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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 bestselling author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins, this longstanding divide may soon begin to close.
In a recent appearance on Iced coffee time Podcast, Robbins highlighted a bill recently passed by the House that he says could open the door to investment strategies once reserved for the country’s “very wealthy.”
“Did you see what they passed in Congress two days ago? It’s really important,” Robbins said (1), referring to the Incentive for New Enterprise and Economic Strength through Capital Formation (INVEST) Act, which passed the House of Representatives in December 2025 (2).
One of the most important changes, Robbins argued, involves who is allowed to invest in the private markets.
“It used to have a minimum net worth you had to have or a minimum income,” he said (1). “They just changed the rules…all you have to do is take a test.”
Under current securities laws, access to many private investments is limited to accredited investors—a designation that generally requires a net worth of at least $1 million (excluding primary residence) or an annual income of more than $200,000 for individuals or $300,000 for couples (3).
These thresholds have historically restricted participation in private equity, venture capital and other alternative investments for institutions and high net worth households.
The INVEST Act includes a provision entitled “Equal opportunities for all investors” which aims to update this framework.
Instead of qualifying by wealth or income alone, the bill would allow investors to become 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 problem? Long-term returns.
“So far, let’s say you put money in the S&P 500… So over the last 36 years, it’s returned about 9.5% [annually] over time. If you had a million dollars that you put away and wake up 36 years later, it’s $26 million,” he said (1).
“Private equity has compounded… non-major private equity by 15.5% – so almost 50% faster per year. What does that mean? Same $1 million. Instead of being worth $26 million, it’s worth $142 million”
Robbins did not cite sources for these return figures, but some research suggests that over the long term, private equity has outperformed the S&P 500—albeit with less liquidity (4).
Ultimately, Robbins applauded the broader idea behind the change, arguing that allowing more Americans to invest in private businesses helps level the playing field.
“I’d rather focus on what people can take advantage of if they really want to grow at the same rate as anyone else who is very rich,” he said (1).
“Because the rich had it all to themselves. You couldn’t get into it before — but that’s changing. And I think that’s one of the good things Congress is doing.”
Of course, nothing is set in stone yet.
The INVEST Act still needs to clear the Senate and it remains unclear when a vote will take place or if lawmakers will approve the bill in its current form.
Still, Robbins made a broader point that resonates regardless of the final outcome of the bill: Public markets show only one side of how wealth is created. Many of today’s largest and most successful companies remain privately held for years, growing behind the scenes and building incredible value long before the IPO bell rings.
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 technology 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 early exposure to transformative technologies like AI.
Check out their risk portfolio today and start investing in minutes.
Read more: Approaching retirement with no savings? Don’t panic, you are not alone. Here are 6 easy ways to catch up (and fast)
To explain his investment philosophy, Robbins recalled a conversation he once had with Ray Dalio, the founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates.
Robbins said he asked Dalio a simple question: What is the most important investment principle you could teach another human being?
“Tony, you have to understand that all investments are risk-reward,” Dalio replied. “So the more you can reduce your risk but have a positive reward, the better. But there’s only one way to do that consistently, without luck.”
Dalio’s answer, Robbins said, was what he calls the “Holy Grail” of investing: diversification into truly uncorrelated assets.
“If you have eight to 12 uncorrelated investments … you reduce your risk by 80 percent and increase your upside slightly. There’s no loss on your end,” Robbins recalled Dalio saying.
The idea resonated enough that Robbins eventually decided to write a book centered on the principle. However, he acknowledged that implementation has become more difficult over time because “a lot of things are lined up in the markets today.”
The good news? Dalio went on to emphasize the importance of one particular diversifier in building a resilient portfolio — one asset that still stands out: gold.
“People typically don’t have an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” he told CNBC last year. “When times are bad, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
Long regarded as the ultimate safe haven, gold is not tied to any 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 tend to accumulate – increasing its value.
Over the past 12 months, gold prices have increased by more than 60%.
One way to invest in gold that also offers significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.
The Gold IRA allows investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets in a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to protect their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
To learn more, you can get a free informative guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.
Prominent investors like Dalio often emphasize the importance of diversification—and for good reason. Many traditional assets tend to move in tandem, especially during times of market stress.
This message feels especially relevant today. Nearly 40 percent of the S&P 500’s weight 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 alternative assets come into play for many investors. These can include everything from real estate and precious metals to private equity and collectibles.
But there’s a store of value that routinely flies under the radar: It’s rare by design, coveted around the world, and often blocked by institutions.
We’re talking about postwar and contemporary art—a category that has outperformed the S&P 500 with a low correlation since 1995.
It’s easy to see why pieces of art often reach new heights at auction: the supply of the best works of art is limited, and many of the most desirable pieces have already been snapped up by museums and collectors. This scarcity can also make art an attractive option for investors looking to diversify and preserve wealth over the long term.
Until recently, buying art was a domain reserved for the ultra-rich – as in 2022, when an art collection owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sold for $1.5 billion at Christie’s New York, making it the most valuable collection in auction history (5).
Now, Masterworks – a platform for investing in high-end artwork stocks 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 releases to date, Masterworks has distributed over $65 million in total revenue (including principal).
Simply browse through their impressive portfolio of charts and choose how many shares you want to buy. Masterworks can handle all the details, making investing in high-end art both affordable and effortless.
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Note that past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investment involves risk. See Reg A disclosures at masterworks.com/cd.
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Iced Coffee Hour (1); Congress (2); US Securities and Exchange Commission (3); McKinsey & Company (4); Christie’s (5)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. Offered without warranty of any kind.
