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Robert Kiyosaki Gage Skidmore | CC

Robert Kiyosaki warns the worst crash in history is unfolding — here's the 3-asset plan Canadians need now

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Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, is known for making bold predictions about the market.

So far in 2026, Kiyosaki is living up to his reputation. Through his posts on X, the renowned author has repeatedly predicted the coming burst of an “Everything Bubble,” leading to “the greatest depression in world history” in what he calls the “giant crash of 2026-27.” But he does offer some hope.

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In those same posts, he notes that he “got richer not poorer” from a list of crashes going back to 1987 and that the average investor can still be a “financial winner” as well. So, when Kiyosaki gives his recommendations on how to profit from the upcoming crash — with spectacular upside targets for gold, silver and Bitcoin in 2026 — investors around the world, including Canada, take notice.

Boom to bust

The rationale behind Kiyosaki’s “giant crash” warning is broad: “CRASHES do not happen overnight. CRASHES take decades to occur,” he once wrote on X.

In Canada, markets have certainly been volatile, but they’ve also shown resilience. Despite sharp swings in early-2025, Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite Index ended that year with a 28.2% annual gain — its strongest performance since 2009 — outpacing the S&P 500’s 17% return. In 2026, it carried this momentum forward, finishing the month of May up 9.64% year-to-date and setting a record high of 35,217.06 points on June 4. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 was busy setting its own records on Wall Street, closing at an all-time high of 7,519.12 on May 27.

Still, Kiyosaki insists that investors not to “drink the Kool-Aid,” pointing to countries like China and Japan dumping US bonds for gold and silver as evidence the danger hasn’t passed. That’s because, in his view, a collapse of this scale takes time to fully unfold. And a market crash of the magnitude he’s describing would be devastating for most retail investors.

Past experience proves this theory. During the housing and credit crisis of the late 2000s, the total value of Canadian household assets fell 3.2% in Q4 2008 alone, driven by a 24% collapse in the S&P/TSX. A more recent example is the 2022 market selloff. Statistics Canada reported that the market value of assets held by Canadian trusteed pension funds dropped $119.3 billion in a single quarter — a 5.4% decline — as both stocks and bonds fell sharply.

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Kiyosaki’s ‘words of a rich person’: Invest in gold, silver and bitcoin

Kiyosaki’s positive outlook on these three assets stems from his fundamental lack of confidence in fiat currency — the “paper money” printed by central banks without the backing of any commodity, like gold. He argues that investors in gold, silver and bitcoin (and ethereum) are getting the “real money” that will go up in purchasing power as central banks “print more fake money” and rising oil prices drive up inflation.

Kiyosaki is particularly bullish on precious metals such as silver and gold. Starting a post on May 22 with “Crash imminent,” he cites Jim Rickards’ projection that gold could reach US$100,000 per ounce and goes on to predict, “I think silver will hit $200 an ounce.”

Elsewhere, he has written that “silver is one of the best investments I own” in 2026.

In fact, as Kiyosaki himself likes to point out, the past year has been an extraordinary ride for precious metals. Gold soared roughly 72% in 2025, surpassing US$5,500 (C$7,175 approx.) per ounce for the first time ever in January 2026, before experiencing a correction that has persisted into June. Likewise, silver rose approximately 148% over 2025 and then added a further 19% in January 2026, topping out at an all-time high of US$121.62 (C$170 approx.) — before its own sharp pullback at month’s end.

Taking advantage of the precious metals market — the Canadian way

With Kiyosaki predicting that the precious metals rally will continue into the second half of 2026, Canadians who want to capitalize have a distinct advantage: They can tie their potential growth directly to their registered retirement accounts.

Unlike the U.S., where a separate “Gold IRA” structure exists, Canadians can hold investment-grade physical gold and silver bullion directly inside a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) or other registered accounts. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has permitted this since 2005, provided the metals meet strict purity thresholds: Gold and silver must be at least 99.5% pure and produced by an accredited refiner or a recognized national mint, such as the Royal Canadian Mint.

