Retire Like the Rich: 14 Ways You Could Build Wealth in Your 50s

Last updated Sept. 5, 2026 | By FinanceBuzz Editors

You've worked too hard to let it all slip away now. But between rising costs, market volatility, and the ticking clock to retirement, your financial independence could be under threat.

That's why smart Americans over 50 are using tools that help protect what they've built — while still giving them a shot at more. More travel. More freedom. More security for your family.

Whether you're retired or not, it's not too late to take control. These brilliant strategies could help you grow your savings without changing jobs or doing a ton of extra work.

Retire with more by starting with these easy moves

Crush High-Interest Debt First: Debt with double-digit interest rates is like trying to fill a leaky bucket. Pay down credit cards and personal loans aggressively. Every dollar you wipe out in interest is a dollar that can start working for you instead of the bank.

Catch Up Like It’s Your Last Job: Being 50 or older comes with a financial bonus — bigger contribution limits. You can put thousands more into your 401(k) and IRA each year. It’s like a legal cheat code to build your nest egg faster while also lowering your taxable income.

Turn Idle Time Into Income: Your free time has value — especially if you use it to build passive income. Start a side hustle, buy dividend-paying stocks, rent out a space, or sell your expertise online. People who retire early often have more than one stream of income. You can too.

Track Every Dollar (Just for 30 Days): Most people think they know where their money goes — until they write it all down. Do a one-month audit of your spending. You’ll spot patterns, cut waste, and uncover cash you can redirect toward savings or investing. Awareness is the first step to wealth.

Put Your Savings on Autopilot: The easiest way to save more? Stop relying on willpower. Set up automatic transfers into a high-yield savings account or retirement fund. Even small amounts grow fast when they move consistently.

Pay no interest into 2027 with this no annual fee card

If you're struggling to pay down high interest debt (or you're planning a major purchase this year), this might be the exact thing you need. There's a card that allows you to pause credit card interest into 2027 ... and the best part is that it could be easier than you think.  

Discover it® Cash Back (Rates and fees) is an extremely powerful card that gives you 0% intro APR for an astounding 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. (Then APR is 17.49% - 26.49% (Variable); Balance transfer fee applies.) That's right — you can now finance large purchases you've been sitting on without paying massive interest. Or, transfer crippling high interest debt to this card and let your payments go directly to paying down your balance, without piling on additional interest charges — all with no annual fee.

But it doesn't end there. The Discover it® Cash Back card also lets you earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 

Apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back card

How Ohio homeowners are preventing roof rot, mold, and foundation damage for good

Most homeowners think of gutters as just a cleaning chore. The bigger risk is what happens when they clog. Overflowing gutters can lead to water damage, roof rot, mold, even foundation problems, the kind of repairs that run into the thousands.

If you own a home in Ohio, HomeBuddy offers a powerful, one-of-a-kind gutter guard built to prevent exactly that. Their micromesh filter keeps common debris out, so your gutters stay clear and your home stays protected. And because it actually works, you may be able to stop hiring gutter cleaners altogether. The company will even clean out and realign your gutters before they install.

Don't waste money on cheap, ineffective guards that claim to be clog-free. This one's built to last.

See if you qualify today: Click the link below, enter your ZIP code and home info, and a representative will reach out to schedule a free estimate.

See if you qualify

Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $500,000 portfolio

If you have $500,000 saved up, this is for you. The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money. Instead, you want your money to generate a real income while you enjoy your life.

Answer a few quick questions about your financial situation, and this free service will match you with an advisor to build you a Complete Plan for Retirement Income.

Answer a few questions. Get matched with a financial advisor today.

Earn a $200 bonus with this incredible cash back card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees) lets you earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening

In addition to this welcome offer, this card lets you earn cash back on everything you buy. Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

And it gets better (really): This card also gives you 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. That means you could finance large purchases or pay down high-interest debt for over a year. After the intro period, the APR is 18.24% - 27.74% Variable. Oh, and the annual fee is $0

It's almost a no-brainer to apply. 

Good or excellent credit (typically 670 or higher) is recommended.

Click here to Apply Now to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

See if your credit card debt is eligible for this debt relief program

If you have a lot of credit card debt, getting out of it can feel stressful (and nearly impossible). Here’s the problem: the longer you put off tackling it, the harder it gets to fix. If you don’t take control of it early on, it can add undue stress to your life for years. But what if there was a way to resolve your debt once and for all?

ClearOne Advantage can help.1 If you have more than $30,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their representatives may be able to help you resolve your debt for less than you owe — with one low monthly program payment.

Best of all? There are zero upfront fees, and you could be debt-free in 24-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions and get connected with a caring representative. The consultation is completely free and only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify!

See if your $30k+ in credit card debt is eligible for ClearOne Advantage


Did You Know?
On average, debt settlement saves clients around 32% of their enrolled debt after fees, according to a 2023 study by the Association for Consumer Debt Relief. The consultation costs nothing. People who enroll and complete the program could be debt-free in 24 to 48 months.
Sources: Association for Consumer Debt Relief (2023)

Don’t pay a CENT to contractors for home repairs until you do this

Sounds crazy. And maybe you’re not even sure if this is real. But … you’re probably curious anyway. Choice Home Warranty makes it so you might be able to save $100s in home repairs!

