Many Americans have retired from university, but Ben von Welder will likely have a positive net worth when he graduated from Purdue in the fall of 2026.
He “was always a saver,” he says, “my portfolio has grown incredibly.” He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. As of September 16, 2025, Von Werder’s savings and investment was around $115,000, according to a CNBC Make reviewed document.
That’s due to several factors. The 21-year-old Indiana native worked throughout his teenage years, hiding the majority of his income in his investment account and enlisting in the National Guard to attend college for free.
He is also focused on saving money. However, once he graduates and starts working full-time, he will be a little more free to spend on activities like travel.
“I’m young and I try to make the most of my time on my side,” he says.
Take advantage of free education and stable pay
Growing up, von Werder’s parents, both teachers, were generally modest, he says. His dad helped him establish good savings habits, but credit card debt burdened relationships within the family.
“It was something I wanted to avoid completely, so I headed to high school and made sure I was working,” he says.
As a result, Von Werder began refereeing soccer games in his early teens, and later worked as a server at his retirement home and high school deli. When he was 15, his parents helped him begin investing through a unified transfer to his Mynose account. This is a type of securities account that allows adults to invest on behalf of their children before they turn 18.
By the time von Werder was preparing for college, his parents had already left no savings for him as his two older brothers had already helped pay for the school. He saw a flyer to advertise the Indiana State Guard’s free university tuition fees and got the opportunity to pay for his education.
In addition to covering his education expenses, Von Werder makes between $400 and $550 a month from the National Guard when he goes to training. In unfolding, he made about $6,000 a month, like the 11-month stint he did in the Middle East between September 2023 and August 2024.
He also earns $2,000 while coaching high school soccer teams during the fall semester.
His service commitment meant taking two years off from school during his development, but paying college to college “set me financially for the rest of my life,” says von Welder.
When he is deployed or separated for training, he does not have to pay for housing, food or clothing. As a result, he was able to hide around 95% of the National Guard revenue in order to continue growing his portfolio.
That doesn’t mean “become rich”
As for his investment strategy, Von Werder mainly invests in a wide range of market index funds, exposed to a variety of companies and sectors, establishing him for long-term growth.
“I’m really a huge fan of passive investment and I’m just not trying to rethink that,” he says.
He is scheduled to leave the National Guard in February, when his commitment ends. While he graduates from school, Von Warder plans to continue his investments for his future and looks forward to saving cash for his post-graduation trip before he works full-time. He plans to sit for the accredited public accountant exam in fall 2026 and hopes to get a job in Indianapolis or Chicago.
Regarding his long-term investment goals, he says, “it’s not that much about getting rich.”
“It’s about ensuring financial security and being able to essentially choose what you want to do with the job you want to work, where you want to live and what you want to do with the lifestyle.
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