‘Luckiest country in the world’
While highlighting concerns about regulation, Bezos also delivered an uplifting message about America’s inherent strengths.
“We are the luckiest country in the world. We have all these natural resources, including energy independence. We have the best risk capital system in the world by far,” he said.
Bezos’ statement highlights widely recognized advantages. The U.S. is the world’s largest economy by GDP and is endowed with abundant natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals and arable land. Beyond natural wealth, the country boasts strong financial markets and dominates in venture capital and private equity — critical drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship.
These strengths are underpinned by a culture of innovation, a robust legal framework for intellectual property and a history of technological leadership.
According to Bezos, the U.S. is “so set up to grow.” With Trump’s focus on deregulation, the country could regain a stronger growth trajectory.
“I’m very optimistic that President Trump is serious about this regulatory agenda and I think he has a good chance of succeeding,” he said.
Betting on America
America's economic strength and growth potential make it a compelling destination for investment, and this optimism is shared by some of the most successful investors, including Warren Buffett.
“America has been a terrific country for investors. All they have needed to do is sit quietly, listening to no one,” Buffett wrote in his latest annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. His unwavering faith in U.S. equities has been a cornerstone of his success.
“I can’t remember a period since March 11, 1942 — the date of my first stock purchase — that I have not had a majority of my net worth in equities, U.S.-based equities,” he wrote.
For those looking to follow in Buffett’s footsteps, he has often championed a simple but effective strategy which he referred to at Berkshire’s 2020 annual meeting: “In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund.”
This straightforward approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across various industries, providing diversified exposure without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.
One accessible way to start investing in the S&P 500 and other diversified portfolios is through platforms like Acorns. Acorns makes it easy for anyone, even beginners, to grow their wealth by automatically investing spare change from everyday purchases.
Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes. Link your cards, and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio.
For those seeking a more customized experience, Acorns Gold allows for a mix of automated investments and individual stock selection, giving you the flexibility to tailor your strategy.
With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5 — and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.
Building wealth through American real estate
Real estate has been another cornerstone of wealth creation in America, and the current housing supply gap highlights a unique opportunity for investors. According to a June analysis by Zillow, the U.S. housing shortage reached an estimated 4.5 million homes as of 2022.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell underscored the severity of the crisis in a September press conference, stating, “The real issue with housing is that we have had, and are on track to continue to have, not enough housing.”
While high home prices and elevated mortgage rates have made buying a home more challenging, you don’t need to purchase a property outright to invest in U.S. real estate.
Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived have made it easier for average Americans to invest in rental properties without the need for a hefty down payment or the burden of property management.
With Arrived, you can 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 rental income deposits from your investment.
However, residential real estate is not your only option. For accredited investors who want to make a bigger investment, First National Realty Partners (FNRP) targets necessity-based commercial real estate.
A recent report from Cushman & Wakefield commented that “for the first time in years, the retail market is at a point of being supply-constrained — at least for space in quality shopping centers."
Heightened demand plus insufficient supply could drive increased rents, and strong returns for those invested.
In September, the U.S. central bank started moving aggressively in this new direction and cut interest rates by 50 basis points (bps). Rates were cut again in November.
Commercial real estate typically appreciates in value when interest rates drop because buyers can afford to pay more for assets at lower borrowing costs — and First National Realty Partners (FNRP) is ideally situated to help investors take advantage of the current rate environment.
The platform allows accredited investors to own a share of institutional-quality properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, CVS, Kroger and Walmart.
FNRP offers accredited investors access to these types of promising retail-anchored commercial real estate investments, while offering white-glove service which means the team does the deal leg work for you.
That way, investors can sit back and enjoy the potential to collect stable, grocery store-anchored income every quarter.
You can engage with experts, explore available deals and easily make an allocation, all in one personalized secure portal.
