You Don’t Need To Be a Tech Bro or Crypto Trader To Get Rich — 5 Non-Trendy Paths to Wealth

Building wealth doesn’t have to mean launching a startup, day-trading crypto, or chasing the next tech unicorn.

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Some of the most effective strategies are the least flashy and the most overlooked. While they may not come with Twitter hype or venture capital buzz, these methods work quietly in the background to grow real, lasting wealth.

If you’re more into steady gains than sudden fame, here are five non-trendy ways to get rich without the drama.

Contribute Consistently to Retirement Accounts

Regularly investing in tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s may not be exciting, but it’s one of the most powerful ways to build long-term wealth. Thanks to compound interest and tax breaks, steady contributions can quietly outperform trend-chasing strategies over time.

“People often don’t think about how powerful compound interest can be over time,” said Julian Merrick, founder and CEO of Supertrader. “While everyone else is busy looking for the next big thing, those who regularly put money into retirement accounts are quietly making sure they’ll have enough money in the future.”

Merrick explained, “These low-key strategies usually do better than trend-based investing because they don’t depend on market hype or volatility. Wealth grows steadily over time, and the returns are more stable than those of more risky investments. Also, tax breaks make long-term growth much faster.”

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Invest in Real Assets

Platforms now make it possible for individuals to invest in real-world assets, such as solar energy projects, without requiring a stock market. These investments generate steady, long-term revenue based on the demand for electricity, not speculation or hype.

For example, while many investors focus on stocks, some are turning to income-generating infrastructure, such as solar energy, through regulated crowdfunding, said Tyler Hurlburt, director of investor relations at Energea, a renewable energy investment platform.

“They’re grounded in real-world demand,” Hulburt said. “Solar energy projects produce reliable revenue, independent of market volatility. While trends come and go, the need for electricity — and the contracts behind these projects — provides consistent cash flow that isn’t based on speculation.”

Use Tax Strategy To Boost Returns

Reducing taxes can be just as powerful as earning high returns. When investors align their investment strategy with a smart tax approach through account types, timing, or structure, they can increase their after-tax gains and build wealth more efficiently.

“Having a solid tax strategy that aligns with your investment strategy is the most underrated investment advice, but one of the top priorities for ultra-high net worth investors,” said Kelly Ann Winget, CEO, founder, and fund manager at Alternative Wealth Partners.

Winget explained, “If you can reduce or eliminate taxes associated with your income or your investment returns, then you can add an additional 20-50% to your overall return.”

Even conservative investments earning 6-8% often deliver closer to 4% after accounting for taxes and inflation.

“If you can reduce or eliminate your tax liability through the type of investing, entity structure, or timing, then that return stays closer to 6%,” Winget said.

Go Beyond Traditional Retirement Accounts

While consistently contributing to traditional retirement accounts is a solid foundation, some investors choose to take it a step further.

Mikey Lucas, founder of American Energy Fund, said that strategies like self-directed IRAs and 1031 Exchanges enable individuals to invest in real assets and defer taxes, thereby boosting long-term growth without relying solely on Wall Street.

“A self-directed IRA gives you the power to take your retirement funds and put them into private energy projects; assets you actually control,” Lucas said. “A 1031 Exchange lets you defer capital gains by rolling real estate profits into energy infrastructure.”

Lucas added, “These tools aren’t just for the ultra-wealthy. They’re for anyone who’s serious about scaling their wealth without losing it to taxes and inflation. The IRS code is a playbook. If you learn the rules, you can win. If you ignore them, you get penalized.”

Automate Investing With Index Funds

Automated contributions to low-cost index funds are one of the most reliable ways to build long-term wealth.

“It is not flashy, but consistently contributing a portion of your paycheck every month (especially if your employer offers a match) is one of the most reliable ways to grow wealth over time,” said Diana Babaeva, a financial expert and founder of Twistly.ai.

Babaeva added, “It removes the emotion and guesswork from investing. Most people think they need to ‘time the market,’ but time in the market is what really makes the difference.”

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: You Don’t Need To Be a Tech Bro or Crypto Trader To Get Rich — 5 Non-Trendy Paths to Wealth