‘Quit saving your money’: Prolific investor Grant Cardone said only 1 thing will bring you real wealth — and it's not your job or being cheap. Here's what it is and how to do it

Moneywise
‘Quit saving your money’: Prolific investor Grant Cardone said only 1 thing will bring you real wealth — and it's not your job or being cheap. Here's what it is and how to do it
‘Quit saving your money’: Prolific investor Grant Cardone said only 1 thing will bring you real wealth — and it's not your job or being cheap. Here's what it is and how to do it

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Real estate investment guru Grant Cardone said Americans should “quit saving” if they want to build true wealth.

Cardone, a prolific real estate investor, shared his two cents on X, formerly known as Twitter: “That full-time job won’t bring you wealth. Saving, saving, saving won’t bring you wealth. Overspending won’t bring you wealth. Being scared won’t bring you wealth.”

There’s only one thing that will help you build real wealth “beyond millions of dollars,”  according to Cardone. He believes you need to invest.

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Cardone claimed there are “asset classes out there where you can never lose your money” — like real estate — that generate cash flow and appreciate in value over time.

That advice comes as no surprise given that Cardone built a real estate empire — which he says contains almost 8,000 units of cash-flow-producing real estate, worth more than $4 billion — from scratch.

As with all personal finance advice, ultimately, what works best for you comes down to your personal needs and circumstances. Browsing our list of the Best Real Estate Investments of 2024 is definitely a good place to start.

If you're hoping to emulate Cardone’s success, here are four ways you can invest in real estate without needing heaps of cash to get started.

Necessity-based real estate investing

It’s right there in the name — necessity-based real estate means these properties serve a necessary function. Whether it's healthcare facilities, family housing or grocery stores, these types of properties remain in demand because they’re always needed regardless of the circumstances.

With private equity firm First National Realty Partners,* the lucrative potential of necessity-based commercial real estate is accessible.

With FNRP’s platform, accredited investors can invest in institutional-quality, grocery-anchored real estate investments* without the leg work of finding deals on their own.

Since the investments are necessity-based, they tend to perform well during times of economic volatility. And, of course, it won’t be your job to deal with tenant complaints and maintenance issues.

All you have to do to get started is fill in some information about yourself, your income and investment goals and you can start building your wealth.*

REITs

Investing in a real estate investment trust (REIT) is a way to profit from the real estate market without having to buy physical real estate or worry about landlord duties like screening tenants, fixing damages and chasing down late payments.

REITs are publicly traded companies that own income-producing real estate like apartment buildings, shopping centers and office towers. They collect rent from tenants and pass that rent to shareholders in the form of regular dividend payments.

Generally, REITs are described as high-return investments that provide solid dividends and the potential for moderate, long-term capital appreciation.

And as REITs are publicly traded, you can buy or sell shares any time and your investment can be as little or as large as you want — unlike buying a house, which usually requires a hefty down payment followed by a mortgage.

With RealtyMogul* accredited investors can invest in real estate without paying for a property in full in the form of REITs. Investors can sort through professionally-vetted real estate opportunities* and review information about their performance history before deciding where they want to put their money.

RealtyMogul’s innovative technology allows investors to do everything online — from investment screening to signing legal documents and tracking your investment’s performance.

Everything you need to keep an eye on your portfolio is available on your personal online dashboard, so you can reap the benefits of commercial real estate investing without the hassle of day-to-day property management.

Real Estate ETFs

If you’re looking for an easy way to invest in real estate without having to pick and choose which stocks to buy and sell, consider exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Think of an ETF as a diversified portfolio of stocks.

As the name suggests, ETFs trade on major exchanges, making them convenient to buy and sell. Some ETFs passively track an index, while others are actively managed. They all charge a fee — referred to as the management expense ratio — in exchange for managing the fund.

If you’re interested in getting in the world of ETFs, Robinhood* — a commission-free investment app — lets you buy and sell stocks, options, ETFs and cryptocurrencies at no account minimum.

They offer a wide range of account types depending on what works best for you, and you can invest in ETFs starting with just $1.*

Robinhood makes it easy to put your money to invest in ETFs. With features like automatic investing, in-app investing guides and 24/7 access to their customer service team, you’re well-equipped to begin diversifying your portfolio and building up your bank account.

Not sure where to start with ETFs or other real estate investments? Contacting a professional through WiserAdivsor* is a surefire way to ensure your investment plan is on the right track.

WiserAdvisor’s online platform connects you to vetted financial advisors. After filling in some information about yourself and your finances, WiserAdvisor matches you with two to three FINRA/SEC registered financial advisers* who are best suited to help you with your financial goals.

With no obligation to hire, you can chat with a pro and see if they’re the right fit to guide you on your wealth-building journey.

Read more: This Pennsylvania trio bought a $100K abandoned school and turned it into a 31-unit apartment building — how to invest in real estate without all the heavy lifting

Crowdfunding platforms

The crowdfunding process — which was championed by Cardone — allows everyday investors to pool their money to purchase property (or a share of property) as a group.

Through a crowdfunding platform, you can buy a percentage of physical real estate, including rental properties to commercial properties. You can even buy a stake in digital real estate.

Some options are targeted at accredited investors, sometimes with higher minimum investments that can reach tens of thousands of dollars.

On the other hand, there are also platforms like Ark7 and Fundrise which allow non-accredited investors to invest in real estate without breaking the bank.

Ark7 is a fractional real estate investment platform and app where you can invest in shares of single and multi-family rental units that have a high yield.

When you create your account, you can browse. Ark7’s available properties and learn about their share price, monthly rent amount, total target return, neighborhood information and more.

With a low minimum investment requirement of just $20, you can start investing in rental properties that drive return and save yourself the hassle of day to day property management.

Fundrise also gives non-accredited investors a taste of real estate through REITs.

Through their platform you’re essentially crowdfunding the purchase of properties all over the country, from commercial developments to residential buildings.

You can get started with just $10 and after you place your first investment, Fundrise will work to find and add new assets to your portfolio over time. This means no additional work is required on your end to ensure your portfolio’s diversity.

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

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