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For years, some of the most lucrative corners of the investment world were effectively off limits to ordinary Americans.
But according to best-selling author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins, that longstanding divide may soon close.
In a recent appearance at Iced coffee hour podcast, Robbins points to a recently passed House bill that he says could open the door to investment strategies once reserved for the country’s “very wealthy.”
“Did you see what was passed in Congress two days ago? It’s really important,” said Robbins (1), the Capital Formation (INVEST) Act, which was passed in December 2025 (2), encouraging new enterprise and economic strength.
One of the most consequential changes, Robbins argued, is who is allowed to invest in the private markets.
“It used to have a minimum net worth or minimum income that you had to have,” he said (1). “They just changed the rules … all you have to do is take the test.”
Under current securities law, access to many private investments is limited to accredited investors—a designation that generally requires an annual income of at least $1 million (excluding primary residence) or above $200,000 for individuals, or $300,000 for couples (3).
Those thresholds have historically restricted participation in private equity, venture capital and other alternative investments to institutions and high-net-worth households.
The Investment Act includes a provision entitled “Equal Opportunity for All Investors”, which aims to update that framework.
Instead of qualifying only through assets or income, the bill would allow investors to be accredited by passing an exam approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission — potentially expanding access to millions of Americans.
Why does Robbins see access to private markets as such a big deal? Long-term returns.
“So far, let’s say you put money in the S&P 500 … so over the last 36 years, it’s gotten about a 9.5% return. [annually] with time. If you had $1 million that you set aside and you wake up after 36 years, it’s $26 million,” he said (1).
“Private equity has compounded … basic private equity, not like the big ones, 15.5% – so about 50% faster per year. What does that mean? The same $1 million. Instead of being worth $26 million, it’s worth $142 million”
Robbins did not cite sources for those return figures, but some research suggests that over the long haul, private equity has outperformed the S&P 500—albeit with less liquidity (4).
Ultimately, Robbins praised the broader idea behind the change, arguing that allowing more Americans to invest in private businesses would help level the playing field.
“I prefer to focus on what people can benefit from if they really want to grow at the same rate as anyone else who is very wealthy,” he said (1).
“Because the rich had it specifically for them. You couldn’t get into it before — but that’s changing. And I think that’s one of the good things Congress is doing.”
To be sure, nothing is set in stone.
The Investment Act still needs to clear the Senate and it remains unclear when a vote will take place — or whether lawmakers will approve the bill in its current form.
Still, Robbins emphasized a broader point that resonates regardless of the bill’s final outcome: Public markets show only one aspect of how wealth is created. Many of today’s largest and most successful companies have been privately held for years, growing behind the scenes and building incredible value long before the IPO bell rang.
Venture capital is where early bets are placed on future giants. But, for decades, venture capital has been one of the few tables left in finance where retail investors can’t get a seat.
Fundrise finally disrupted that dynamic a few years ago by launching a venture capital product with two goals. One: Build a portfolio of the world’s most valuable private tech companies. Two: Make it available to as many people as possible, with investments starting at just $10.
Today, Fundrise manages billions of dollars in private market assets and their venture capital product is designed specifically for investors who want to get in early on transformative technologies like AI.
Check out their venture portfolio today and start investing in minutes.
Read more: Approaching retirement with no savings? Fear not, you are not alone. Here are 6 easy ways you can catch up (and fast).
To explain his investment philosophy, Robbins recalled a conversation he had with Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund.
Robbins said he asked Dalio a simple question: What is the most important investment principle you can teach another person?
“Tony, you have to understand that all investments are risk-reward,” Dalio replied. “So the more you can reduce your risk but get the upside reward, that’s great. But there’s only one way to do it consistently without luck.”
Dalio’s answer, Robbins said, is what he calls the “holy grail” of investing: diversification into virtually unrelated assets.
“If you have eight to 12 unrelated investments … you reduce your risk by 80% and you gradually increase your upside. You have no loss in upside,” Robbins recalled Dalio saying.
The idea resonated enough that Robbins eventually decided to write a book focusing on that theory. Still, he admits that putting it into practice has become more challenging over time, because “so many things today are aligned to markets.”
Good news? Dalio continues to emphasize the importance of one particular diversification in building a flexible portfolio — one asset that still stands out: gold.
“People don’t have enough gold in their portfolios,” he told CNBC last year. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversification.”
Long seen as the ultimate safe haven, gold is not tied to any one country, currency or economy. It cannot be printed out of thin air like fiat money and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors flock to it, driving up its value.
The price of gold has increased by more than 60 percent in the last 12 months.
One way to invest in gold that also offers significant tax benefits is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, combining 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 getting up to $20,000 in free metals on qualified purchases.
Prominent investors like Dalio often stress the importance of diversity—and for good reason. Many traditional assets move in tandem, especially during periods of market stress.
That message feels especially relevant today. About 40% of the S&P 500’s weighting is concentrated in its ten largest stocks, and the index’s CAPE ratio hasn’t been this high since the dot-com boom.
This is where, for many investors, alternative assets come into play. This can include everything from real estate and precious metals to private equity and collectibles.
But there’s one store of value that routinely flies under the radar: It’s rare by design, universally coveted and frequently locked up by institutions.
We’re talking about postwar and contemporary art — a category that has led the S&P 500 with a low correlation since 1995.
It’s easy to see why art pieces often fetch new heights at auction: the supply of great works of art is limited and many desirable pieces have already been snapped up by museums and collectors. That scarcity can also make art an attractive option for investors looking to diversify and preserve it over the long term.
Until recently, buying art has been a domain reserved for the ultra-rich – as in 2022 when an art collection owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sold at Christie’s New York for $1.5 billion, making it the most valuable collection in auction history (5).
Now, Masterworks – a platform for investing in shares of blue-chip artworks by renowned artists including Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Banksy – can help you get started with this asset class. It’s easy to use and, with 25 successful exits to date, Masterworks has distributed over $65 million in gross proceeds (including principal).
Just browse their impressive portfolio of images and choose how many shares you want to buy. Masterworks can handle all the details, making high-end art investments both accessible and effortless.
New offers sell out in minutes, but you can leave their waiting list here.
Note that past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investment involves risk. See the disclosure of Reg A at masterworks.com/cd.
We rely only on vetted sources and reliable third-party reporting. For details, see our Editorial ethics and guidelines.
Iced Coffee Hour (1); Congress (2); US Securities and Exchange Commission (3); McKinsey & Company (4); Christy (5)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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