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For years, some of the most lucrative corners of the investment world were effectively off-limits to ordinary Americans.
But according to bestselling author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins, that longstanding divide may soon begin to close.
In a recent appearance on Iced Coffee Hour podcast, Robbins pointed to a recently passed House bill that he says could open the door to investment strategies once reserved for the country’s “very wealthy.”
“Did you see what they passed in Congress two days ago? It’s really important,” said Robbins (1), referring to the Act to Incentivize New Enterprises and Economic Health through Capital Formation (INVEST), which passed the House of Representatives in December 2025 (2).
One of the most consequential changes, Robbins argued, involves who is allowed to invest in private markets.
“It used to have a minimum net worth you had to have, or a minimum income,” he said (1). “They just changed the rules…all you have to do is take a test.”
Under current securities laws, access to many private investments is limited to accredited investors – a designation that generally requires a net worth of at least $1 million (excluding primary residence) or an annual income above $200,000 for individuals, or $300,000 for couples (3).
Those limits have historically limited participation in private equity, venture capital and other alternative investments to high-net-worth institutions and households.
The INVEST Act includes a provision entitled “Equal opportunity for all investors,” which aims to update that framework.
Instead of qualifying only through 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 such a big deal? Long term returns.
“So far, let’s say you put money in the S&P 500 … So over the last 36 years, it’s had about a 9.5% return [annually] over time. If you had $1 million put away and you wake up 36 years later, it’s $26 million,” he said (1).
“The private equity aggravated … the basic private equity, like not the big ones, 15.5% – so almost 50% faster in the year. What does this mean? The same $ 1 million. Instead of costing $ 26 million, it costs $ 142 million “
Robbins did not cite sources for those return figures, but some research suggests that over the long term, private equity has outperformed the S&P 500 – albeit with lower liquidity (4).
Ultimately, Robbins praised the broader idea behind the change, arguing that allowing more Americans to invest in private businesses would help level the playing field.
“I would like to focus on what people can take advantage of if they really want to grow at the same rate as everyone else who is very wealthy,” 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 is doing.”
To be sure, nothing is set in stone yet.
The INVEST Act has yet to clear the Senate and it is not yet clear when a vote will take place – or if legislators will approve the bill in its current form.
Still, Robbins emphasized a broader point that resonates regardless of the final outcome of the bill: Public markets show only one side of how wealth is created. Many of today’s largest and most successful companies remain privately held for years, growing behind the scenes and building incredible value long before the IPO bell rings.
Venture capital is where the early bets are placed on future giants. But, for decades, venture capital has been one of the few tables left in finance where retail investors cannot get a seat.
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Read More: Nearing retirement with no savings? Don’t panic, you are not alone. Here are 6 easy (and fast) ways to catch up
To explain his investment philosophy, Robbins recalled a conversation he once had with Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates.
Robbins said he asked Dalio a simple question: What is the single most important investment principle you can teach another human being?
“Tony, you have to understand that all investing is risk-reward,” Dalio replied. “So the more you can reduce your risk but have an upside, the better. But there’s only one way to do it consistently without luck.”
Dalio’s answer, Robbins said, was what he calls the “holy grail” of investing: diversification into truly uncorrelated assets.
“If you have eight to 12 uncorrelated investments … you reduce your risk 80% and slowly increase your upside. There is no loss on your upside,” Robbins recalled Dalio saying.
The idea resonated enough that Robbins eventually decided to write a book centered on that principle. However, he acknowledged that putting it into practice has become more challenging over time, because “many things are aligned in the markets today.”
The good news? Dalio went on to emphasize the importance of a particular diversifier in building a resilient portfolio — one asset that still stands out: gold.
“People don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” he told CNBC last year. “When times are bad, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
Long considered the ultimate safe haven, gold is not tied to any one country, currency or economy. It cannot be printed out of thin air like fiat money and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to gather – increasing its value.
Over the past 12 months, gold prices have increased by more than 60%.
One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.
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Prominent investors like Dalio often stress the importance of diversification – and for good reason. Many traditional assets tend to move together, especially during periods of market stress.
That message feels especially relevant today. Nearly 40% of the S&P 500’s weight is concentrated in its ten largest stocks and the index’s CAPE ratio hasn’t been this high since the dot-com boom.
This is where, for many investors, alternative assets come into play. These can include everything from real estate and precious metals to private equity and collectibles.
But there is one store of value that regularly flies under the radar: It is scarce by design, coveted worldwide and often locked away by institutions.
We’re talking about postwar and contemporary art — a category that has outperformed the S&P 500 with a low correlation since 1995.
It’s easy to see why pieces of art often reach new heights at auctions: The supply of the best works of art is limited and many of the most desirable pieces have already been snapped up by museums and collectors. That scarcity can also make art an attractive option for investors looking to diversify and preserve wealth over the long term.
Until recently, buying art was a domain reserved for the ultra-rich — as in 2022 when an art collection owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sold for $1.5 billion at Christie’s New York, making it the most valuable collection in auction history (5).
Now, Masterworks — a platform for investing in shares of blue-chip artwork by renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Banksy — can help you get started with this asset class. It’s easy to use and, with 25 successful releases to date, Masterworks has distributed over $65 million in total revenue (including principal).
Simply browse their impressive portfolio of paintings and select how many shares you wish to purchase. Masterworks can handle all the details, making high-end art investments both accessible and effortless.
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Note that past performance is not indicative of future earnings. Investing involves risk. See the Reg A disclosure at masterworks.com/cd.
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Ice Coffee Hour (1); Congress (2); United States Securities and Exchange Commission (3); McKinsey & Company (4); Christie’s (5)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.