America’s baby boomers are often seen as the lucky generation — those who bought homes before prices soared and benefited from decades of market growth. But "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki warns those golden years may not be so golden after all.
In a recent appearance on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast, Kiyosaki predicted a wave of boomer homelessness — and blamed one institution.
“The reason we have homelessness today is because we have a Federal Reserve bank — it’s a criminal organization,” he said. “Look how homelessness is exploding. People can’t afford homes.”
Born in 1947, Kiyosaki says his generation is especially vulnerable.
“The boomers don’t have enough money to get through inflation. The boomers are going to be homeless all over the place,” he said on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast. “So mark my words, I’m the first of the boomers. We’re going to get wiped out via inflation. Your mommy and daddy may be on the street because inflation is going to wipe out their Social Security.”
The good news? Kiyosaki also shared the assets he believes can stand strong against inflation, money printing, and more.
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Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fund Going for gold
Kiyosaki has long been a vocal advocate for gold. His reasoning is straightforward: “I’m not buying gold because I like gold, I’m buying gold because I don’t trust the Fed,” he said in an interview from 2021.
Indeed, the yellow metal is a natural hedge against inflation — unlike fiat currencies, it can’t be printed at will by central banks. Gold is also widely considered the ultimate safe-haven asset. It’s not tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher.
Kiyosaki has been hoarding the metal.
“I have boxes of gold. I own gold mines,” he revealed.
He’s not alone in this stance. Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, told CNBC earlier this year that “people don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” adding that “when bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
And the market has rewarded gold holders. Over the past 12 months, gold prices have surged by about 70% (6).
One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA.
A gold IRA allows you to directly invest in physical gold or gold-related assets within your retirement portfolio, pairing the tax advantages of an IRA with gold’s track record as a long-term store of value. For investors concerned about inflation or economic instability, it's one way to add a layer of protection to your retirement savings.
There are specific rules around gold IRAs, and some states have different tax structures for the sale of gold and silver. It’s important to choose the right dealer and custodian to help you navigate regulatory and taxation hurdles.
Some companies also offer incentives, such as free IRA rollovers or free precious metals. Priority Gold, for instance, offers up to $10,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.
If you're curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download a free gold and silver information guide.
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Diversify your retirement fund with a precious metals IRA Diversifying with real estate
Gold isn’t the only asset investors turn to during inflationary times. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.
When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.
Kiyosaki is no stranger to this asset class.
“I have always recommended people become entrepreneurs, at least a side hustle and not need job security. Then invest in income-producing real estate, in a crash, which provides steady cash flow,” he said.
Invest in real estate without a mortgage
Today, you don’t need to be as wealthy as Kiyosaki to get started in real estate investing.
For instance, the Fundrise Flagship Fund¹ is a $1 billion private real estate fund that lets you invest in an expertly crafted strategy without needing hundreds of thousands of dollars. You don’t need to be an accredited investor, and you can get started with as little as $10.
With 4,700+ single-family homes and 2,500+ residential units owned by the Fundrise Flagship Fund, you get exposure to institutional-style scale and diversification.
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After you place your first investment, the Fundrise Flagship Fund will work to find and add new assets to your portfolio over time and send you transparent updates along the way.
It only takes a few minutes to sign up now and become a real estate investor today.
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Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fund Another option is Class B real estate, which is an asset class that tends to perform steadily through market cycles, supported by a broad tenant base and sustained demand for quality, affordable space.
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Grand Rapids, MI Another option is fractional real estate investing via a crowdfunding platform such as Mogul.
The real estate investment platform offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits without the need for a $250,000 down payment or 3 A.M. tenant calls.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, you can invest in institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.
These are a few examples of properties from Mogul. Browse available properties on their website.
Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10-12% annually.
Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios.
With numbers like that, it's no wonder that offerings sell out in under three hours — with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
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While gold, real estate and other alternative assets can play an important role in protecting your savings, they’re just a portion of your entire financial puzzle.
Determining the right mix of assets for your portfolio isn’t one-size-fits-all — and a trusted, pre-screened financial advisor can help tailor investment choices to your income, net worth, and long-term goals, where generalized advice often falls short.
According to research by Vanguard, people who work with financial advisors see a 3% increase in net returns. This difference can be substantial over time. For instance, if you start with a $50,000 portfolio, you could potentially retire with an extra $1.3 million after 30 years of professional guidance.
If you have a portfolio of $250,000 or more, platforms like WiserAdvisor can connect you with vetted professionals who specialize in this kind of planning.
Simply answer a few questions about your savings, retirement timeline and overall investment portfolio.
From there, WiserAdvisor reviews its network to match you — for free — with up to three vetted, reputable advisors aligned with your specific needs.
You can then schedule no-obligation consultations with your matches to determine who is the best fit for your long-term goals.
A well-diversified portfolio could help you stabilize your retirement regardless of the shifting dynamics of individual asset classes.
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Get matched with 2 or 3 experts based on your needs WiserAdvisor is a matching service and does not provide financial advice directly. All matched advisors are third parties, and specific financial results are not guaranteed.
If you prefer a hands-off, digital approach to building wealth, Vanguard Digital Advisor puts the investing expertise of one of the world’s largest asset managers right at your fingertips.
It takes the guesswork out of investing by building a personalized portfolio for you using Vanguard’s well-known low-cost ETFs and mutual funds — then keeps things running smoothly with automatic rebalancing.
The platform also offers guidance on saving for retirement and lets you set additional goals as your life evolves.
It can even help you think through debt repayment strategies, potentially freeing up more cash to invest toward your long-term plans.
With a minimum investment of just $100, it’s an easy way to get started with professionally guided investing.
For every $10,000 in an all-index portfolio, you'll pay approximately $15 to $16 per year².
You can even test-drive the Vanguard experience with no advisory fees for the first 90 days.
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