How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires — and How You Can, Too    

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When you sit down with your own budgeting app, watching money go out again as soon as it comes in, you might fantasize about what it would be like to be a millionaire. Who could blame you? It seems like the wealthy have all the know-how about living the good life. They’re better connected than you are. They’re more knowledgeable than you are. They’ve got the playbook to create financial windfalls, while you’re still stuck with the 101-level textbooks. 

But not every millionaire is using secret tricks and pulling hidden levers that the rest of us can’t access. Many of them are quietly growing their portfolios through discipline and strategy — and there’s absolutely no reason you can’t do it, too.

So, how do they do it? These are some of the ways middle-class earners are quietly building wealth and making strategic moves that could help you reach your first million. Learning where to invest smartly is a crucial first step — and it’s often easier than you might think.

1. They Know You Can Grow Your Savings More Than 8x Faster Every Month

If you want to grow your wealth, you’ll want to make sure your money is working for you. And if you keep it in a traditional savings account, you could be missing out on serious growth.

When you keep your savings with Cash App, you could earn up to 3.25% interest* — that’s more than eight times faster than the average savings account (which pays just 0.39%**).

Cash App pays a base 1.5% interest rate, but when you set up a direct deposit of just $300 per month, you’ll boost that rate to 3.25% interest. Even better? There’s no minimum balance or monthly/hidden fees, and Cash App monitors your money 24/7 to look out for any fraud.

Want to boost your savings to 3.25% interest every month with Cash App’s partner bank? It’s easy to get started here with as little as $1 and watch your money grow more than eight times faster than average.**

2. They Invest in Real-Estate Loans — and Earn 8.1% in Dividends

Loaning people money and charging interest is one of the ways large institutions and the ultra-wealthy earn passive income. It’s not something that’s typically available to the average person.

But with the Arrived Private Credit Fund, you can invest in a portfolio of real-estate loans that pay dividends monthly — with a historic yield of 8.10% annualized dividends.

Arrived is a platform backed by Jeff Bezos, Marc Benioff, and other top-tier investors, with more than 800,000 registered users and nearly $300 million invested.

Here’s how it works: You’ll invest in a diversified portfolio of loans across the U.S. that help fund renovations, rehabs, and new home construction. As borrowers pay the loan back, the interest is distributed among investors like you on a monthly basis. Historically, this has yielded investors 8.10% annualized dividends.

Want to start earning passive income like the ultra-wealthy do? It’s simple to get started here and see how much you could earn.

3. 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 5.20% APY**. The best part? There’s no risk to your investment. 

For context, 5.20% 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 4.90% APY, or deposit more to earn up to 5.20% APY.

4. They Get Up to $1,000 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 $1,000 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 $1,000. 

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 $1,025 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 $1,025 a year.

Fortunately, Insurify lets you compare all your car insurance options at once — and it can save you up to $1,025 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. They Know You Can Get Matched with a Financial Advisor for Free

Even the savviest millionaires don’t know everything about money. But people who quietly build wealth know enough to know what they don’t know — that sometimes, it takes an expert’s insight to make the smartest financial decisions. 

But the idea of getting a financial advisor sounds expensive and tedious. That’s why we like a company called WiserAdvisor. They’ll match you with a financial advisor in your area — for free.

No two people have the same financial situation, which is why WiserAdvisor matches you with the best financial advisor for your specific situation, so you get an expert in the areas you need. 

There’s no obligation to hire the advisor, and WiserAdvisor screens every advisor to make sure you’re only getting matched with the best experts. 

Want to get a customized financial plan? Just start here to get matched with a financial advisor for free.

8. They Know You Can Sell Your Home Fast — No Repairs, No Agents, No Stress

Selling your house shouldn’t take months, cost you thousands in fees, or leave you wondering if the buyer’s financing will fall through. Yet that’s exactly what happens to many people who list their homes the traditional way.

Luckily, there’s a faster, simpler option: It’s called Liz Buys Houses, and they’ll make you a fast, fair cash offer for your home as-is — no inspections, no repairs, no cleaning and zero fees.

Here’s how it works: Submit a quick form online — no prep work required. Then you’ll get a call from a local buyer with your cash offer (often the same day), and you can close stress-free and walk away with cash in hand.

They buy houses in any condition and any situation — foreclosure, fire damage, liens, divorce, you name it. Thousands of homeowners have already used it to get a fair cash offer without the hassle.

If you want to close in a matter of days instead of months, avoid repairs, inspections, agent commissions and closing costs, this is one of the fastest and easiest ways to sell.Take 30 seconds to fill out a quick form and get matched with a local buyer. Get started here.

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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.

Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.

*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 also apply. Savings yield rate is subject to change.

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

 *Source: FDIC, national average of savings, week of 12/15/25. 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.

*Moneylion: Instacash® is subject to terms and eligibility requirements. 

* Fees apply for optional Turbo delivery within minutes

*SoFi: Probability of Member receiving $1,000 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

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