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Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.<\/em><\/p>\n Millennials have been relentlessly mocked as the broke generation. Stereotypically, they\u2019re struggling with student loans and unable to get on the property ladder, so it\u2019s easy to assume the entire cohort has missed out on wealth-building opportunities.<\/p>\n But a recent study by the robo-investing platform Wealthfront reveals that many Americans in their 30s and 40s \u2014 the millennials \u2014 have actually outpaced other generations in wealth accumulation since the Covid-19 pandemic (1).<\/p>\n According to Federal Reserve data, millennials\u2019 total wealth soared from $3.85 trillion in Q3 2019 to $18.25 trillion in Q3 2025 \u2014 a 374% increase. Meanwhile, Gen Xers saw their wealth climb just 74% and baby boomers saw theirs jump 51% over this same period (2).<\/p>\n Along the same lines, the number of millennial millionaires in Wealthfront\u2019s user base increased 144% over the past five years (1). Put simply, quite a few Americans in this age group are shedding their unfortunate image and building prosperity.<\/p>\n Many of them have experienced major life events like buying a home in the last few years, buoyed by a frothy stock market, while their parents may be investing more conservatively as they reach retirement age and their grandparents begin to pass away and hand down their wealth \u2014 the so-called Great Wealth Transfer.<\/p>\n And these positive trends are poised to continue. Millennial net wealth is projected to grow 11.3% annually through 2045 \u2014 nearly double the growth rate expected for total national wealth (3). Notably, this forecast doesn\u2019t include future generational wealth transfers, demonstrating that millennials are independently earning and saving more.<\/p>\n The key to millennial success? Good investing and saving habits. Here are some of their strategies you can use to get back ahead of your finances.<\/p>\n Based on Wealthfront\u2019s analysis of its own user base, wealthy millennials have been successful thanks to time-tested investment strategies such as focusing on low-cost index funds (ETFs), committing to investing on an ongoing basis to take advantage of dollar-cost averaging and holding the course during periods of market volatility.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cOur millennial clients hold more than 90% of their invested Wealthfront assets in our globally diversified portfolios of low-cost ETFs,\u201d the Wealthfront report states as an example (1).<\/p>\n So, investing in ETFs is a solid way to take advantage of the long-term growth potential of the stock market, but the savviest investors do it in a way that ensures they can learn as their wealth grows.<\/p>\n One of the easiest ways to start investing is to open SoFi\u2019s easy-to-use DIY investing platform that lets you buy ETFs, stocks and more with no commission fees and no account minimums.<\/p>\n SoFi is designed for both beginners and seasoned investors, with real-time investing news, curated content and the data you need to make smart decisions about the stocks that matter most to you.<\/p>\n Plus, for a limited time, you can get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account.<\/p>\n Read More: I\u2019m almost 50 years old and don\u2019t have retirement savings. Is it too late to catch up?<\/strong><\/p>\n Read More: Non-millionaires can now invest in this $1B private real estate fund starting at just $10<\/strong><\/p>\n The millennial cohort is also not easily spooked by sudden dips in the market. In fact, \u201cbuy the dip\u201d has become a popular meme for retail investors of all ages, according to The Wall Street Journal (4).<\/p>\n Wealthfront\u2019s millennial clients have seen the stock market\u2019s turbulence over the past several years as an opportunity rather than a risk.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Covid-19 roiled financial markets in March 2020, the average monthly net deposits for millennials remained much steadier than those of older generations,\u201d the Wealthfront report says (1).<\/p>\n Even if markets dip, it\u2019s important to have an emergency fund. Emergency funds do exactly what the name suggests: They offer a crucial financial safety net in times of emergency or unexpected costs.<\/p>\n Wealthfront\u2019s report also reveals that millennials who kept their cash in a Wealthfront Cash Account earned more interest than they would have with a traditional account \u2014 allowing them to build their emergency fund even faster.<\/p>\n A high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great way to grow your emergency fund, helping ensure you\u2019re prepared to weather market highs and lows.<\/p>\n A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base variable APY of 3.30%, and new clients can get a 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total APY of 4.05%. That\u2019s more than 10 times the national deposit rate, according to the FDIC\u2019s February report (5).<\/p>\n With no minimum balance or account fees, 24\/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks.<\/p>\n Regardless of your age, if you\u2019re looking for investment success, the easiest way to improve your odds is to simply be more consistent.<\/p>\n While that might not seem to be the most exciting advice, holding on through the ups and downs is the key to building wealth.<\/p>\n But if you need more incentive to be consistent in your investing, consider these numbers: The average annualized rate of return for the S&P 500 is about 10%, or between 6% and 7% when inflation is taken into account (6). So, if you had invested $1,000 in an S&P index fund a decade ago and hung onto it, you would have enjoyed a nearly 14% annualized return, or 10% if you consider inflation (7).<\/p>\n This kind of growth can yield big returns, but requires a strategy to get through the bad times.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s a good idea to adopt specific strategies that allow you to smooth out the volatility to a certain extent. For example, dollar-cost averaging \u2014 investing a fixed dollar amount on a recurring basis \u2014 allows you to buy more units of an index fund when the market dips and less when it\u2019s frothy.