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Say what you want about President Donald Trump, but one thing is clear: He’s rarely short on ideas.

Case in point — during a visit to Memphis last week, Trump stopped by Graceland, the home-turned-museum of Elvis Presley.

While touring the legendary singer’s mansion, Trump spotted something that caught his attention: a gold-colored Social Security card that once belonged to Elvis.

The tour guide offered some context: “This is Elvis’s Social Security card that we found in his wallet. So, the gold metal Social Security cards were not officially issued by the government, but they were a novelty item that you could actually buy then because the paper ones that people would carry around with them would get messed up.”

Trump appeared intrigued.

“Good idea, maybe we should do that again,” he said while pointing to the card, before adding, “It’s not a bad idea.”

As the guide noted, gold-plated Social Security cards were never government-issued — they were third-party novelty items. While Elvis carried one in his wallet, today the Social Security Administration advises Americans not to carry their cards unless absolutely necessary, noting that in most cases, simply knowing your Social Security number is sufficient (2).

Still, Trump’s off-the-cuff remark highlights an interesting contrast. The idea of a gold Social Security card may evoke durability and prestige. Gold, after all, is prized for its permanence — a metal that doesn’t corrode, tarnish or lose its luster over time.

But the Social Security program itself faces a far less certain future.

A new report from the Congressional Budget Office projects that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund — the program that pays retiree and survivor benefits — will run out of money in 2032 (3).

According to the CBO, that shortfall would trigger a reduction in benefits — with payments dropping by about 7% in 2032, followed by average cuts of roughly 28% annually between 2033 and 2036.

The Social Security Administration Office of the Chief Actuary has also warned that policy changes under Trump could add further strain. In one analysis, it estimated that Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act would increase net OASDI (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) program costs by $168.6 billion between 2025 and 2034 (4).

It’s an alarming backdrop.

While the Social Security Administration has long emphasized that the program was never designed to fully fund retirement, many Americans rely on it heavily. A 2025 study from The Senior Citizens League found that 39% of seniors depend on Social Security for 100% of their income (5).

If benefits are cut once the trust fund runs out of money, that dependence could make life significantly harder for millions of Americans in retirement.

That risk is one reason many Americans look beyond Social Security to protect their financial future. A gold Social Security card may be just a novelty — but the idea behind it taps into something real. When the future of the program looks uncertain, assets known for their durability, like gold, tend to draw renewed attention.

When storm clouds gather over the markets, gold often steps back into the spotlight — and for good reason.

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.

Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, told CNBC last year that “People don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” adding, “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”

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

Other prominent voices see further potential. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon recently said that in this environment, gold can “easily” rise to $10,000 an ounce.

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.

Read More: I’m almost 50 years old and don’t have retirement savings. Is it too late?

Investing in real estate is widely regarded as a robust strategy for retirement planning due to its potential for generating steady, recurring income and capital appreciation over time.

Well-chosen properties can offer a reliable source of rental income, which can be used to cover living expenses in retirement, reducing dependency on traditional retirement savings or Social Security.

At the same time, real estate has proven to be a powerful hedge against inflation. 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.

Over the past ten years, the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by 87%, reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply (6).

Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).

The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today. Mogul is a crowdfunding platform offering an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

It’s a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty 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. In other words, you gain access to institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.

Each property undergoes a rigorous vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties here.

Another option is Lightstone DIRECT, which offers accredited investors access to institutional-quality multifamily and industrial real estate — with a minimum investment of $100,000.

Founded in 1986 by David Lichtenstein, Lightstone Group is one of the largest privately held real estate investment firms in the U.S., with more than $12 billion in assets under management.

Over nearly-four decades, their team has delivered strong, risk-adjusted performance across multiple market cycles — including a 27.6% historical net IRR and a 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004.

With Lightstone DIRECT, you gain access to the same multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital.

Here’s the kicker: Lightstone invests at least 20% of its own capital in every deal — roughly four times the industry average. With skin in the game, the firm ensures its interests are directly aligned with those of its investors.

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DWS News (1); Social Security Administration (2, 4); Congressional Budget Office (3); The Senior Citizens League (5); S&P Global (6)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.