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Surveys

Stocks Remain the Top Choice for Building Wealth Outside of a 9-to-5

According to a survey of 672 U.S. professionals conducted on Blind from September 9 to October 3, 2026, 71% said stock market investments are the best way to build wealth outside of their primary job.

Stocks Remain the Top Choice for Building Wealth Outside of a 9-to-5

For most U.S. professionals on Blind, the stock market remains the preferred way to build wealth outside of a primary job.

According to a survey of 672 U.S. professionals conducted on Blind from September 9 to October 3, 2026, 71% said stock market investments are the best way to build wealth outside of their primary job. Real estate investments followed at 9%, while 8% chose starting a business or side hustle.

Prediction Markets Get Attention, But Few See Them as a Wealth-Building Strategy

Prediction markets have attracted significant media attention and increased advertising in recent years, but relatively few professionals on Blind view them as a way to build wealth.

Just 2% of respondents selected prediction markets as the best way to build wealth outside of their primary job. Among those respondents, 55% were between the ages of 25 and 44, suggesting that the option has some appeal among younger and mid-career professionals.

Stock market investing was the most popular choice across the survey, with 41% of stock-investing respondents ages 35-44, followed by 25-34-year-olds at 26% and 45-54-year-olds at 19%.

Cryptocurrency showed a different age pattern. Of the 3% of respondents who selected crypto, 69% were between 35 and 54, while 31% were between 18 and 34.

Overall, the results suggest that while traditional investments remain the dominant wealth-building strategy among professionals surveyed, preferences for alternatives such as crypto, prediction markets, and side hustles vary across age groups.

Methodology

Blind surveyed 672 U.S. professionals from September 9 through October 3, 2026.

Respondents were asked:

  1. Which of the following do you think is the best way to build wealth outside of your primary job?
    1. Stock market investments (71%)
    2. Real estate investments (9%)
    3. Cryptocurrency (3%)
    4. Prediction markets (2%)
    5. Starting a business or side hustle (8%)
    6. Other (7%)
  2. What is your age group?
    1. 18-24 (3%)
    2. 25-34 (25%)
    3. 35-44 (41%)
    4. 45-54 (20%)
    5. 55-64 (5%)
    6. 65+ (5%)

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