Grant Cardone/Youtube
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The top 1% of earners in America hold more wealth than the entire middle class combined. Grant Cardone believes it’s time to change that.
In December, Cardone posted, “America should have the wealthiest middle class in the world, bar none!” Expanding on this in a blog post, he urged Americans: “Don’t be grateful for the middle class – be in a hurry to get out of it.”
Cardone argues that the middle class shouldn’t exist. According to him, this demographic, which makes up the majority of American households, has been lulled into complacency by a “myth” designed to keep people satisfied with less.
Cardone claims to offer a way out of the paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle.
Here’s a breakdown of his advice — and practical ways to act on it.
Cardone’s first piece of advice: Stop saving and start investing. He calls out the common adage, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” declaring that a penny saved is just that — one penny that will never grow. Investments, on the other hand, can multiply your wealth.
The good news is you can put those pennies to work with Acorns, an investing platform that does the hard work of research and investment selection for you.
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 into a smart investment portfolio. This way, even the most essential spending translates to money saved for the future.
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With that potential of a greater reward, though, also comes a greater risk. And you should be prepared to part ways with your money for at least five years before investing it.
Cardone also challenges the traditional advice to never “put all your eggs in one basket.” He dubs this a myth, claiming that “the wealthy don’t diversify; they have big investments in small numbers of things.”
But investing in “a small number of things” is still diversification. And it can absolutely be powerful if done strategically.
According to Capgemini’s World Wealth Report for 2024, High-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are increasingly diversifying into alternative investments. Allocations into this asset group have risen from 13% to 15% since 2013 – which is a significant increase when considering HNWIs have portfolio sizes in the millions.
Alternative assets refer to investments that aren’t usually included in a traditional portfolio of stocks and bonds. These could include digital currencies, real estate, art, or commodities. Here are two popular options:
Gold remains a safe haven asset because it tends to perform well during market downturns. For example, during the 2008 financial crisis and the onset of the pandemic, gold prices soared.
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, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $10,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.
Read more: Nervous about the stock market? Gain potential quarterly income through this $1B private real estate fund — even if you’re not a millionaire. Here’s how to get started with as little as $10
Real estate also plays a key role in wealthy Americans’ portfolios. The World Wealth Report revealed that, as of January 2024, the average HNWI portfolio invested 19% in real estate, up by 4% from the previous year.
Not all real estate investments are created equal, though. In Cardone’s book, How to Create Wealth Investing in Real Estate, he emphasizes the importance of calculated risk-taking. The conditions have to be ripe for it to be a wise, fruitful investment.
If you’re an accredited investor looking for real estate opportunities, another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which targets necessity-based commercial real estate.
The platform lets accredited investors [own a share of institutional-quality properties] leased by national brands like Whole Foods, CVS, Kroger and Walmart. Investors have the opportunity to collect stable, grocery store-anchored income every quarter.
As a private equity firm, FNRP acts as the deal leader and offers white-glove service to investors, providing expertise and doing the deal legwork. While the FNRP team takes care of sourcing new deals, you can engage with experts, explore available deals and easily make an allocation, all on FNRP’s secure platform.
To truly accelerate your net worth, consider getting expert guidance across all areas of your wealth. That’s where the trusted team of financial planners at Range can come in.
For high-earning professionals or households making over $200,000, Range offers a smart, streamlined way to manage your full financial life — especially your real estate investments.
Through a strategic partnership with Engineered Tax Services, Range members receive free cost segmentation analysis and discounted cost segmentation studies. Range advisors will then use the study as part of a member’s tax planning and strategy.
Cost segmentation shortens depreciation timelines — from the standard 27.5–39 years down to just 5–15 years—allowing you to claim significantly larger tax deductions sooner and keep more money in your pocket. Note that only investment properties qualify for segmentation studies.
Range also delivers proactive advice across your entire financial life — not just real estate or taxes
From stock options and tax strategies to real estate and big-picture planning, Range integrates it all under one roof. With a transparent, flat annual fee — no hidden costs or percentage-of-assets surprises — you get AI-powered insights and comprehensive guidance designed to scale with your wealth.
Another common thread among the wealthy? They don’t go it alone.
Northwestern’s 2023 Planning & Progress Study found that 70% of wealthy Americans work with professional financial advisors.
Cardone argues that developing a strategy to get out of the middle class is especially challenging if you’re surrounded by middle-class mindsets.
This is where a qualified financial advisor can come in handy.
Advisor.com connects you with vetted fiduciary financial advisors near you. All you have to do is answer a few simple questions about your finances, and Adivsor.com matches you with a short list of certified experts to choose from.
You can then set up an introductory meeting with no obligation to hire.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.