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Earn passive income through real estate

Investing in real estate is widely regarded as a robust strategy for retirement planning due to its potential for generating steady, passive income and capital appreciation over time.

Well-chosen properties can offer a reliable source of rental income, which can be used to cover living expenses in retirement, reducing dependency on traditional retirement savings or Social Security.

At the same time, real estate has proven to 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 for inflation.

Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).

The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today. 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 like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

For a limited time, when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match.

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.

Let your cash hatch its own income

Whether you’re nearing retirement or already retired, high-yield savings accounts can provide a low-risk way to generate passive income while keeping your funds accessible. These accounts typically offer much higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts, allowing your money to grow without needing to lock it away in long-term investments.

To get started, a high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your emergency funds, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your cash when you need it.

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’s ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s January report.

With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 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.

Work with an expert

At the end of the day, everyone’s financial situation is different — from income levels and investment goals to debt obligations and risk tolerance — which means the best move for someone else might not be the best move for you.

If you’re unsure where to start, it might be the right time to get in touch with a financial advisor through Advisor.com.

Advisor.com is an online platform that matches you with vetted financial advisors suited to your unique needs. They can help tailor a strategy to your particular financial situation, whether you’re looking to grow wealth, generate passive income or plan for long-term financial security.