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Phil Osagie
Updated May 25, 2026
Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, and Jeff Bezos stand among the wealthiest Americans ever, and like many ultra-rich investors, the bulk of their wealth is tied to stocks. Just look at Buffett, who recently snapped up $4.9 billion worth of Google shares.
But when it comes to investing in the stock market, a new wave of volatility might be prompting today’s rich, young investors to take a slightly different approach.
According to a Bank of America survey, individuals aged 21 to 43 with at least US$3 million in assets have only 25% of their portfolio invested in stocks, compared to 55% for wealthy investors aged 43 or older.
An overwhelming 93% of young millionaires say they plan to boost their exposure to alternatives in the coming years. So, which alternative investments are actually winning their attention and their money?
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A golden opportunity to hedge against inflation
The Bank of America survey revealed that among wealthy young investors, 45% own gold as a physical asset, and another 45% are interested in holding it.
Historically, gold has served as a hedge against inflation and market volatility. Many investors turn to “safe haven” assets like gold during economic and geopolitical instability to preserve their wealth.
Gold prices have surged by more than 80% year to date, hitting multiple record highs in 2025, with projections suggesting it could soon exceed US$6,000.
There are many gold assets to choose from, including gold bars, coins, and gold stocks.
Gold e-certificates, for instance, give you exposure to physical gold without the need to worry about storage, insurance or security. The issuing institution stores the metal and allows you to trade and redeem easily.
Gold ETFs offer another accessible route, letting you buy units of a fund that tracks the price of gold. They trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange like any stock, so you can add to or trim your position easily, often with lower fees than traditional mutual funds or physical gold products.
Platforms such as CIBC Investor’s Edge make it easy to purchase both gold e-certificates and gold ETFs directly from your trading dashboard.
Enjoy low commission fees of C$6.95 per trade and no annual fees for the first year. Investors who make over 150 trades in a quarter fall in the active trader category — and can enjoy a discounted commission rate of C$4.95 per trade for stocks and ETFs.
Get 200 free trades when you open a CIBC Investor’s Edge account using promo code EDGE2026. Plus, enjoy unlimited commission-free trades on over 180 select ETFs. Terms and conditions apply. Offer ends September 30, 2026.
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Build your own investment portfolio and enjoy low commissions
Real estate: rich with opportunity
Real estate has long been considered a solid portfolio hedge, as rent and property values tend to increase with inflation. It’s no surprise that high-net-worth individuals — regardless of their age — see opportunity in this asset.
In the Bank of America survey, 31% of younger people said real estate presents the greatest opportunities for growth. Federal Reserve data also shows that the top 1% of Americans hold over $6 trillion in real estate assets.
If you don’t have the funds for a hefty down payment or want to avoid the hassles of being a landlord, consider investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) or REIT exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
REITs are publicly traded companies that own and operate income-producing properties, including apartment buildings, warehouses and medical centres.
These companies distribute most of their taxable income to shareholders, which means you can potentially access steady monthly or quarterly payouts without having to buy or manage a property yourself.
REIT ETFs take this one step further by bundling multiple REITs into a single, low-cost fund, giving you instant diversification across sectors and geographic regions.
For investors who want real estate exposure without tying up large amounts of capital, you can invest in REITs and REIT ETFs within tax-advantaged accounts like a TFSA or RRSP with platforms such as CIBC Investor’s Edge.
Your money can grow more efficiently — and if you hold over C$10,000 combined across registered and non-registered accounts, you’ll pay zero annual fees.
CIBC Investor's Edge
Build your own investment portfolio and enjoy low commissions
Cryptocurrency: more than a craze
Investors used to be skeptical about cryptocurrency, perhaps due to its speculative and highly volatile nature. But it has now entered the mainstream, and especially with U.S. President Trump vowing to create a “strategic national Bitcoin stockpile”, crypto has surged to a global market cap of US$3.72 trillion.
It’s no surprise that the wealthy millennials and Gen Z are fond of this asset class. In the Bank of America survey, 29% of younger people said cryptocurrencies offer the greatest opportunities for growth, while only 7% of the older group agreed.
Rich young Americans also allocated 15% of their portfolios to crypto, compared to 2% of the older generation.
With more capital flowing into crypto, many investors are looking for accessible platforms to buy, manage and monitor their crypto investments.
With platforms like Kraken, buying and trading cryptocurrencies is straightforward, whether you’re on a desktop or using the mobile app.
You can buy and trade 600+ cryptocurrencies* on desktop or through their mobile app, or set up recurring buys to invest automatically.
There’s also the option to add price conditions, so your trades only execute when the market hits your target.
Kraken provides guides on popular coins, helping you understand what you’re buying and how to navigate the process from start to finish.
And if you have questions, 24/7 support is available via live chat, phone, or email.
For those who want greater control, Kraken PRO offers a more advanced trading experience.
Designed for active traders, it features a highly customizable interface with real-time market data, advanced tools and detailed order types like stop-loss and take-profit to help manage trades more precisely.
You can also trade across spot, margin and derivatives markets, monitor performance in one unified portfolio, and tailor your dashboard with multiple data widgets to suit your strategy.
Opening an account is quick, with a simple sign-up, verification and short investor profile to get started.
*Not investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss. View legal disclosures at kraken.com/legal/disclosures. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Kraken or its management. This post contains affiliate links, which means Money.ca may receive a commission at no cost to you if you make a purchase through a link.
Finding the right asset mix
Whether it’s gold, real estate or cryptocurrency, determining the right mix of assets for your portfolio isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate these choices blindly. Having access to the right data and educational resources can help you make informed decisions and avoid expensive mistakes.
CIBC Investor’s Edge gives you access to expert analysis, investment research and trackers that are specifically designed to help you invest with confidence.
Whether you’re just starting or already trading actively, CIBC provides tailored resources for both beginners and advanced traders.
Start with the basics through their Investing 101 guides — and when you’re ready, take advantage of their advanced trading tools and research to inform your strategy.
Phil Osagie
Conversion Copywriter
Phil is a writer at Moneywise, bringing a strong background in public relations, financial communications, and copywriting. Educated in Cambridge, U.K., he has created content for several blue-chip companies, and his work has been featured on MSN, Yahoo, Google, and Apple News.
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