'Bashing the rich is not what America's about': Kevin O'Leary warned increasing taxes for the wealthy will make the US 'very uncompetitive' — here's what you need to know for your portfolio

Kevin O’Leary, popular TV personality of Shark Tank fame, and a contributor to a number of financial media outlets, holds a different point of view. In a recent interview with Fox News, O’Leary stated that America “reward[s] entrepreneurship,” and that “we reward men and women that take risks to start businesses…and create hundreds of thousands and millions of jobs.”

His view is that the average American should stop bashing billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, as that would be tantamount to punishing them for their success. He asserts they do, in fact, pay their fair share of taxes.

What’s fact and what’s fiction? Here’s the Canadian investor’s take on taxation in the States.

How to optimize your portfolio

O’Leary and others have noted that lowered capital gains tax rates are a good thing. He says entrepreneurs generally “don’t make any money because [they’re] taking it all and putting it into companies to grow them. And we get capital gains. Now, if you don’t like capital gains tax, you want to increase it and become very uncompetitive. Entrepreneurs will take their money somewhere else. And foreign investors will also go somewhere else.”

The U.S. has, for a long time, been one of the best places to invest, largely due to tax policies that favor investors.

Need some guidance before you make your next big market move? Whether you need help figuring out your tax strategy or simply want to mitigate the effects of inflation on your portfolio, consulting a professional can help you make sure you have a plan that equips you to protect the wealth you’re in the process of building.

Advisor.com can help you find the advice you’re looking for by connecting you with the right financial experts who understand your unique situation, and your financial goals for the future.

Their online platform is a streamlined way to find the best advisor for you and your needs. Once you select one of your advisor matches, you can schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your goals and develop strategies to secure your portfolio.

Invest like a billionaire

In the world of real estate, high asset price inflation (and high mortgage rates) have pushed many investors out of this market.

And for most of American history, housing prices have increased at a slightly-higher rate than US inflation. Though, in periods such as the ‘Great Moderation’ (from 1990-2006), housing returns were even greater than stock market returns.

But for those looking to build their wealth like a billionaire (without the up-front capital to do so), the good news is there are plenty of ways to access real estate without forking out the money to buy a property outright.

For instance, Cityfunds is an investment platform that allows average investors access to a portfolio of owner-occupied homes in fast-growing U.S. real estate markets. As the home value appreciates, so does the value of Cityfunds equity investment, alongside the homeowner.

So you can [invest in the housing market of a city you love for as little as $500.

If you are looking to make a larger investment, you aren’t limited to residential real estate investments.

And if you're an accredited investor looking for a larger investment, you aren't limited to residential opportunities.

A report by First National Realty Partners (FNRP) showed that during periods of market stress and downturn, high-quality commercial properties tend to be available at a discounted cost. That renders them an attractive investment for those looking to take advantage of below-market costs.

With FNRP, accredited investors can access institutional and commercial real estate investments – and the entire investment process can be done on their slick platform. You don’t need to do the hefty analysis required to pinpoint the best investment opportunities, FNRP’s team of experts does all the legwork for you.

FNRP offers shares of properties leased by big names like Whole Foods and Walmart — and you can enjoy the potential returns without having to worry about tenant or property management issues.

A luxurious alternative

Mr. Wonderful is no stranger to luxury in the form of collecting and investing in luxury watches. But the price of some of these collectible accessories puts them out of reach for many.

For those who want to invest in tangible assets that can really outperform the stock market over the long-run, consider investing in another asset previously reserved for the top 1%: Fine art.

If you want to gain some exposure to the art world, Masterworks is a top platform for retail and accredited investors to invest in fractional shares of artwork by iconic artists from Banksy to Basquiat. When Masterworks sells a piece you’ve invested in, you get a return from any net proceeds.

Fine art tends to be a solid investment over time as its value remains generally more stable compared to market fluctuations. As calculated by the Masterworks All Art Index, from 1995-2021 contemporary art prices outpaced the S&P 500 by 131%.