Robert Kiyosaki Says You Need To Do These 4 Things During a Recession
Could you actually benefit from a recession?
Although the often-feared word "recession" was top of mind throughout 2025, as the year drew to a close experts — including those at Bloomberg — suggested that the time for panic wasn't quite at hand, in this case due to the continued strength of the ongoing AI boom.
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But what about when that boom turns to bust and recession inevitably rears its head within the U.S. economy once more? A favorite topic of author and finance guru Robert Kiyosaki (made famous for his "Rich Dad Poor Dad" series of books), the question of what exactly one might do during a recessionary period has been the subject of his pointed commentary over the years.
Update (and Upgrade) Your Financial Education
In a March 2025 post shared to X, Kiyosaki claimed that the world was involved in an ongoing recession, despite analyst claims to the contrary. His advice: Listen to both the words of wisdom and quackery, on YouTube and learn to discern the difference.
"Investing your free time into studying the lessons taught by real and fake teachers on You Tube ... Just might be the smartest thing you could do. It might be your best investment ... the best and the worst education is free," Kiyosaki wrote, after underscoring the fact that his audience should be cognizant of the amount of would-be con artists on social media.
Be an Anti-Fragile 'Wartime' Leader During Times of Recession
In a long-form April 2020 discussion with podcaster Lewis Howes held during the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiyosaki staked out a few fundamental notions to hold during a difficult economy.
First, Kiyosaki said three types of people: "The first kind is 'fragile.' They are like champagne flutes ... you hit them, they shatter. The second kind is called 'robust.' A robust person is like a rock; you can pound a dump on them, they take it, but that's all they do ... And then there is 'antifragile,' who is somebody ... who gets smarter and better because ... of the crap that is dumped on them."
Kiyosaki advised that entrepreneurial spirit, rather than corporate ladder-climbing, was key to wealth-building ... especially if someone had taken some licks from a damaged economy or a business misstep and come back ready to fight again.
"Entrepreneurs can create their own success ... So this is the best of times for the wartime leaders and a horrible time for the peacetime warriors," he said.
Ditch Excess Fiat Money and Buy Gold, Silver and Bitcoin Directly
This is a long-standing call to action from Kiyosaki, but last year Kiyosaki made it very clear that he considered excessive cash savings to be a losing proposition, particularly in times of economic turbulence.
"As I have been warning for years the best way to protect yourself is not by saving fake fiat money. You bail you and your family out by saving real gold, silver and bitcoin ... No ETFs," Kiyosaki wrote.
When the Recessionary Crash Clears, Business Opportunity Abounds
Finally, when the dust clears from any recession, Kiyosaki advises pushing hard on your own business.
Stating that everyone else was fearful (in his words, "hiding like little cockroaches") following the 2008 crash known as the Great Recession, Kiyosaki claimed that he'd made more money at that time than he had during his entire life previously.
"The best time to start a business is right after a crash ... It's gonna be bargains everywhere," he said in a 2022 interview.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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