They’ve been around since 2008 (so you know they’re legit) and they offer affordable plans to cover appliances and systems in your home that could break down from routine wear and tear.

Think of it like this: Say your air conditioning unit breaks down during a heatwave. Instead of paying $1,500 for repairs, you may only need to pay a $100 service fee with Choice Home Warranty, and their techs come and fix it ASAP. This could save you $1,400 almost instantly!

Choose a plan here and you can still lock in their ultra-low 2026 rates (for a limited time). Then, whenever a covered system in your home breaks down, all you have to do is make your claim online or give them a call. Their team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.2

Choose a plan from Choice Home Warranty here and lock in 2026 rates

P.S. Use the links above and you’ll get $50 off and 1 month free. We don’t know how long this will last, so take advantage of it today before it disappears.

Save potentially $1,000 or more on home insurance in Columbus

Most people don't even think twice about what they pay for home insurance. Huge mistake. Especially if you want more money in retirement. If you live in Columbus and you haven’t checked rates recently, you could save potentially $1,000s.

Provide Home Insurance is actively helping homeowners score huge savings on better home insurance. They bring top insurance providers together to compete for your business, potentially giving you a better deal. This could drive the cost down for you by orders of magnitude.

You could slash the cost of home insurance by tapping into potential discounts and incentives most homeowners probably don’t even know exist.

You might be eligible if you check these 3 boxes:

  1. You own your home.
  2. You are willing to switch providers to save money.
  3. Your ZIP code qualifies.

Complete this short questionnaire to see if you qualify

Diversify your hard-earned retirement savings with gold

GoldTrustGuide is actively helping Americans find greater retirement security with precious metal investments like gold. In fact, from 2005 to 2020, the price of gold increased by 330%. And during the stock market crash of 2008, the value of gold increased by 25%.3They match you with top-rated providers offering physical gold and silver IRAs with a proven track record during unstable markets.4

Protect your savings today in 3 easy steps:

  1. Answer 4 quick questions on your goals and timeline.
  2. Get matched instantly with a top-rated provider suited to your goals.
  3. Speak to a specialist for a free, no-obligation consultation.

They hold a Top Rated designation from the Business Consumer Alliance and earn a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot and 4.8 stars on Google. Get your free Gold IRA match today.

Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000 portfolio

If you have $1,000,000 saved up, this guide is for you. The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money. Instead, you want your money to generate a real income while you enjoy your life.

Answer a few quick questions about your financial situation, and you'll get a personalized financial plan plus a free guide: The Complete Guide to Retirement Income

FinanceBuzz has helped millions of readers make smarter money decisions since 2016. Our team researches over 600 financial products so you don't have to. 

Answer a few questions to get your free retirement income guide

Set up direct deposit and complete qualifying activities - pocket $500

If you aren't banking with Truist, you're missing out on a boost of extra cash just by following a few simple steps.

Earn a bonus of $500 after you open a new Truist One Checking account online, in a branch, or by phone between July 14, 2026 and February 2, 2027 using a valid promo code.5To earn the $500 bonus, your account needs to receive at least 2 qualifying direct deposits totaling $2,000 or more and complete 20 qualifying debit card purchase transactions within 120 days of account opening. The reward will be deposited to the new checking account within 10 business days after the qualification requirements have been met and verified. Terms apply.

This is a great way to supercharge your earnings. It basically takes no extra work at all other than following the steps above. Plus, your new account offers benefits like no overdraft fee and options to avoid a monthly maintenance fee on top of the bonus.

Open your account and earn a $500 bonus

Get the budgeting app that truly does it all

You think you're doing fine financially. You pay your bills, you save some money, and you're not eating out every meal. But do you really know exactly where your money’s going?

Monarch lets you visualize your spending with intuitive diagrams. Most people are scared to look. But once you see exactly where every dollar goes, you can finally take control.

This powerful all-in-one budgeting app is not only great for tracking, but gives you a true view of all your assets in one place, and our editor Greg loves it.

“I love Monarch Money. It was such an easy way to see where my money was going vs building a budget from scratch. The real value is giving my wife access so we can both follow along together!”

Monarch’s money tools are top-notch, which means they do come with a cost — as low as $8.33/mo. But you can get started today with a 7-day free trial. Plus, get 50% off your first year of Core Plan with code MONARCHVIP.

Try Monarch for free today and get 50% off your first year of Core Plan with code MONARCHVIP

Earn 75,000 bonus points — worth up to $1,125 towards travel

If you're planning a trip, apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates and fees) here and you can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months — that's worth up to $1,125 toward travel through Chase Travel!

Plus, earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, vacation homes, gas & EV charging, top streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs); 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases — with an extremely low annual fee of $95 and no foreign transaction fee.

