Corporate America is great at giving you a raise when inflation hits. It’s also great at letting you go during a “restructuring.” But when it comes to helping you build real wealth? That’s not exactly part of the plan. The system is designed to keep you comfortable enough not to leave, but stretched thin enough to stay. You work hard, contribute to a 401(k) you can’t touch until you’re nearly 60, and hope the market doesn’t crash right before you retire. Meanwhile, the people who own the buildings, not just work in them, are earning passive income, getting tax breaks, and building generational wealth—without punching a clock.
There’s a reason why most of the wealthy in this country invest in real estate—specifically, rental property. It produces consistent cash flow, appreciates over time, and offers real utility. But for years, the gate was closed. You needed capital, credit, and time to manage tenants. Now, thanks to platforms like Arrived, that strategy has become available to almost anyone. You can start investing in single-family rental homes with just $100, collect quarterly rental income, and own a piece of the same asset class used by the rich to stay rich—all without leaving your job or managing a thing.
The Traditional System Was Built to Keep You Passive
Let’s be real: the default path laid out for you—get a job, stash money in a 401(k), retire in your 60s—wasn’t built with flexibility in mind. Your options are limited to a handful of mutual funds, you can’t access the money without penalties, and your returns are at the mercy of the stock market. You’re told to “invest early,” but most people are just hoping their retirement account doesn’t get wiped out in the next recession.
Don’t Miss:
The problem isn’t that 401(k)s are bad—it’s that they’re incomplete. They delay access to your own money and rarely offer any income until decades later. Meanwhile, corporate executives are investing in income-producing assets: real estate portfolios, private equity, tax-advantaged holdings that throw off money now. They don’t rely on one stream of income. And they certainly don’t wait until 65 to use it.
How Arrived Makes Real Estate Ownership Accessible
Arrived is the kind of tool that would’ve been unthinkable a decade ago. It lets you buy shares in actual rental homes across the U.S.—no mortgage required, no property management headaches. You browse available homes, pick the ones you like, and invest as little as $100. Each home is owned through a dedicated LLC, and you earn your share of rental income every quarter, plus potential profits when the property sells (usually after a 5–7 year hold).
In Q4 2024, Arrived paid out $1.84 million in dividends across 365 properties with a 92% occupancy rate—numbers that rival traditional investment returns. Average targeted returns range from 5.4% to 7.2% annually, combining cash flow and appreciation.
But the bigger story is what this model unlocks: a way to build passive income outside the corporate system. You’re no longer just clocking in and hoping for a good quarter. You’re buying into real homes that pay you back—whether you’re working, traveling, or just enjoying your weekend.
What Corporate America Doesn’t Want You to Ask
The reason this strategy hasn’t been handed to you is simple: corporate systems thrive on control. When you’re fully dependent on your job and future retirement payouts, you’re easier to manage. You take fewer risks. You stay put. But once you realize that you can own a piece of a home that sends you income every 90 days—even while you’re still employed—you start to think differently about your time, your money, and your future.
Platforms like Arrived don’t require you to quit your job or become a full-time investor. They just offer you leverage—a way to put your money to work in the background while you focus on whatever you want next. Over time, those $100 investments stack up. That quarterly rent? It starts to add up, too. And eventually, you’re not just saving for retirement. You’re funding freedom.
Build a System That Pays You—Not Just Your Boss
Here’s the truth: if you only invest through the lens of your employer’s plan, you’re likely missing out on one of the most time-tested sources of long-term wealth. Real estate isn’t just for moguls anymore. Arrived has changed the equation. Now anyone can build a rental portfolio for less than the cost of a monthly streaming subscription.
You’re not speculating on crypto. You’re not betting on meme stocks. You’re investing in real homes with real tenants paying real rent. And because Arrived handles everything behind the scenes, you get to benefit without the work—just like the people at the top have done for years.
See Next:
This Is the Investment Strategy Corporate America Doesn’t Want You to Know About originally appeared on Benzinga.com.