Robert Kiyosaki <\/p>\n
Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki has a sobering take on one of today\u2019s hottest trends: artificial intelligence (AI).<\/p>\n
\u201cBIGGEST CHANGE in MODERN HISTORY,\u201d he declared in an X post on July 1. \u201cAI will cause many \u2018smart students\u2019 to lose their jobs. AI will cause massive unemployment. Many still have student loan debt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kiyosaki isn\u2019t alone in sounding the alarm. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic \u2014 the AI company behind the large language model Claude \u2014 recently warned<\/a> that AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs and push the unemployment rate as high as 20%.<\/p>\n But Kiyosaki isn\u2019t worried about himself, quipping, \u201cAI cannot fire me because I do not have a job.\u201d<\/p>\n He went on to describe his own philosophy, recalling the contrasting advice he received from his poor dad and his rich dad.<\/p>\n \u201cYears ago, rather than listen to my poor dad\u2019s advice of \u2018Go to school, get good grades, get a job, pay taxes, get out of debt, save money, and invest in a well diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds,\u2019 I followed my rich dad\u2019s advice. I became an entrepreneur, investing in real estate, using debt, and instead of saving fake money, I have been saving real gold, silver, and today Bitcoin,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a closer look at these suggestions.<\/p>\n Kiyosaki\u2019s story about rejecting his poor dad\u2019s advice and following his rich dad\u2019s instead highlights a simple choice: Rather than getting a traditional job, he became an entrepreneur and started investing in real estate \u2014 an asset known for generating passive income.<\/p>\n Once you build a reliable stream of passive income, you can worry less about AI replacing your job because you no longer rely solely on a paycheck.<\/p>\n Kiyosaki has frequently emphasized the importance of this approach. \u201cI 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,\u201d he wrote in an X post on May 19.<\/p>\n Real estate has long been a favored asset for income-focused investors. While stock markets can swing wildly on headlines, high-quality properties often continue to generate stable rental income.<\/p>\n Perhaps that\u2019s why Kiyosaki once disclosed he owns 15,000 houses during an interview with personal finance YouTuber Sharan Hegde \u2014 strictly for investment purposes.<\/p>\n Today, you don\u2019t need to be as wealthy as Kiyosaki to get started in real estate investing.<\/p>\n Investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) offers a hands-off, affordable approach for everyday investors.<\/p>\n You can buy and sell REITs on the stock market through a self-directed online trading platform like CIBC Investor\u2019s Edge<\/a>, where you\u2019ll pay low commissions on trades and have no or minimal account maintenance charges, depending on the size of your portfolio.<\/p>\n Get 100 free online equity trades<\/a> when you open a CIBC Investor\u2019s Edge account using promo code EDGE100\u2020. Offer ends September 30, 2025.<\/p>\n Kiyosaki didn\u2019t mince words about his disdain for fiat currency, stating that he saves in \u201creal gold and silver\u201d instead of what he calls \u201cfake money.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s no surprise \u2014 the famed author has been advocating for precious metals for decades.<\/p>\n In October 2023, he predicted on X: \u201cGold will soon break through US$2,100 and then take off. You will wish you had bought gold below US$2,000. Next stop, gold US$3,700.\u201d<\/p>\n Prices surged in 2024 and have continued to climb through 2025, surpassing C$4,700 per ounce in late August. Reporting by JPMorgan Chase <\/a> suggests that gold could strike a high of C$5,500 per ounce by the second quarter of 2026, if current trends continue.<\/p>\n Amid growing market uncertainty, Kiyosaki now believes a crash is imminent, and he is betting on precious metals, among others, to come out on top.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been buying real gold, silver, and Bitcoin\u2026. Oil, and cattle\u2026.for years\u2026.Because I plan on getting richer during the coming crash and next Great Depression,\u201d he wrote in a post on X on Aug. 7.<\/p>\n Gold has long been viewed as a safe-haven investment. It\u2019s not tied to any one country, currency or economy. It can\u2019t be printed out of thin air like fiat money, and investors tend to pile in during times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty \u2014 driving up its value.<\/p>\n Getting some skin in the precious metals game isn\u2019t solely reserved for the Kiyosaki-level rich. With CIBC Investor\u2019s Edge, you have the opportunity to invest in precious metals<\/a> like gold and silver without the worry of storing and protecting actual bars of them \u2014 or managing their mines.<\/p>\n CIBC Investor\u2019s Edge offers these investments in the form of gold and silver e-certificates that you can use to top up your savings<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kiyosaki said he also saves in Bitcoin \u2014 no surprise, given that he has long been a vocal supporter of the world\u2019s largest cryptocurrency.<\/p>\n He recently described Bitcoin as \u201cpeople\u2019s money\u201d and predicted it could soar to \u201cUS$500K to US$1 million.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s not alone in that view. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey said in May 2024 that Bitcoin could hit \u201cat least\u201d US$1 million by 2030 \u2014 and possibly go even higher.<\/p>\n The recent strides in the crypto industry \u2014 such as the passing of the GENIUS Act and President Trump paving the way for inclusion of crypto in retirement accounts \u2014 propelled Bitcoin to hit an all-time high of just over US$120,000 on Aug. 13.<\/p>\n For those looking to hop on the Bitcoin bandwagon, new crypto platforms<\/a> have made it easier for everyday investors.<\/p>\n For example, Wealthsimple Crypto<\/a> \u2014Canada\u2019s first regulated crypto platform \u2014 is a beginner-friendly platform where you can trade 100+ cryptocurrencies, stake coins for rewards, and swap crypto to save on fees.<\/p>\n Plus, you can get a $25 cash bonus when you open and fund your first Wealthsimple account<\/a> through this page and fund with at least a $1 within 30 days. T&Cs apply.<\/p>\n While building passive income streams can help you prepare for the \u201cbiggest change\u201d Kiyosaki warns about, it\u2019s just as crucial to understand where your money goes each month. Try tracking all your expenses for 30 days, then sort them into two categories: necessities \u2014 like rent, groceries, utilities and health care \u2014 and discretionary spending, such as dining out, entertainment, shopping and hobbies.<\/p>\n You can use Monarch Money<\/a> to both build and follow your budget to ensure you\u2019re staying on track.<\/p>\n Within the Monarch Money app you have the option to choose either Category or Flex budgeting<\/a> depending on your preference. The first involves assigning an amount of money to specific spending categories, and the second works by tracking your spending in flexible categories each month.<\/p>\n Whichever is best for you, Monarch Money keeps budgeting simple so you spend with intent.<\/p>\n This breakdown gives you a clear picture of your spending habits and helps identify areas where you can cut back. But trimming waste isn\u2019t just about skipping lattes or takeout.<\/p>\n Even in essential categories, you may be spending more than you need to. The good news? With a bit of research, those costs can often be significantly reduced.<\/p>\n For instance, car insurance is a major recurring expense, and many people overpay without realizing it.<\/p>\n YouSet<\/a> can help you find the most affordable car insurance based on your financial situation and needs, so you aren’t wasting precious money every month.<\/p>\n All you need to do is provide some information about yourself and your car and YouSet will provide you with a list of policies from multiple insurance providers<\/a> to compare and choose from, saving you time and ensuring you get the best deal available.<\/p>\n \u2014 with files from Em Norton<\/p>\n