The card could pay for itself quickly: you'll earn up to $100 Chase Travel hotel credit each anniversary year, get a complimentary year of Apple TV (a $156 value, must activate by 12/31/26), and up to $120 toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every four years.

If you travel even once a year, this card could net you $100s in rewards to use toward travel. Don't delay. Apply today!

Click here to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card now

Recommended Credit Score info
Good
670-739
Excellent
740-850

Tap the equity in your home without adding another monthly payment (home must be worth at least $200,000)

If you own the home you live in but don't want to go for a traditional HELOC, Splitero could be perfect.

How it works: Splitero is a Home Equity Investment product that bets on your home's future value going up. They give you cash now, and when you sell, refinance, or pay Splitero back in cash, you give them a small portion based on how much your home is worth then.

(By the way, if your home value decreases, the value of the percentage Splitero is entitled to also decreases. That could be a lot safer for you.)

Splitero is rated "A" by the BBB and works with single family homes, condos, townhomes, and 2 to 4 unit properties. No mobile or manufactured homes. Use the money however you like. Pay off debt, renovate, invest … all without worrying about additional monthly payments.

You may qualify if you:

  1. Have 30% or more equity in your home. (Not sure how much equity you have? Click below and Splitero can help show you.)
  2. Have a home worth at least $200,000.
  3. Have a credit score of 500+.

Enter your home address here to see if you pre-qualify in less than 2 minutes

Ohio residents, save big on new windows

Old windows drive up your home's electric bill. But if you live in Ohio and your windows are 5+ years old, you could save big.

Renewal by Andersen is actively helping homeowners score huge savings. Their certified master professionals install high-quality, energy-efficient windows that could help reduce energy bills and improve comfort.

They make it extremely easy to upgrade your windows with financing options available and special limited-time offers. The entire process is hassle free.

Get started now if you check these 3 boxes:

  1. You own your home.
  2. Your windows are 5+ years old.
  3. You live in an available ZIP code.

Complete this short questionnaire to get started

BONUS: For a limited time, buy one get one 40% OFF.6 Plus, get $200 off your purchase!6

Ask this company to pay off your late tax debt

Past-due tax debt is overwhelming. It weighs on your mind and causes massive anxiety. You end up emotionally and physically drained. Even worse when the IRS starts sending letters threatening wage garnishment and huge fines.

Guardian Tax is designed specifically to help you get out of tax debt faster and could even eliminate or reduce some of the debt you owe. While most tax companies just put you on a payment plan and file your taxes for you, they talk to the IRS directly, and could help you pay off your tax debt faster while potentially reducing what you owe.

Guardian Tax is BBB accredited, and as long as you can afford a simple monthly payment associated with your debt each month, they could help you eliminate it faster than you thought possible!

Important: Not everyone will qualify. To take advantage of this special program you must owe more than $10,000 in past-due taxes.

Fill out this form to get started

Get the best price on your bathroom remodel with free quotes

Looking to remodel your bathroom? Get your free quote and compare prices from top local pros in your area. Homeowners in available ZIP codes could find great deals on their bathroom renovation.

Modernize connects you with local remodeling pros who compete for your business, which could help you get a better price. Take a minute to compare quotes and see what your bathroom remodel could cost.

If your bathroom is outdated, remodeling could improve the resale value of your home and your everyday comfort. Every homeowner should compare quotes to see what a new bathroom could cost.

Get your free quote to get started

Earn up to a $3,000 bonus with this checking account

We hate to tell you this, really. But if you aren't banking with HSBC, you're missing out on extra cash — as much as up to $3,000. Don't worry though … It's easy to fix.

Earn up to a $3,000 Cash Bonus7 when you open an HSBC Premier checking account8 by December 31, 2026. Add your preferred amount of deposits and/or eligible investments within 30 days, maintain your balances for 3 full consecutive months, and remain opted-in to receive HSBC marketing emails.

  • Get $1,000: Deposit or invest $50,000 to $99,999
  • Get $1,500: Deposit or invest $100,000 to $249,999
  • Get $2,000: Deposit or invest $250,000 to $499,999
  • Get $3,000: Deposit or invest $500,000+

HSBC is a premium bank you'll love. You'll manage your finances around the world, with Premier privileges in select countries, perfect for global lifestyles. And you'll get access to a personal Wealth Relationship Manager to help you reach your goals.

This is a great way to supercharge your earnings. But hurry, this up to $3,000 Cash Bonus won't last forever. Open an account today and add qualifying new deposits to take advantage of this significant bonus while it lasts!

Open your new HSBC Premier checking account here

Have $1,000,000 saved for retirement? What does that actually mean for your lifestyle?

If you have $1,000,000 saved up, this is for you. The last thing you want in retirement is to run out of money. Instead, you want your money to generate a real income while you enjoy your life.

Answer a few quick questions about your financial situation, and this free service will match you with an advisor to build you a Complete Plan for Retirement Income.

Answer a few questions. Get matched with a financial advisor today.