The U.S. stock market may be breaking records, but Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki is sounding the alarm. In a blunt warning, he said:
“Do you have a 401(k) or IRA filled with stocks? Good luck. We may be on the brink of another 1929 crash and another Great Depression.”
If you’re depending on a stock-heavy 401(k) or IRA for your retirement income, this warning isn’t something to take lightly. The parallels between today’s economy and the years leading up to the Great Depression are raising red flags for seasoned investors — and the consequences of ignoring them could be devastating for your retirement savings.
The Risk Hiding in Your 401(k) and IRA
During the original 1929 stock market crash, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost nearly 50% in just weeks, and by 1932 it had plummeted 89% from its peak. A collapse of even half that magnitude today would wipe out trillions in retirement savings — and most Americans’ 401(k)s and IRAs are heavily invested in the stock market.
We’ve already had a small taste of this risk. In 2022, a sharp market sell-off erased $3 trillion from retirement accounts in a matter of months.
Today’s economic backdrop looks eerily similar to past crisis periods:
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$36.83 trillion in national debt, growing faster than ever.
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Legendary investors like Jim Rogers selling all U.S. stocks.
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Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway selling more equities than it buys for 11 straight quarters, holding $344 billion in cash.
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Persistent inflation and rising interest rates creating instability across global markets.
If your 401(k) or IRA is 100% in paper assets — stocks, bonds, mutual funds — you are fully exposed to the next major market downturn.
Why Kiyosaki Is Turning to Gold, Silver, and Bitcoin
Robert Kiyosaki has long warned that America’s debt-fueled economy is unsustainable. “You can only print money to pay your bills for so long,” he says. When that system buckles, he believes hard assets — particularly gold and silver — will be the ultimate safe havens.
Gold has already surged past $3,300 per ounce in 2025, and Kiyosaki predicts a climb to $3,700 in the near future. Unlike stocks or paper currency, gold:
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Can’t be created out of thin air.
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Isn’t tied to any one government or economy.
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Has preserved wealth through centuries of wars, recessions, and currency collapses.
Bitcoin also makes Kiyosaki’s short list, but for those nearing retirement, gold offers something Bitcoin doesn’t — tangible, physical value that has stood the test of time.
How a Gold IRA Protects Your Retirement Savings
A Gold IRA lets you transfer or roll over part of your existing 401(k) or IRA into physical gold (and sometimes silver or other precious metals) without losing the tax benefits of your retirement account.
This means:
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Your retirement isn’t entirely dependent on the stock market.
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You hold a tangible asset that historically rises during economic turmoil.
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You can potentially shield your savings from inflation, currency devaluation, and market crashes.
With the right custodian, you can choose to store your gold in a secure, IRS-approved depository or, in some cases, take physical possession. And because it’s still part of your IRA, it enjoys the same tax-deferred (or tax-free in the case of a Roth IRA) growth benefits.
Why Acting Now Matters
If Kiyosaki is right — and the U.S. is headed toward a “Greater Depression” — waiting until the crash hits will be too late. In a severe downturn, asset prices can move overnight, and demand for gold often skyrockets, creating shortages and higher premiums.
Diversifying your retirement portfolio with a Gold IRA before a crisis can mean the difference between preserving your nest egg and watching decades of savings disappear.
Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kiyosaki-warns-those-own-401-123300954.html
