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Robert Kiyosaki is sounding the alarm again — and this time, his warning hits close to home for millions of American boomers approaching or already in retirement.
The Rich Dad Poor Dad author recently warned on X that the "Everything Bubble" is bursting and that 2026 could bring what he called "the greatest depression in world history" (1).
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"You don't have to be a victim," Kiyosaki wrote, arguing that even as bubbles burst and the world economy crashes, people can still position themselves to be "a financial winner."
He pointed to economic stress in major global markets "from Dubai to Vegas, from Tokyo to New York City," warning that homelessness could spread globally if conditions deteriorate.
But Kiyosaki's warning goes beyond a broad market crash. In a separate post, he revived one of his long-running concerns: what he calls the "Baby Boomer Retirement Disaster" (2).
"In 2026 millions of Boomers will be out of work in trouble financially….many homeless," he wrote.
Kiyosaki said he saw the crisis coming as far back as 1974 — a pivotal year for America's retirement system.
That year, Congress passed the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which was designed to protect workers' pensions. But over time, many employers moved away from traditional defined-benefit plans, which promised retirees a fixed income for life, toward defined-contribution plans such as 401(k)s, leaving workers with more responsibility for funding their own retirements. IRAs were also introduced as a new savings vehicle for individual workers.
In other words, the retirement burden has increasingly shifted from employers to workers — and that shift helps explain why Kiyosaki believes many boomers could be especially vulnerable if a major downturn hits.
What Kiyosaki likes for protection
Kiyosaki's preferred playbook has been consistent for years.
"For years I have recommended real gold, silver, Bitcoin, and Ethereum as your foundation for your financial future," he wrote.
His affection for precious metals stems partly from his deep distrust of the fiat currency system. As he put it in a 2021 interview: "I'm not buying gold because I like gold, I'm buying gold because I don't trust the Fed" (3).
That's indeed the broader appeal of precious metals for many investors. Unlike fiat currencies, gold and silver can't be printed at will by central banks, which is why they're often viewed as potential hedges against inflation and currency debasement. Gold, in particular, is widely treated as a safe-haven asset because it isn't tied to any one company, government or economy.
Kiyosaki has also said he owns the metal directly.
"I have boxes of gold. I own gold mines," he revealed in a 2025 interview (4).
And the market has rewarded gold holders. Despite a recent pullback, gold prices have surged by more than 40% over the past 12 months.
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, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an option for those looking to help shield their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can receive up to $10,000 in precious metals for free. Just remember that gold is typically best used as one part of an otherwise well-diversified portfolio.
Read More: Robert Kiyosaki warned of a 'Greater Depression' — with millions of Americans going poor. Was he right?
Build retirement income through real estate
Beyond precious metals, Kiyosaki also pointed boomers and their families to two books he said he wrote for those who wanted to prepare for this period.
One of them is "Retire Young Retire Rich," which focuses on achieving financial freedom by moving from a wage-earner mindset to an investor mindset. A key theme is using "good debt" to acquire cash-flowing assets — especially real estate — and building income streams that do not depend solely on a paycheck.
That idea can be especially relevant in retirement. Real estate has long been a go-to asset for investors seeking recurring income. While stock markets can swing wildly on sentiment, well-located rental properties can continue generating monthly cash flow, helping retirees cover expenses without having to sell assets during a downturn.
It can also be a powerful 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.
Perhaps that's why in the same 2025 interview, Kiyosaki once disclosed that he owns 1,500 rental properties.
Today, you don't need to be as wealthy as Kiyosaki to get started in real estate investing. 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 — no midnight maintenance calls here.
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 like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
As of November 2025, Arrived has already paid out more than $19 million in dividends to over 900,000 registered investors. If you're already comfortable with real estate investing, you might instead be looking for new verticals in the field.
Another option is Lightstone DIRECT, which offers accredited investors access to institutional-quality multifamily and industrial real estate — with a minimum investment of $100,000.
Founded in 1986 by David Lichtenstein, Lightstone Group is one of the largest privately held real estate investment firms in the U.S., with more than $12 billion in assets under management.
Over nearly-four decades, their team has delivered strong, risk-adjusted performance across multiple market cycles — including a 27.6% historical net IRR and a 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004.
With Lightstone DIRECT, you gain access to the same multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital.
Here's the kicker: Lightstone invests at least 20% of its own capital in every deal — roughly four times the industry average. With skin in the game, the firm ensures its interests are directly aligned with those of its investors.
Mind the risks — and potential — of crypto
Kiyosaki's protection playbook doesn't stop at hard assets. Alongside gold and silver, he said he has long recommended coins generated by Bitcoin and Ethereum as part of the "foundation" for a financial future.
That enthusiasm fits with his broader skepticism of fiat currency and central banks. Bitcoin, in particular, is designed with a fixed supply cap, which is why supporters often describe it as a form of "digital gold" — an asset outside the traditional banking system that can't be printed at will.
Of course, bitcoin's roller-coaster ride has also underscored just how volatile crypto can be. But Kiyosaki has made clear that price swings have not shaken his conviction. If anything, he has described them as a buying opportunity.
"I am so bullish on Bitcoin I am buying more and more as Bitcoin's price goes down," he said in February, pointing to Bitcoin's hard-coded supply limit of 21 million coins (5).
That said, cryptocurrencies remain highly volatile — and not everyone has the stomach for the swings. But for those curious about adding crypto exposure, getting started has never been easier.
With platforms like Kraken, buying and trading cryptocurrencies is straightforward, whether you're on desktop or using the mobile app.
You can invest in 600+ cryptocurrencies*, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP and more, or set up recurring buys to invest automatically.
There's also the option to add price conditions, so your trades only execute when the market hits your target.
Kraken also offers guides on popular coins, helping you understand what you're buying and how to navigate the process from start to finish.
And if you have questions, 24/7 support is available via live chat, phone or email.
For those who want greater control, Kraken PRO offers a more advanced trading experience.
Designed for active traders, it features a highly customizable interface with real-time market data, advanced tools and detailed order types like stop-loss and take-profit to help manage trades more precisely.
You can also trade across spot, margin and derivatives markets, monitor performance in one unified portfolio, and tailor your dashboard with multiple data widgets to suit your strategy.
Opening an account is quick, with a simple sign-up, verification and short investor profile to get started.
* Not investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss. View legal disclosures at kraken.com/legal/disclosures (6). The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Kraken or its management.
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X (1),(2),(5); Yahoo Finance (3); YouTube (4); Kraken (6)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.