<\/p>\n So, instead of trying to pull back when the market looks overvalued, or waiting for a dramatic crash to invest, research suggests the best approach is to just consistently invest and ride out the volatility.<\/p>\n One way to invest consistently \u2014 even if you don\u2019t have much extra room in your budget \u2014 is to invest with Acorns. Their platform automates investing to simplify the process of setting aside extra funds.<\/p>\n It works like this: When you register and link your bank account, Acorns automatically rounds up the price of each of your purchases to the nearest dollar and deposits the difference into a diversified portfolio of ETFs managed by experts at leading investment firms like Vanguard and BlackRock.<\/p>\n That way, you can grow your wealth without even thinking about it, no matter which generation you belong to. Plus, if you sign up today, you can get a $20 bonus investment to get you started.<\/p>\n To be fair, it\u2019s easier to do this kind of investing when you\u2019re younger.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re retired and don\u2019t have much time to wait for markets to recover from a downturn, for example, you may need a more conservative approach.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also more important for older investors to ensure their portfolios are properly diversified, as a dip in the market right before or early into retirement \u2014 the dreaded sequence-of-returns risk \u2014 could spell disaster for their golden years.<\/p>\n Instead of risking it, diversifying outside the stock market with investments in commodities like gold and high-growth assets like real estate can help investors nearing retirement achieve stable growth.<\/p>\n A diversified portfolio can help you rest easier when the stock market is volatile, no matter whether you\u2019re close to retirement or still have decades ahead.<\/p>\n Gold has historically been a great inflation hedge, and it\u2019s seen record highs recently \u2014 a whopping $5,602 per ounce in January (8).<\/p>\n One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.<\/p>\n Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within 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 potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.<\/p>\n Download their free information guide to learn how to get up to $10,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.<\/p>\n In addition to gold, there\u2019s real estate. While the high price of investing in real estate may make it seem like a poor choice for someone close to retirement, there are ways to invest and see stable returns without becoming a landlord \u2014 or even spending a bundle.<\/p>\n Consider platforms like mogul. This real estate investment platform offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits \u2014 without the need for a hefty down payment or late-night tenant calls.<\/p>\n Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the mogul team handpicks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, you can invest in institutional quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.<\/p>\n Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10 to 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.<\/p>\n Every investment is secured by real assets, not dependent on the platform\u2019s viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors own the property \u2014 not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake.<\/p>\n Getting started is quick and easy. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.<\/p>\n Beyond single-family rentals, multifamily and industrial rentals are another great opportunity for investors of all ages, as both have a strong outlook for 2026 (9).<\/p>\n If diversifying into multifamily and industrial rentals appeals to you, you could consider investing with Lightstone DIRECT, a new investing platform from the Lightstone Group, one of the largest private real estate companies in the country with over 25,000 multifamily units in its portfolio.<\/p>\n Since they eliminate intermediaries \u2014 brokers and crowdfunding middlemen \u2014 accredited investors with a minimum investment of $100,000 can gain direct access to institutional-quality multifamily opportunities. This streamlined model can help reduce fees while enhancing transparency and control.<\/p>\n And with Lightstone DIRECT, you invest in single-asset multifamily deals alongside Lightstone \u2014 a true partner \u2014 as Lightstone puts at least 20% of its own capital into every offering. All of Lightstone\u2019s investment opportunities undergo a rigorous, multistage review before being approved by Lightstone\u2019s Principals, including Founder David Lichtenstein.<\/p>\n How it works is simple: Just sign up with your email, and you can schedule a call with a capital formation expert to assess your investment opportunities. From here, all you have to do is verify your details to begin investing.<\/p>\n Founded in 1986, Lightstone has a proven track record of delivering strong risk-adjusted returns across market cycles with a 27.6% historical net IRR and 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004. All told, Lightstone has $12 billion in assets under management \u2014 including in industrial and commercial real estate.<\/p>\n As such, even if multifamily rentals don\u2019t appeal to you, Lightstone could still serve you well as an investment vehicle for other real estate verticals.<\/p>\n Get started today with Lightstone DIRECT and invest alongside experienced professionals with skin in the game.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re close to retirement or still have decades ahead, a diversified portfolio can help you rest easier when the stock market is volatile.<\/p>\n Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise\u2019s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.<\/strong><\/p>\n We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our<\/em> editorial ethics and guidelines<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n Wealthfront (1); Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2); Oxford Economics (3); The Wall Street Journal (4); FDIC (5); SoFi (6); Of Dollars And Data (7); APMEX (8); J.P. Morgan (9)<\/p>\n