White House economist says ‘massive refund checks’ are coming to Americans in biggest refund cycle in history

Of course, consistently picking winning stocks isn’t easy. That’s why legendary investor Warren Buffett argues that most people don’t need to pick individual companies at all to benefit from the stock market’s long-term growth.

“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund,” Buffett has famously stated (3).

This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.

If you’d like to follow Buffett’s approach, getting started has never been easier.

With investing platforms like Robinhood, you can buy and sell stocks and ETFs — such as an S&P 500 index fund — and trade options commission-free, track your portfolio in real time, and get 24/7 access to customer service.

For those starting small, the app also lets you buy fractional shares for as little as $1, making it easy to build a diversified portfolio without breaking the bank.

The best part? new Robinhood customers can also get a free stock curated from top American companies once you sign up and link your bank account to the app.

Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150B fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)

Build wealth through US real estate

Beyond stocks, real estate has long been another cornerstone of wealth-building in America.

In fact, Buffett often points to real estate when explaining what a productive, income-generating asset looks like. In 2022, Buffett stated that if you offered him “1% of all the apartment houses in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check.” (4)

Why? Because regardless of what’s happening in the broader economy, people still need a place to live and apartments can consistently produce rent money.

Real estate also offers a built-in hedge against inflation. When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts with inflation.

Of course, you don’t need $25 billion — or even to buy a single property outright — to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d want to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

Another option is Mogul, a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 A.M. tenant calls.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. In other words, you gain access to institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.

Each property undergoes a rigorous vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties here.

Let your cash hatch its own income

You don’t need a massive investment portfolio to start building wealth. Even your spare cash — such as a tax refund — can earn income, rather than sitting idle in a low-yield account.

One of the simplest ways to put that money to work is by moving it into an account that actually rewards you. High-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) won’t make you rich overnight, but they do offer a low-risk way to earn interest on money you may need access to at any time.

And the gap can be significant. While the national interest rate average on savings accounts is an APY of 0.39%, online banks can offer you much more competitive returns — in some cases up to 10x more.

You can check out the Moneywise list of the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2025 and find an offer that fits with your savings goal.