Holding qualifying bullion in a TFSA means any gains are completely tax-free. Holding it in an RRSP means gains are tax-deferred until withdrawal — ideally in retirement, when your marginal tax rate may be lower. For investors who prefer simplicity, Canadian gold and silver exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) are also eligible for registered accounts and can be purchased through most online brokerages.

And for investors who prefer even more simplicity, there are managed portfolios that do the work for you. So, if you know you should be investing but don’t want the guesswork of doing it alone, Wealthsimple Portfolios offers an easy, hands-off way to grow your money.

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Their pre-built portfolios are tailored to your retirement goals, risk tolerance and investment horizon, so whether you’re saving for retirement, a home or building long-term wealth, there’s a portfolio that’s right for every investor.

Expert-managed and designed to weather market ups and downs, Wealthsimple takes care of the heavy lifting: automatic contributions, dividend reinvesting and smart rebalancing keep your investments on track.

You can invest through RRSPs, TFSAs or non-registered accounts, all from an intuitive online dashboard or their easy-to-use mobile app.

Trusted by more than 3 million Canadians, Wealthsimple manages over $100 billion in assets and provides $1 million in eligible coverage through the CDIC for chequing accounts and CIPF for investments. Plus, as licensed fiduciaries, Wealthsimple's advisors must put your financial interests first.

As a Money.ca reader, get a $25 bonus when you open your first account and fund at least $1 within 30 days.

Visit Wealthsimple for up-to-date terms and conditions.

If you want to shop around for other possible brokerages to do your trading, consider looking at this comparison of seven of the top online brokers in Canada.

Understanding the bitcoin market — the Canadian way

While many traditional investors have avoided bitcoin due to a lack of understanding of the market, Kiyosaki has long argued that now may be the time to gain exposure before prices rise further.

Canadians have a globally unique advantage here. While direct bitcoin holdings are not eligible for TFSAs or RRSPs under Canada’s Income Tax Act, Canadians can gain exposure inside registered accounts through TSX-listed spot bitcoin ETFs.

In fact, Canada launched the world’s first spot bitcoin ETF — the Purpose Bitcoin ETF (TSX: BTCC) — in February of 2021. As of early 2026, Canadian-listed crypto ETFs had assets under management climbing toward C$6 billion, buoyed by bitcoin reaching all-time highs above US$120,000 (C$172,000 approx.) in late 2025.

For investors who want a low-cost option, the Fidelity Advantage Bitcoin ETF (TSX: FBTC) carries a management expense ratio of approximately 0.35% — one of the lowest in the space — and is fully eligible for TFSAs and RRSPs.

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But investing in cryptocurrencies comes with its own set of risks, particularly for those planning to retire soon. A flash crash in October 2024 caused Bitcoin prices to fall by nearly 10% within minutes, wiping out approximately US$500 billion (C$718 billion approx.) from the total crypto market value within 24 hours.

Events like this can cause some investors to hesitate — or even avoid altogether — moving into the crypto space. But crypto is no longer the “Wild West” it may have once been. These days, there are resources for not only trading crypto but also educating yourself.

For instance, with platforms like Kraken, buying and trading cryptocurrencies is more straightforward* than ever, whether you’re on a desktop or using the mobile app. Not only can you buy and trade 600+ cryptocurrencies, but also you can set up recurring buys to invest automatically. There’s even the option to add price conditions, so your trades only execute when the market hits your target.

And if you’re new to the crypto game, Kraken provides guides on popular coins, helping you understand what you’re buying and how to navigate the process from start to finish. Plus, if you have questions, 24/7 support is available via live chat, phone or email.

For those old hands 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 and verification process, followed by creating a short investor profile, to get started.

-Not investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss. See kraken.com/legal/ca-pru-disclaimer for info on Kraken’s undertaking to register in Canada.

