‘They’ll be rich’: Trump reveals how Americans can build a $465,000 nest egg on $165 a month — with help from Uncle Sam

"In other words, they'll be rich," Trump said. "And there's something awfully nice about that."

The White House offered a similar calculation in its fact sheet, saying a 25-year-old low-income worker who saves around $165 per month and qualifies for roughly $1,000 a year through the Saver's Match could end up with about $465,000 by age 65, assuming a 6% annual rate of return (2). Nearly $155,000 of that total would be attributable to the federal match, according to the administration.

The executive order, signed April 30, directs the Treasury Department to launch TrumpIRA.gov by Jan. 1, 2027, a new federal website where workers can compare "high-quality, low-cost" individual retirement accounts offered by private-sector financial institutions (3). The site is meant to focus on workers who are often left out of traditional workplace retirement plans, including independent contractors, self-employed Americans, part-time workers and employees of small businesses.

The White House says the goal is to give these workers access to simple, portable retirement accounts with low fees — and to make it easier for eligible savers to receive the Federal Saver's Match, which can be worth up to $1,000 a year for single filers and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly.

To qualify for the Saver's Match, single tax filers must earn less than $35,500, while joint filers must earn less than $71,000.

"For millions of Americans who lack employer-sponsored plans, this will be really revolutionary, because they'll be covered," Trump said during the signing, adding that "it only seemed fair."

Still, TrumpIRA.gov won't launch until 2027, and not every worker will qualify for the federal match. That means Americans who want to shore up their retirement savings may want to look at the tools already available — and the assets investors have long relied on to build long-term financial security.

The 'best' move, according to Warren Buffett

Trump's $465,000 example depends on one major assumption: long-term investment growth.

The White House used a 6% annual return in its calculation — a reminder that simply saving money may not be enough to build a meaningful nest egg over decades. Workers also need their money invested in assets that can grow.

For many retirement savers, that starts with stocks. Trump highlighted the market's strength during the signing, saying, "We just hit a new high today on the stock market. The S&P is through the roof."

The benchmark S&P 500 returned 16% in 2025 and has gained roughly 73% over the past five years.

For investors looking to tap into that growth, one of the simplest approaches is gaining broad exposure through an index fund — a strategy long championed by investing legend Warren Buffett.

Buffett has repeatedly argued that for most people, "the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund" (4). By tracking the index, investors gain 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 trading.

The beauty of this approach is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests 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 with a recurring investment, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

For savers focused on retirement, Acorns also offers a 3% IRA match on new contributions during your first year with Acorns Gold.

A golden hedge for your nest egg

Stocks can be one of the most powerful engines for long-term wealth creation — and that's exactly why they show up at the center of so many retirement plans. But even strong markets don't move in a straight line.

After a major run-up, investors may want to think not just about growth, but also about protection. Diversification isn't about predicting the next pullback. It's about making sure your nest egg isn't dependent on one asset class, one market or one economic outcome.

That's where gold often enters the conversation.

According to Ray Dalio, founder of the world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, it's a piece many investors still overlook.

"People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio," he told CNBC last year. "When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier."

Long seen as the ultimate safe haven, gold isn't tied to any single country, currency or economy. It can't be created at will by central banks like fiat money, and in times of economic turmoil, market turbulence or geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to pile in — driving up its value.

Despite a recent pullback, gold prices have surged by more than 40% over the last 12 months.

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.

Turn real estate into retirement income

The $465,000 figure is about accumulation — how much a worker could build by age 65.

But retirement is not just about reaching a number. It's also about turning savings into income.

That's why real estate has long played a role in retirement planning. Rental properties can provide monthly cash flow, while property values have historically trended upward over time. For retirees, that income component can be especially appealing because it can help cover living expenses without relying entirely on selling stocks or drawing down savings.

Directly owning a rental property, however, is not always simple. Landlords have to deal with tenants, repairs, vacancies, property taxes and insurance. One major repair or missed rent payment can quickly change the math.