{"id":781642,"date":"2026-05-08T09:25:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T09:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/781642\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T09:25:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T09:25:41","slug":"grant-cardone-retire-without-social-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/781642\/","title":{"rendered":"Grant Cardone: Retire Without Social Security"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Grant <\/p>\n

\n \u00a9Grant Cardone <\/p>\n

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Roughly 69 million Americans receive Social Security benefits every month and for some of those beneficiaries, it\u2019s a lifeline. Among recipients ages 65 and older, 12% of men and 15% of women rely on Social Security for 90% or more of their income, the Social Security Administration<\/a> (SSA) reported.<\/p>\n

However, long-term projections by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget<\/a> show that the Social Security retirement trust fund could be insolvent as soon as 2032. While that doesn\u2019t mean benefits would vanish overnight, it does raise concerns for workers who are years or decades away from retirement.<\/p>\n

That uncertainty is why Grant Cardone, private equity fund manager and real estate investor, said people should focus on building their own retirement income rather than counting on government benefits.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cSocial Security<\/a> is the promise of cash flow \u2014 and if you believe that the government can deliver on that, then you\u2019re more trustworthy than I am,\u201d Cardone told GOBankingRates. \u201cI don\u2019t believe they can deliver on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of relying on Social Security to fund your retirement<\/a>, he recommended creating your own source of long-term cash flow \u2014 here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why Holding Too Much Cash Can Hurt Retirement Savings<\/p>\n

Cardone, who will be hosting the\u00a010X Wealth Conference<\/a>\u00a0in Miami on May 16 and 17, cautioned against keeping large amounts of retirement money<\/a> in cash, particularly during inflationary periods.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs they print more money, real assets become more expensive,\u201d he said. \u201cReal estate<\/a> benefits; cash doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inflation erodes purchasing power over time, meaning money that sits idle may buy less each year \u2014 a serious concern for retirees who could spend 20 or 30 years in retirement.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why Cardone Says Stocks Aren\u2019t Reliable Retirement Income<\/p>\n

Although stocks are often seen as a cornerstone of retirement investing, Cardone does not view them as dependable long-term income sources.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if Palantir, Facebook, Google or Tesla are going to be around in 20 years,\u201d he said. \u201cMost of them will not be here because something\u2019s going to replace them because companies don\u2019t last. The average company today lasts less than 12 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cardone believes that many artificial intelligence (AI) companies \u2014 even those that are currently booming in the market \u2014 will likely disappear by the time someone who is in their 50s now is ready to retire.<\/p>\n

\u201cNinety percent of the AI companies are going to fail \u2014 at least 90%, maybe 98%,\u201d Cardone said.<\/p>\n

Another downside of stocks<\/a>, he noted, is that most do not generate income.<\/p>\n

\u201cStocks don\u2019t cash flow,\u201d Cardone said. \u201cAnd stocks that do cash flow might not be here 30 years from now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why Income-Producing Real Estate Appeals To Retirement Investors<\/p>\n

For Cardone, real estate stands apart as a smart long-term investment because it has historically endured economic shifts and can generate income regardless of short-term market conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cReal estate\u2019s still going to cash flow,\u201d Cardone said.<\/p>\n

Rather than focusing on property values<\/a>, Cardone said retirement investors should pay closer attention to how many income-producing units they own.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re banking on real estate to be your retirement account<\/a> or your entire source of retirement income, it\u2019s really going to be about how many units you have,\u201d Cardone said. \u201cThe most important number in real estate is the number of people who pay you some cash flow.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Biggest Real-World Drawback of Real Estate in Retirement<\/p>\n

Cardone acknowledged that the biggest downside of real estate investing is the burden of property management. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem with real estate is when you\u2019re 80, you don\u2019t want to manage it,\u201d he said. \u201cI mean, even when you\u2019re 28 you don\u2019t want to manage it because it\u2019s a lot of work. It doesn\u2019t matter what age you are \u2014 nobody wants to handle termites and plumbing problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

As a solution, Cardone suggested a partnership structure in which older investors provide capital while younger partners handle daily operations. This approach allows retirees to benefit from real estate income without taking on hands-on responsibilities later in life.<\/p>\n

Why Cardone Believes Real Estate Is the Best Substitute for Social Security Income<\/p>\n

To replace or supplement Social Security income in retirement, you need:<\/p>\n