Charlie Munger once said finfluencers ‘mislead you on purpose’ — here’s the wealth-building plan he recommended instead

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and the risks associated with following dubious financial advice from social media influencers, advocating for a more traditional, passive investment approach as promoted by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger [3][4][6]. Financial Literacy and Advice - A significant portion of young Americans, specifically 42% of those aged 18 to 29, seek financial advice on social media, highlighting a concerning trend in financial literacy [4]. - Only 48% of adults could correctly answer more than half of the financial questions in the 2025 TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index, indicating a widespread lack of financial knowledge [3]. Investment Strategies - Buffett and Munger argue that most investors struggle to outperform the market, making index funds a suitable choice for average investors, with the S&P 500 delivering an average annual return of over 14% in the past decade [6][7]. - From 2003 to 2023, 98.6% of actively managed domestic equity funds underperformed the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index, reinforcing the case for passive investing [7]. Real Estate Investment - Berkshire Hathaway has invested nearly $1 billion in homebuilding companies, indicating a belief in the growing demand for U.S. housing [13]. - Platforms like Arrived allow investors to buy shares in rental properties without the responsibilities of homeownership, making real estate investment more accessible [14][15]. - Lightstone DIRECT offers accredited investors direct access to multifamily real estate opportunities, with a historical net IRR of 27.6% and a 2.54x historical net equity multiple since 2004 [21].