1. They Protect Their Portfolio With Precious Metals — And Get Up to $20K in Free Metals

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that market disruptions can come out of nowhere and impact your retirement savings. 

That’s why many people invest in precious metals to diversify and protect their wealth: Precious metals often rise in value during uncertain economic times.

One option is a precious metals IRA through a company called Thor Metals Group — right now, you can even get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.

Opening an account is easy, and you can roll over funds from existing retirement accounts or buy gold and silver directly from Thor Metals Group.

If you decide to sell your precious metals in the future, Thor Metals Group offers a no-fee buy-back program. Plus, they have an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Want to diversify and safeguard your investments? It’s easy to get started here and get your free report. Plus, you could get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases — and, you’ll pay no account fees for 2025.

2. They Teach Their Kids to Be Financially Savvy — And to Grow Their Money More Than 8x Faster Every Month

Wealthy people know how important it is to teach their kids about managing money — and that Cash App Families makes it much easier.

Plus, they’ll earn 3.25% interest* — that’s more than eight times faster than the average savings account (which pays just 0.40%¹).

Cash App Families is a feature within Cash App that allows teens ages 13 to 17 to use the app with approval from an eligible parent or guardian.** Your teen gets access to a fast, secure way to send and receive money, and you get a detailed, real-time view of their transactions, balances, and spending habits.

Parents can also help teens build financial skills like investing*** — starting with as little as $1. You control investing permissions and Cash App Card spending, allowing you to set limits and help ensure responsible use.

Ready to help your teen explore spending, saving, and investing — all while earning 3.25% interest?* Download the app here to get started.

3. They Use High-Yield Savings Accounts with Competitive APYs

Most people have a savings account. But too many people keep their money in a savings account that isn’t growing their money as fast as it could be. As of Jan. 20, 2026, the national average interest rate on a savings account was just 0.39%. 

Financially savvy people know to look for high-yield savings accounts with a competitive APY, like the Capital One 360 Performance Savings account, which pays APY — more than eight times the national average.

Want to start growing your savings more than eight times faster? It’s simple to get started below and see how much you could earn.

4. They Use an Annuity to Earn Guaranteed Growth on Their Retirement Savings

Middle-income earners who hit the million-dollar mark don’t rely solely on traditional methods. They know the average savings account doesn’t pay enough interest and that the stock market can be volatile.

That’s where an annuity can come in — not only can it grow your money much faster, it can also earn you guaranteed income during retirement at a fixed rate. No stock-market risk involved.

You can get started with a Gainbridge® FastBreak™ annuity with a minimum investment of just $1,000. The more you invest, the higher rate you can earn — up to APY**. The best part? There’s no risk to your investment. 

For context, APY is more than 13 times* the average rate on a savings account. Plus, your principal amount is fully protected, unlike when you invest in the stock market.

The FastBreak™ annuity is self-directed, easy to set up and comes with 30 days to cancel your contract if you change your mind. Plus you can access up to 10% of your money each year without penalties — even if you’re under 59½.

Looking for a predictable, stable way to grow your retirement savings without risking any of your principal investment? Get started here with as little as $1,000 to earn APY, or deposit more to earn up to APY.

5. They Know You Can Pocket an Extra $325 When You Open This Checking Account

Keeping your cash in the right place is one of the easiest ways to boost your balance.

When you open a new Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account, you can earn a $325 bonus. All you have to do is make $1,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account. After the 90-day qualification period, Wells Fargo will deposit your bonus within 30 days, as long as you’ve met the requirements.

You’ll also get FDIC insurance, 24/7 fraud monitoring, and access to an app with a 4.9-star rating.

Want to add an extra $325 to your wallet? It takes just minutes to open an account.

6. They Save $1,100 on Their Car Insurance

Odds are, you’re probably paying way too much for your car insurance every month. And it can seriously add up — to the tune of $1,100 a year.

Fortunately, Insurify lets you compare all your car insurance options at once — and it can save you up to $1,100 a year. 

Just enter some basic details about your car and background, you’ll get customized quotes you can review on your own time and from the comfort of home. Ready to cut your car insurance bill? It’s easy to get started here and see how much you can save.

7. Your Money Could Grow More Than 6x Faster 

Your checking account should do more than simply hold your money. 

With the AlumniFi Checking Account, your balance can earn up to 1.00% APY^*, helping your money earn dividends while you manage day-to-day expenses. 

