love for digital currencies, famously sharing on X that he has lofty aspirations of owning 100 Bitcoin (he currently owns 76.)
Now would be a pretty good time to own all of those coins, given its price has continued to hit all-time-highs above $90,000 in the past few weeks. Though, it’s an inherently volatile investment – and it’s consistently ebbing and flowing. So, you want to be sure you can stomach that level of volatility and risk before investing in crypto like Kiyosaki does.
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 stores bitcoin and 70 other cryptocurrencies.
You can place instant, recurring and limit buys on our 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.
2. Use a team of experts
Another way Kiyosaki differs from other financial commentators is that he argues accountants, tax experts, and even attorneys can be key to minimizing taxes. He unapologetically believes that "If you’re a coward and you’re afraid of the IRS, then you’re middle class and poor."
His advice might rub you the wrong way, but there’s something to be said for seeking a professional’s opinion on your finances. After all, it’s a lot harder to see the forest for the trees when it’s your money.
If you’re unsure which path to take amid today’s market uncertainty, it might be a good time to connect with a financial advisor through Advisor.com.
This online platform connects you with vetted financial advisors best suited to help you develop a plan for your new wealth.
Just answer a few quick questions about yourself and your finances and the platform will match you with an experienced financial professional. You can view their profile, read past client reviews, and schedule an initial consultation for free with no obligation to hire.
You can view advisor profiles, read past client reviews, and schedule an initial consultation for free with no obligation to hire.
3. Don’t be afraid of debt
In an interview with Forbes, Kiyosaki said, “If you’re gonna go into debt to invest in real estate, find the best rate.”
With interest rates falling, finding a better rate should be easier than it was last year. A quick and efficient way to check out the rates available is the Mortgage Research Center (MRC). The platform can help you easily compare rates and estimated monthly payments from multiple vetted lenders.
All you have to do is enter some basic information about yourself, including your ZIP code, desired property type, 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 loan with confidence.
After you match with a desired lender, set up a free, no-obligation consultation to see if you’ve found the right fit.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