Are you feeling crypto curious, but unsure if you want to take the plunge? Check out this essential guide to cryptocurrency trading to see if it’s right for you.

Getting advice you can trust

Kiyosaki is known for extreme market predictions, and you may want independent, professional guidance before making any major investment decisions.

In Canada, financial advisers dealing in securities must be registered with the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), which oversees investment dealers and advisers across the country and holds them to professional and ethical standards.

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The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) offers a free National Registration Search tool to verify whether a prospective adviser is properly registered — an important first step before working with anyone offering investment advice.

When meeting with a potential advisor, ask whether they are fee-based or commission-based. Fee-only advisers, who do not earn commissions on product sales, generally have fewer conflicts of interest.

But not everybody can afford to hire a financial professional — and they aren’t always available when you need them. For those who want stock tips at a discount and at a moment’s notice, AI-powered stock advisors are another option, but many Canadians are still wary of using them for financial advice.

For example, a survey released by H&R Block in April 2026 found 56% of respondents said they still wouldn’t be comfortable using AI to help with their finances, while 82% didn’t like the idea of putting their financial personal information into an open AI tool for managing their finances.

If you’re looking for the best of both worlds — the accessibility and immediacy of an AI-powered platform but with the human touch — there are stock analysis platforms like Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor Canada, which offers expert insight to help you make smart investing decisions, when you need it.

With Motley Fool Canada’s Stock Advisor, you can join their online community of over 30,000 investors just like you, all benefiting from their monthly stock recommendations as well as Best Buys Now picks for the hottest opportunities.

They also get a variety of features to educate users, such as stock reports written by experts in the field and an extensive library of investment articles, all designed to help them make informed investment decisions. For this reason, it is becoming increasingly popular among everyday investors who want timely — and accurate — information that is free of jargon and accessible to users of all levels.

What’s more, if Stock Advisor isn’t for you, cancel within 30 days and you’ll receive every penny of your membership fee-back. No questions asked.

For those who want to perform their due diligence, you can also check out this comprehensive review of Motley Fool Canada’s Stock Advisor to learn more about its services.

What Canadians can do

Whether or not Kiyosaki’s extreme predictions come to pass, the underlying idea — building wealth through assets less correlated with traditional markets — has merit for Canadian investors. With that in mind, here are some practical next steps:

  • Prioritize your registered accounts: The TFSA and RRSP are among the most powerful wealth-building tools available to Canadians. Gold, silver and crypto ETFs can all be held inside these tax-sheltered accounts. Maximize your contribution room before investing in taxable accounts.
  • Explore precious metals inside your RRSP or TFSA: Investment-grade gold and silver bullion meeting CRA purity requirements can be held in self-directed registered accounts through custodians like Questrade. Gold and silver ETFs on the TSX offer simpler, lower-cost exposure for those who prefer not to hold physical metals.
  • Access bitcoin through Canadian ETFs: TSX-listed Bitcoin ETFs such as the Purpose Bitcoin ETF (BTCC) and the Fidelity Advantage Bitcoin ETF (FBTC) provide Bitcoin exposure in a regulated format that is eligible for TFSAs and RRSPs.
  • Verify your adviser: Use the CSA’s National Registration Search at securities-administrators.ca to confirm any financial adviser you work with is registered with CIRO. Never make large investment decisions based solely on social media or online influencer tips.
  • Understand the risks: Precious metals and crypto are highly volatile assets. They may play a role in a diversified portfolio, but they should not represent the bulk of your retirement savings. Speak with a registered financial adviser before making significant allocation changes.

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Nick Borek Freelance Writer

Nick has studied classics at both an undergraduate and graduate level at Queen’s University, University of Oxford, and Goethe University Frankfurt, specializing in numismatics and papyrology. In addition to his work at Money.ca, he is currently a copy editor for the Canadian Journal of Economics.

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