Is now the best time to get rich? What Robert Kiyosaki’s bold predictions mean for your RRSP and TFSA

But there is a silver lining.

“You don’t have to be a victim,” Kiyosaki wrote, arguing that even as bubbles burst and the world economy crashes, people can still position themselves to be “a financial winner.” He pointed to economic stress in major global markets “from Dubai to Vegas, from Tokyo to New York City,” warning that financial hardship could spread globally if conditions deteriorate.

However, Kiyosaki’s warning goes beyond a broad market crash. In a separate post, he revived one of his long-running concerns: what he calls the “Baby Boomer Retirement Disaster.”

“In 2026, millions of Boomers will be out of work in trouble financially [and] many homeless,” he wrote.

A Canadian retirement gap that’s hard to ignore

Kiyosaki says he saw the crisis coming as far back as 1974 — a pivotal year for retirement security in North America. While that year marked a major legislative shift in the U.S., Canada was undergoing its own long, slow transformation in how retirement savings work.

For decades, many Canadian workers — particularly in the private sector — relied on defined benefit (DB) pensions that promised a fixed income for life. But over the past two decades, DB plans have been in persistent decline, replaced by defined contribution (DC) plans and group Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), where the risk of saving enough falls squarely on the worker.

Even with institutions like EQ Bank offering no-fee, high-interest RRSP accounts, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions reported that only 34% of the Canadian labour force were active registered pension plan members as of 2023. In other words, the retirement burden has increasingly shifted from employers to workers — and that shift helps explain Kiyosaki’s concern about boomers.

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The numbers back up Kiyosaki’s fears. The BMO 2026 Retirement Survey, for example, found that Canadians believe they need an average of $1.7 million to retire comfortably. But the average RRSP balance for Canadians aged 55 to 64 is only about $120,000 — a significant gap that might be pushing many boomers to keep working longer than planned.

Meanwhile, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) — Canada’s public earnings-based pension — paid new retirees an average of $925.35 per month at age 65, with a maximum of $1,507.65 per month, in January 2026. In the period between April and June 2026 Old Age Security (OAS), the residency-based government pension, is paying a maximum of $743.05 per month for Canadians aged 65 to 74. Even at their maximums, those two combined — $2,250.70 a month — fall well short of what most Canadians consider a comfortable retirement.

Although Statistics Canada data shows the average boomer household net worth reached $1,458,282 in Q2 2025, much of that wealth is tied up in real estate — wealth that is illiquid, hard to draw down and sensitive to housing market shifts.

All of this is worrying, especially considering that RBC Economics reports Canada is at “peak aging,” with an estimated 5.2 million boomers having already departed the labour force. And Canadians are starting to take notice. In fact, a 2025 Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) survey found that 59% of unretired Canadians do not believe they will ever be able to retire due to their financial situation.

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What Kiyosaki likes for protection

Kiyosaki’s preferred playbook has been consistent for years.

“For years, I have recommended real gold, silver, Bitcoin, and Ethereum as your foundation for your financial future,” he wrote.

The reason behind his affection for precious metals stems partly from his deep distrust of the fiat currency system. As he put it in a 2021 interview, “I’m not buying gold because I like gold, I’m buying gold because I don’t trust the Fed.” Although Canadians don’t have to worry about “the Fed” — the U.S. Federal Reserve System — they still have their own central bank — the Bank of Canada — so his point stands.

However, the broader appeal of precious metals for Kiyosaki and many other investors is that, unlike fiat currencies, gold and silver can’t be printed at will by central banks, which is why they’re often viewed as potential hedges against inflation and currency debasement. Gold, in particular, is widely treated as a safe haven asset because it isn’t tied to any one company, government or economy.

Kiyosaki has even said he holds physical gold: “I have boxes of gold. I own gold mines,” he revealed in a 2025 interview.

For Canadian investors, the gold story in 2025 was particularly compelling. Gold surged 57% in Canadian dollar terms — its strongest annual gain since 1979, outpacing all major asset classes, including technology stocks. That run also helped the S&P/TSX Composite Index climb 29% in 2025, driven in part by the resource-heavy materials sector.

Canadians cannot hold physical gold directly in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) or Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). However, gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and gold mining equities listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) are eligible investments in both registered account types, allowing investors to gain exposure to gold price movements within a tax-advantaged structure.

Practically speaking, for those in Canada trying to get in on the gold rush, an investing strategy that is slightly different from their American counterparts might be necessary, as Canadians are limited to holding gold ETFs and equities in their TFSA or RRSP rather than physical precious metals. That means the normal considerations of trading apply, like paying commissions on trades and maintenance fees.

In recent years, competition among brokerages in Canada has driven down these costs. Platforms like Questrade, which has long been one of Canada’s leading discount brokerages, have started offering commission-free trades on stocks and ETFs listed in Canada or the U.S., making it a top choice for DIY investors. Plus, Questrade lets you buy and sell physical precious metals and hold these assets in registered accounts like a TFSA or RRSP. Investors can get $50 cash back if they open a self-directed investing account today and deposit as little as $250 into the account.

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Build retirement income through real estate

Beyond precious metals, Kiyosaki has long pointed investors toward real estate as an income-generating asset class. His book Retire Young Retire Rich focuses on using “good debt” to acquire cash-flowing assets and building income streams that do not depend solely on a paycheque — an idea that can be especially relevant in retirement.

While stock markets can swing wildly on sentiment, well-located properties can continue generating monthly cash flow, helping retirees cover expenses without having to sell assets during a downturn. Real estate can also act as a hedge against inflation: When inflation rises, property values and rental income tend to follow.

For Canadians who want real estate exposure without the responsibility of being a landlord, Canadian Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) listed on the TSX offer an accessible alternative. REITs are required to distribute at least 90% of their net operating income to unitholders, which is why many offer yields in the 5% to 6% range with monthly distributions. That’s perhaps why most Canadian financial planners recommend keeping REITs to roughly 5% to 10% of a well-balanced portfolio.

The beauty of REITs is that they trade like stocks and can be held in the same accounts as other holdings. This lets you diversify into real estate without having to open and manage multiple accounts. The ease of diversifying using REITS is a big advantage — it gives you real estate exposure, while allowing you to use dependable and secure online and mobile trading platforms, like CIBC Investor’s Edge. Not only can you maximize diversification, but you can also take advantage of the no-maintenance charges on investor portfolios of $10,000 or more. Open an account today and get 200 free trades when 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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Mind the risks — and potential — of crypto

Kiyosaki’s protection playbook doesn’t stop at hard assets. Alongside gold and silver, he has long recommended Bitcoin and Ethereum as part of a financial foundation, citing his broader skepticism of fiat currency and central banks. Bitcoin is designed with a fixed supply cap, which is why supporters often describe it as a form of “digital gold.”

“I am so bullish on Bitcoin, I am buying more and more as Bitcoin’s price goes down,” he said in February 2026, pointing to Bitcoin’s hard-coded supply limit of 21 million coins.