We’ve been taught to fear debt.
Credit cards. Student loans. Medical bills. It all feels like a trap.
But not all debt is destructive. The wealthy use it to build ownership by financing investments, not consumption.
They borrow to buy assets. They grow faster than they earn.
Most workers never get that playbook. We think it’s time they did.
When Abdul Al-Asaad-Assad realized he couldn’t even afford a single share of Tesla to invest in, it became clear that it takes money to make money.
Building wealth isn’t just about opportunity, it’s about access. That's what led him to start Basic Capital, a platform designed to make investing more attainable.
In the latest Just Go Grind podcast episode, Abdul shares the story behind the spark and the mission driving his work today.
From @bloomberg ’s Matt Levine on the Money Stuff podcast discussing Basic Capital:
“They will let you borrow money to leverage up your 401(k), and the pitch is that you’re borrowing the money in kind of a nicer way than broker margin loans. They give you a term loan, there’s no margin calls if your stocks go down.
“They’re like, ‘That’s fine, just wait five years, they’ll come back.’ It’s an interesting idea in that respect.”
Josh Wolfe of @_luxcapital : “We allow people to borrow for all kinds of depreciating assets, and we just accept this. We allow people to borrow for consumption . . . Why do we not allow people who are not owners of the American economy to own a piece of it.
“That’s really what @abude_alasaad ’s looking at, and addressing.”
More states are stepping in to ensure workers have access to retirement plans.
Thirteen now require small businesses to offer one.
It’s a shift toward long-term financial security.
See if your state is on the list.
Last month, we crossed the Hudson into the Garden State to onboard the plumbers and electricians at @service_professionals , a family-owned business with 100+ workers that’s been operating since 1994.
These are highly skilled tradespeople who take deep pride in their work and have a clear, no-nonsense grasp of how building wealth can affect their futures.
Many admitted they hadn’t prioritized retirement early on — but now recognize the urgency to catch up.
Upon our visit, that mindset shift translated into action:
-participation rate almost doubled
-7% average paycheck contribution
-90% put part of their 401k into Basic Capital
-65% average contribution into Basic Capital
One of the most tired assumptions out there is that Americans don’t save because they don’t care, or don’t understand.
That story doesn’t match what we see on the ground. People do want to build wealth. They just need tools that make the fruits of their labor go further.
Give them something that works, and they’ll use it.
Basic Capital’s Vision for Middle-Class Wealth
Our mission is clear: to create financial security for the middle class through a market-based solution — one that restores ownership for workers long abandoned by a broken system.
For too long, ownership has been out of reach for working Americans. We’re changing that. With Basic Capital, individuals and employers can multiply retirement contributions— turning $1 into $5 — so people can build wealth more effectively through their 401(k)s and IRAs.
The 401(k) is failing workers.
It assumes you already have money. It blames you when you don’t.
Basic Capital is for people who’ve been left out. We help workers and employers amplify their contributions, invest more meaningfully, and build real ownership.
We’re starting with warehouse crews, tradespeople, and startup teams. And we’re just getting going.
If you’re an employer, you can set up Basic Capital for your team.
If you’re a worker, ask your company why they haven’t yet.
