Is Bitcoin a Good Investment for Retirement? What Experts Recommend
Suze Orman, Clark Howard, and Dave Ramsey all have opinions on whether retirees should hold Bitcoin, and they do not fully agree. The answer depends on one factor most retirees overlook when they first consider adding crypto to their portfolio.
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When it comes to whether Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) is a wise investment for retirement, financial experts Suze Orman, Clark Howard, and the hosts of The Ramsey Show offer differing opinions. However, they all agree on one key principle: retirees should only invest money they can afford to lose.
This advice holds particular significance in September 2026. Bitcoin is trading at around $83,355 after a 44% rise over the last three months. Yet it’s still down 25% year over year and about 34% below its all-time high of $126,080 in October 2025. With such volatility, should retirees consider putting their hard-earned savings into Bitcoin?
What Suze Orman, Clark Howard and Dave Ramsey Say About Bitcoin
In an October 2022 episode of The Ramsey Show, a 72-year-old caller named Maggie expressed her desire to cash out her portfolio for cryptocurrency. Dave Ramsey cautioned her, stating that the crypto market is “a lot darker than the stock market,” and emphasized the risks involved.
Suze Orman presents a more favorable perspective. In March 2024, she expressed some optimism about Bitcoin, saying she had “a little bit of confidence that Bitcoin is going to go up.” However, she also advised caution, reiterating her longstanding rule: “only invest in Bitcoin with money that you can afford to lose,” and to brace for “20 or 30% drops overnight.”
Clark Howard takes a firmer stance against Bitcoin, stating in December 2018 that it “is not really designed to be an investment,” labeling it as more of a “speculative event.” A Ramsey Show host added in January 2025 that prospective Bitcoin buyers should first allocate 15% of their income to retirement plans and then use “fun money” for investing in crypto.
Why a 25% Bitcoin Drop Hurts Retirees More Than 30-Year-Olds
For a 30-year-old holding Bitcoin, a 25% market drop may be less damaging because they have ongoing income and time to recover. In contrast, a retiree who relies on selling Bitcoin each month to cover living expenses faces a more challenging situation.
For instance, at about $111,000 a year ago, a $2,000 monthly withdrawal would require selling about 0.018 BTC. Now, at $83,355, the same withdrawal demands about 0.024 BTC, meaning they’d have to sell a third more coins. Once those coins are sold, they can’t be recovered, leaving the retiree with less Bitcoin for when the price recovers.
This is an example of sequence-of-returns risk, which shows how the timing of gains and losses affects a retiree’s savings. A market drop early in retirement can significantly impact financial stability, which is why we’ve created a free guide to help retirees navigate these crucial early years.
Treasuries Paying Near 5% Offer Retirees Steadier Income Than Bitcoin
As of September 25, 2026, the 10-year Treasury yields around 5.2%, and the two-year Treasury yields about 4.8%. For retirees, holding a Treasury bond to maturity offers predictable interest payments and the return of the principal investment. For example, a $100,000 investment in 10-year Treasuries would yield approximately $5,170 annually, or about $430 monthly.
In contrast, Bitcoin provides no interest or cash flow. Its value can only increase if another buyer pays a higher price in the future. While Treasuries carry risks—such as potential losses if sold before maturity when interest rates rise—they generally pose less risk than facing a 25% loss over a short period. Moreover, fixed income payments align more closely with fixed expenses.
Is Bitcoin a Good Investment for Retirement?
For most retirees, Bitcoin is not a sound primary investment option. It may be suitable for a small group of retirees whose income sources, such as pensions and Social Security, cover their living expenses. Such retirees may invest in Bitcoin without needing to sell during downturns. This approach aligns with the experts’ advice, allowing a small Bitcoin investment that can withstand a potential 34% drop without affecting their budget.
Thus, is Bitcoin a good investment for retirement? It may be a minor addition for retirees whose guaranteed income covers their expenses, while Treasuries offer close to 5% returns. For retirees who need to draw from their savings, the risk remains that a future downturn might lead to selling Bitcoin at a loss, the same risk Ramsey warned Maggie about.
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Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst who's spent nearly a decade making blockchain understandable—no easy task when most whitepapers read like fever dreams. He writes for 24/7 Wall St., covering Bitcoin, altcoins, and crypto market analysis for investors. Before crypto, he was a tech writer (back when explaining "the cloud" was peak innovation). Since 2018, he's written for CoinTelegraph, Yahoo Finance, The Block, Cryptonews, Zypto, Rain, and more—basically anywhere people want crypto news without the headache. Sam runs MacLabs Marketing, a content agency for crypto brands tired of sounding like AI wrote their website. He also publishes free crypto education on his site for Web3 enthusiasts who think "gas fees" is a typo. When he's not writing or staring at charts, Sam's either: - Watching anime (currently convinced One Piece has better tokenomics than most altcoins) - At the gym sculpting himself into a Greek god - Listening to the music your mum warned you only bad boys listen to Connect: LinkedIn | Email | MacLabs Marketing
