Rich young Americans are ditching the stock market

Jul 30, 2026
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Phil Osagie

8 min read

Rich, young couple

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The stock market has long been the go-to choice for people looking to invest their money. But that could be about to change as a younger generation — with a preference for alternative investments outside the shaky stock market — enters the scene.

According to a survey from Bank of America, individuals aged 21 to 43 with at least $3 million in assets only have 25% of their portfolio invested in stocks — compared to 55% for wealthy investors aged 44 and older (1).

Most rich, young Americans (93%) say they plan to allocate more of their portfolio to alternatives in the next few years. So, what alternative investments are capturing the interest of these young millionaires?

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A golden opportunity to hedge against inflation

The Bank of America survey revealed that among wealthy young investors, 45% own gold as a physical asset, and another 45% are interested in holding it.

Historically, gold has served as a hedge against inflation and market volatility. Many investors turn to “safe haven” assets like gold during economic and geopolitical instability to preserve their wealth.

The enthusiasm of investors has indeed propelled the price of gold to record levels, with the precious metal recently sitting around the $4,000 per ounce mark as of July 2026 (2).

There are lots of gold assets to choose from, including gold bars, coins and gold stocks.

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, which 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 uncertainties.

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