The Role of Immigrants in Shaping the U.S. Economic Future

The role of immigrants in shaping the U.S. economic future isn’t a prediction, it’s a present-day reality. Immigrants are not just participating in the economy. They are actively rebuilding it, growing it, and redefining what wealth looks like in this country. And if you’re an immigrant reading this, that includes you.

This post will help you understand why your financial actions matter so much, and how you can take steps to own your role as a wealth-builder, no matter your immigration status or financial starting point.

Immigrants Are the Backbone of Economic Growth

Walk into any restaurant, construction site, hospital, or logistics center across the U.S., and you’ll find immigrants making everything run. Immigrants aren’t just a part of the economy, they are the economy.

• 1 in 5 entrepreneurs in the U.S. is an immigrant
• Immigrants pay over $400 billion in taxes each year
• They represent 17% of the U.S. workforce and over 20% of essential workers

Despite these numbers, financial services rarely speak to immigrants directly. That’s a massive missed opportunity because immigrants are the ones fueling local economies and community stability.

→ If you’ve never been told this before: the way you earn and spend money already contributes to national growth. You’re not just surviving, you’re driving.

First-Generation Wealth Builders Are Creating New Legacies

If you’re the first in your family to budget, invest, or think about retirement, it’s easy to feel like you’re behind. But that’s not the truth. You’re not behind, you’re building a new path forward.

No one handed you a guidebook, but here you are, figuring out credit cards, learning about high-yield savings accounts, researching how to invest and buy a home. That takes courage. And here’s where to begin if you feel stuck:

Start by making your first budget. Keep it simple, just three categories: fixed expenses, goals, and joy. That’s it.
This kind of clarity helps you build structure toward making your goals real, even if the system was never built for you.

Your financial clarity is a radical act. It sends a message: “I’m not waiting for the system to change, I’m creating my own.”

Barriers Exist, But Immigrants Keep Building Anyway

Let’s name it: many financial institutions make it hard for immigrants to succeed. They ask for credit histories that don’t exist, deny access without a Social Security Number, and offer no education tailored to immigrant realities.

And still, immigrants are building wealth.

One of the most powerful tools? The ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). With it, immigrants who don’t have SSNs can:

• Open investment accounts
• File taxes and build a financial record
• Start contributing to long-term wealth

Here’s a real move you can make today: get an investment account open 
Go to a brokerage firm that accepts ITINs like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard. If you need support getting your account open, book one of our INVESTOR Intensives.

Immigrant Innovation Is Reshaping Wealth Norms

What many call “remittances” or “side hustles” are actually part of a bigger economic revolution. Immigrants are modeling new financial systems, rooted in community, sacrifice, and long-term vision.

It’s not just about survival anymore. It’s about strategy.

• Buying a duplex and renting part of it for income
• Investing $50/month into index funds to build a safety net
• Starting small businesses that support entire families

Even opening a high-yield savings account (HYSA) instead of letting your money sit in a 0.01% interest bank is a shift. Online banks like Ally, Capital One, or Marcus often offer high interest rates, which means your savings actually grow to build passive income.

If you’ve got $2,000 in savings, and it’s earning nothing, you’re already falling behind. Switching to a HYSA can earn you free money in interest each year without lifting a finger.

Reclaiming the Financial Leader You Already Are

You may not feel like a “financial leader.” But if you’re organizing family budgets, managing bills, or helping your parents understand taxes, you already are one.

Leadership looks like:

• Teaching your siblings how to apply for a credit card
• Asking your employer about financial benefits
• Saying “no” when you need to protect your savings
• Helping your parents plan for retirement 

This week, try this:

Write down three financial actions you’ve taken this year that made you proud. Then write down one new financial move you’re ready to make this month.

Simple acts like these build identity. They train your brain to recognize your power and expand it.

A Legacy in Motion

The role of immigrants in shaping the U.S. economic future is more than statistics or headlines. It’s found in everyday decisions, setting up automatic savings, choosing to invest, saying “I deserve financial peace.”

Remember, immigrants are an economic force.

You are not behind. In fact, you are building something new.
You are not alone. You are part of a growing wave of immigrants rewriting the rules of money.