You’ll also have access to built-in digital tools that help you track spending, monitor your balance, and stay on top of your savings goals, giving you greater visibility into your finances. 

Even better? There’s no minimum balance, no maintenance or overdraft fees, and you’ll get a Visa debit card with access to more than 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Plus, deposits are federally insured to at least $250,000 by the NCUA and the account is backed by MSU Federal Credit Union. 

If your current checking account paying you next to nothing — and isn’t helping you manage your money — choosing one that does both could be a smarter way to bank every day. 

Get started here and watch your money grow more than six times faster ^‡. 

8. They Get Up to $3,000 in Free Stock Just For Investing

While your cash sits in a basic account doing absolutely nothing, smart investors are growing their wealth effortlessly – and getting up to $3,000 in free stock just for opening and funding a new SoFi Active Invest account.

Whether you’re new to investing or a seasoned pro, SoFi® makes it easy to start, manage and grow your portfolio by investing in stocks, ETFs and even fractional shares, meaning you can own a slice of your favorite company without having to buy a full share.

Traditional investing platforms charge fees that eat away at your gains. But with SoFi Active Invest, you keep more of what you earn: There are no commissions on stocks and ETFs, no account minimums and no hidden fees.

It takes just a few minutes to open an account. Get started here and fund your account within 45 days to earn up to $3,000. 

{{text: rateTexts.expertAdviceHeader.text}}

BROUGHT TO YOU BY {{image: rateUrls.logoPath}}

{{html: rateTexts.expertAdviceProTipsCopy.html}}

{{text: rateTexts.expertAdviceClientName.text}} Sponsored Tip {{tooltip: rateTexts.expertAdviceToolTipCopy.text}}

{{text: rateTexts.expertAdviceAdTitle.text}}

{{html: rateTexts.expertAdviceAdCopy.html}}

{{text: rateTexts.ctaButton.text}}

{{image: rateUrls.logo300X25Path}}

Bottom Line

Building wealth on a middle-class income isn’t about trying to hit it big; it’s about making thoughtful decisions and finding the best accounts to put your money to work for you. With the right tools, guidance, and the openness to making smart money moves, you can take meaningful steps toward achieving millionaire status.

*NCUA Credit Union and Bank Rates.  

*Source: FDIC, national average of savings, week of 1/20/26. Rates subject to change.**Gainbridge^®: Annuity rates are subject to change at any time, and the rate mentioned may no longer be current. Please visit Gainbridge.io for current rates, full product disclosures and disclaimer. Withdrawals above the 10% free withdrawal amount are subject to a withdrawal charge and market-value adjustment. FastBreak™ is issued by Gainbridge Life Insurance Company in Zionsville, Indiana. FastBreak™ is not a tax-deferred annuity; instead, it is taxed annually.

AlumniFi: *APY=Annual Percentage Yield See full rates and terms at alumnifi.org/rates. 

‡Competitor’s interest checking account with a 0.15% APY – $2,500 average based on the credit unions national average rate, as of 09/26/2025, as reflected on NCUA Credit Union and Bank Rates. 

*SoFi: Probability of Member receiving $3,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease.

Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view SoFi’s fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees

There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Capital One interest rates accurate as of 03/12/2026. See website for all current rates. Savings vary depending on account usage and payment behavior.

Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See Terms & Conditions.

*Cash App will pass through a portion of the interest paid on your savings balance held in an account for the benefit of Cash App customers at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. To earn the highest interest rate on your Cash App savings balance, you need to (a) have a Cash App Card or sponsor one or more sponsored accounts and receive at least $300 in paycheck direct deposits each month; or (b) have a sponsored account with sponsor approval to earn interest. Exceptions may apply. Savings yield rate is subject to change.

¹The national average savings account interest rate is 0.40% APY, according to the FDIC, as of Sept. 15, 2025.

**To view the eligibility requirements for sponsoring a teen, please visit the Sponsored Accounts section of the Cash App Terms of Service.***Brokerage services provided by Cash App Investing LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, subsidiary of Block, Inc. Investing is a non-deposit, non-bank product that is not FDIC insured and involves risk, including monetary loss. Block, Inc. is not a member of FINRA or SIPC. For additional information, see the Cash App Investing disclosures. Fractional shares investing may involve additional risks such as non-transferability. For additional information regarding the unique risks and limitations of fractional shares, please see your Investing Customer Account Agreement.

GOBankingRates maintains editorial independence. While we may receive compensation from actions taken after clicking on links within our content, no content has been supplied by any advertiser prior to publication.