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Marie Alcober
Updated Jul 15, 2026
If you feel like it's harder to get ahead financially, you're not alone.
37% of Americans can't cover a $400 emergency expense with cash as of 2024, according to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking.
That kind of financial fragility makes it harder to build stability. Whatever your current situation, these five smart moves can help you protect your wallet and build a more resilient financial foundation.
Fundrise Flagship Fund
Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fund
1. Stop wasting money on overpriced car insurance
Car insurance is likely taking a big chunk out of your monthly budget, but it could be keeping you safe for less. Insurance companies tend to pile on confusing add-ons and lingo, which leads you to pay more than necessary.
A platform like Insurify lets you view quotes from top-rated providers in about three minutes, making it easy to see whether you're overpaying for the same coverage.
It's free to use, and drivers who bundle home and auto coverage can save up to 15%. That freed-up cash can go straight into a retirement account.
Just answer a few basic questions, and Insurify will show you the most affordable deals in your area.
2. Invest in real estate
Most of the world’s most successful investors know that investing in real estate is one of the smartest choices for long-term growth. But did you know it is still possible to build your portfolio without having to play landlord or forking over a huge down payment?
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.
Industrial
215 Interchange
Las Vegas, NV Build-for-rent
Pine Ridge
Fountain Inn, SC Build-for-rent
Omnia
Richmond Hill, GAThese are a few examples of properties powering the Fundrise Flagship Fund. For a full list of the Fundrise Flagship Fund's portfolio properties see the Flagship Fund website.
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.
Fundrise Flagship Fund
Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fundAnother option is a platform called Arrived, which makes investing in single-family homes easier and more accessible than ever before.
Backed by billionaire investor Jeff Bezos, Arrived is an online platform that allows you to invest in shares of rental homes and vacation rentals without the hassle of property management for as little as $100.
100% Funded
The Vanzant
Single Family Residential$415K
Invested1,294
Investors 100% Funded
The Smokey
Vacation Rental$983K
Invested1,748
Investors 100% Funded
The SuiteSpot
Vacation Rental$1.2M
Invested1,672
InvestorsThese are a few examples of properties from Arrived. Check out the full list of single family residential homes and vacation rentals currently available.
That means no more dealing with maintenance issues, tenant complaints or operational headaches. Instead, you can enjoy the potential for consistent income and diversify your investment portfolio with minimal effort.
3. Make your cash work harder for you
If you have a lot of cash sitting in your checking account, consider moving it to a high-yield savings account so you can get more bang for your buck.
For example, a Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base APY of 3.30% through program banks, and new clients can get an extra 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total variable APY of 4.05%¹.
That's ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC's March report².
Additionally, Wealthfront is offering new clients who enable direct deposit ($1,000/mo minimum) to their Cash Account and open and fund a new investment account an additional 0.25% APY increase³ with no expiration date or balance limit, meaning your APY could be as high as 4.30%.
With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, you get access to up to $8M FDIC Insurance eligibility through program banks.
With a Certificate of Deposit (CD), you lock in a rate upfront, so your earnings stay fixed for a set term, even if market rates slip.
Before opening a CD — or renewing an existing one — a quick check on this CD APY Checkpoint Tool by CD Valet can help you see whether you're getting a competitive rate.
Their platform tracks over 40,000 verified CD rates from FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions nationwide, making it easy to see how your current rate stacks up against the market. Unlike other websites, they give you a broader and unbiased look at the market, ensuring you have a comprehensive view of your options.
Simply enter your current APY and term length to compare your CD against today's market benchmarks in seconds.
You can also see real-time offers of the best CD rates across the country. Many institutions allow you to open an online account, so you can take advantage of a great CD rate without being located in that state.
Plus, their CD rates are updated continuously, so you can shop, compare and open CDs with ease.
4. Secure your retirement with a gold IRA
Gold has served as a store of value for thousands of years. It isn't tied to any single country, currency, or economy, and it can't be printed like fiat money.
Investors often flock to it during periods of economic stress or geopolitical uncertainty — pushing prices higher. Gold prices have more than doubled over the past five years, hitting multiple record highs along the way and outpacing the S&P 500 over the same period.
Gold prices have more than doubled over the past five years, hitting multiple record highs along the way and outpacing the S&P 500 over the same period.
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.
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. Goldco, for instance, can match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.
If you’re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download a free gold IRA information guide.
5. Automatically invest your spare change
You don’t always have to put away large sums to move toward your financial goals. Ten dollars a week could make a difference – if you’re smart about what to do with your spare change.
When you make a purchase on your credit or debit card, Acorns automatically rounds up the price to the nearest dollar and places the excess — the coins that would wind up in your pocket if you were paying cash — into a smart investment portfolio.
Let’s say you purchase a doughnut for $2.30. Before you’re done licking the sugar off your fingers, Acorns will round the amount to $3.00 and invest the 70-cent difference for you. Look at this math: $2.50 worth of daily round-ups add up to $900 per year — and that’s before your savings earn money in the market.
Plus, if you sign up now, you can get a $20 bonus investment.
More money moves to grow your wealth
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Alternative investing-
Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fundrise Flagship Fund before investing. This and other information can be found in the Fund’s prospectus. Read them carefully before investing. This marketing was vetted by the Moneywise team and sponsored by the Fundrise Flagship Fund.
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The Base Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is 3.30%, as of 01/30/26, and is subject to change. If you are eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the three-month promotional period. The Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront is not a bank. The Base APY is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Wealthfront Brokerage sweeps cash balances to Program Banks, where it earns the variable base APY and is eligible for FDIC insurance. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.
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Based on the national average interest rate for savings accounts as posted on FDIC.gov, as of January 22, 2026.
Marie Alcober
Commercial Content Manager
Marie Alcober is a commercial content manager at Moneywise, where she develops branded and affiliate content that helps readers make smarter money decisions.
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