Tony Robbins says US Congress quietly unlocked a door that America’s ultra-rich have used for decades. Capitalize now
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For years, some of the most lucrative corners of the investing world were inaccessible to ordinary Americans.
But according to bestselling author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins, this long-standing gap may soon begin to close.
In a recently published appearance Iced Coffee Time Robbins noted on the podcast a recently passed bill that could open the door to investment strategies once reserved for the nation’s “very wealthy.”
“Did you see what they passed in Congress two days ago? This is really important,” Robbins said, referring to the Incentivizing New Enterprise and Economic Strength Through Capital Formation (INVEST) Act (2), which passed the House of Representatives in December 2025 (1).
One of the most significant changes, according to Robbins, concerns who is allowed to invest in private markets.
“He had the minimum net worth or minimum income that you had to have,” he said (1). “They changed the rules… all you have to do is take the test.”
Under current securities laws, access to many private investments is limited to accredited investors; this generally requires a net worth of at least $1 million (excluding primary residence) or over $200,000 for individuals or over $300,000 for couples (3).
These thresholds have historically restricted institutions and high-net-worth households from participating in private equity, venture capital, and other alternative investments.
The INVESTMENT Law contains a provision titled “Equal opportunities for all investors” that aims to update this framework.
Rather than qualifying based solely on wealth or income, 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 so important? Long-term returns.
“Let’s say you’ve ever put money into the S&P 500… So it’s returned about 9.5% over the last 36 years. [annually] shift. “If you have $1 million set aside and you wake up 36 years later, it’s $26 million,” he said (1).
“Private equity merged… core private equity, not like the big ones, 15.5% faster – so almost 50% per year faster. What does that mean? Same $1 million. It’s worth $142 million instead of $26 million.”
Robbins did not provide a source for these return figures, but some research suggests that over the long term, private equity outperforms the S&P 500 despite lower liquidity (4).
Ultimately, Robbins applauded the broader idea behind the change, arguing that allowing more Americans to invest in the private sector would help level the playing field.
“I would rather focus on what people can benefit from if they want to grow at the same rate as other very wealthy people,” he said (1).
“Because the rich had it exclusively for them. You couldn’t get into it before — but that’s changing. And I think that’s one of the good things Congress has done.”
Of course, nothing is finalized yet.
The INVESTMENT Act still needs to be approved in the Senate, and it remains unclear when the vote will take place or whether lawmakers will approve the bill in its current form.
Still, Robbins emphasized a broader point that resonates regardless of the bill’s final outcome: Public markets are just one aspect of how wealth is created. Many of today’s largest and most successful companies remain privately owned for years, growing behind the scenes and creating incredible value long before the IPO bell rings.
Venture capital is where the first bets are placed on the giants of the future. But for decades, venture capital has been one of the few remaining tables in finance where retail investors can’t get a seat.
fundraising 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 from just $10.
Today, fundraising It manages billions of dollars in private market assets, and its venture capital products are specifically designed for investors looking to get an early start on transformative technologies like artificial intelligence.
To explain his investment philosophy, Robbins recalled a conversation he once had with Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund.
Robbins said he asked Dalio a simple question: What is the most important investment principle you can teach another person?
“Tony, you have to understand that all investments are risk-reward,” Dalio replied. “So the more you reduce your risk but still get a positive return, the better. But there’s only one way to do that consistently without luck.”
Robbins said Dalio’s answer is what he calls the “holy grail” of investing: diversification across truly uncorrelated assets.
“If you have eight to 12 uncorrelated investments… you reduce your risk by 80% and slowly increase your upside. There’s no loss to the upside,” Robbins recalled Dalio saying.
This idea resonated so much that Robbins eventually decided to write a book focusing on this principle. However, he acknowledged that implementing this has become more challenging over time because “so many things are compatible across markets today.”
Good news? Dalio continued to emphasize the importance of a specific diversification tool in building a resilient portfolio; One asset still stands out: gold.
“People often do not have enough gold in their portfolios” said on CNBC last year. “Gold is a very effective diversification tool when times are bad.”
Long seen as the ultimate safe haven, gold is not tied to a single country, currency or economy. It cannot be minted out of thin air like fiat money, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors accumulate and increase its value.
Gold prices have increased by more than 60 percent in the last 12 months.
One way to invest in gold, which also provides significant tax advantages, is to open a gold IRA. Thor Metals.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets in a retirement account; This 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.
To learn more, you can get a free information guide with details on how to do it. Get up to $20,000 in free metal About qualified purchases.
Prominent investors like Dalio often emphasize the importance of diversity, and for good reason. Many traditional assets tend to move together, especially during periods of market stress.
This message seems especially relevant today. Almost 40% of the S&P 500’s weight is concentrated in the 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 is one store of value that has been overlooked: It is rare by design, coveted globally, and frequently locked up by institutions.
We’re talking about postwar and contemporary art, a category that has outperformed the S&P 500 with low correlation since 1995.
It’s easy to understand why works of art often reach new heights at auction: The best works of art are in limited supply, and many of the most desirable works 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, purchasing art was the preserve of the ultra-rich; just like in 2022, an art collection owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen was sold at Christie’s New York for 1.5 billion dollars, making this collection the most valuable collection in the history of auction (5).
Now, Masterworks — a platform investing in shares of world-class works of art Works by famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Banksy can help you get started in this asset class. It’s easy to use, and through 25 successful exits to date, Masterworks has distributed more than $65 million in total proceeds (including principal).
