‘Pure intention or incompetence’: Kiyosaki says inflation’s ‘through the roof’ as debt nears $40T. Protect your nest egg

Thomas Kent

Thu, August 20, 2026 at 2:45 PM GMT+3 5 min read

Photo by Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons

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Every new breakthrough promises to make life easier. Yet, the bill for living somehow keeps getting harder to pay. Robert Kiyosaki, bestselling author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, believes that reveals something deeply wrong with the financial system.

"What we have is a growing gap today between rich and poor and that gap is now dangerous," Kiyosaki warned in a recent episode of The Rich Dad Radio Show (1). "Inflation's going through the roof through pure intention or incompetence."

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During that episode, Kiyosaki spoke with Jeff Booth, author of The Price of Tomorrow: Why Deflation Is the Key to an Abundant Future, about why innovation should allow companies to produce more for less and steadily drive prices down.

"The natural state of the free market is deflation," Booth said.

A smartphone illustrates his point. It replaced the camera, calculator, flashlight, map and music collection that consumers once purchased separately. Digital photos can now be reproduced billions of times at virtually no additional cost.

Booth argues that artificial intelligence and automation should accelerate that process across the economy. However, he believes governments and central banks are fighting that deflation by expanding debt and maintaining a financial system that depends on rising prices.

Kiyosaki puts it bluntly: "Prices should be coming down, but they're going up. But it's only going up because they're playing games with money."

Why Kiyosaki says the system needs inflation

The Federal Reserve openly targets 2% inflation over the long run (2). Kiyosaki and Booth argue that this reveals a financial system built around continually rising prices, even as technology allows businesses to produce more for less.

"What does deflation mean? It means your money buys more," Kiyosaki said.

Instead, the Consumer Price Index rose 3.4% during the 12 months ending in July (3). Energy jumped 14.7%, food increased 3% and shelter rose 3.2%. Meanwhile, federal debt reached approximately $39.93 trillion as of Aug. 14 (4).

This is why Kiyosaki has long favored scarce, tangible assets. For retirees watching inflation erode their buying power, you have some options. Here are a few.

Protect your buying power

Gold sits at the center of Kiyosaki's own defense against currency debasement (5). When it comes to gold, a central bank can't increase its supply and investors have historically turned to it during periods of financial or geopolitical stress.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account. This combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainty.

To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $10,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.

Make rising rent work for you

Housing costs are another major source of inflation. But owning rental real estate can also give you an opportunity to participate in the income those payments generate.

Rental properties have long been a proven source of steady, passive income for high-net-worth investors. In fact, direct real estate accounts for 22.5% of the typical family office portfolio (6).

However, the time, effort and costs involved in managing and maintaining multiple properties prevent many from investing. So, unless you're a hedge fund titan or an oil baron, you've likely been shut out of one of the most profitable corners of the market.

Mogul is now an option that helps bridge this gap. This real estate investment platform offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, giving investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without a hefty down payment or late-night tenant calls.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the mogul team puts each property through a vetting process so that it clears a minimum projected 12% return even in downside scenarios. The platform reports an average annual IRR of 18.8%, while cash-on-cash yields average between 10% and 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

Getting started is quick and easy. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.

Own the land behind the grocery bill

If higher food prices are eating into your budget, you may want exposure to the land that's actually producing what Americans put on their tables.

Investing in farmland is now possible — and you don't necessarily need to buy an entire farm to get exposure.

FarmTogether gives accredited investors a way to invest in fractional ownership of U.S. farmland. Investors can potentially earn income from crop production while also benefiting if the value of the land increases over time.

The platform has $217 million in assets under management across 51 funded deals, covering eight states and 15 crop types. FarmTogether says each offering goes through a 105-point due diligence process, and less than 1% of deals in its pipeline make it onto the platform.

Farmland has also historically held up differently than other assets during downturns. According to FarmTogether's own data comparing NCREIF indices from 1992-2025, farmland's returns have shown a lower correlation to inflation than stocks, bonds or REITs.

Build the right inflation hedge with help from an advisor

Gold, rental properties and farmland can all add diversification. Deciding how much of your savings to commit is the harder question, one that a financial advisor can build a plan around.

But hiring an advisor can be a lifelong commitment, which might make or break your retirement. That's why finding reliable advisors is crucial.

That's where Advisor.com can come in. This platform connects you with an expert with your financial needs in mind.

Advisor.com does the heavy lifting for you, vetting advisors based on track record, client ratios and regulatory background. Plus, its network comprises fiduciaries, who are legally required to act in your best interests.

Just enter a few details about your finances and goals and Advisor.com's AI-powered matching tool will connect you with a qualified expert best suited for your needs based on your unique financial goals and preferences.

Finding the right advisor isn't always easy and each investor needs something different. That's why Advisor.com lets you set up a free initial consultation, with no obligation to hire, to see if they're the right fit for you.