Retirement Requires a New Perspective on Wealth and Income

This 4^th of July, you may be throwing a party, watching fireworks, barbequing something good, or all the above. But what remains important is that you can do all that with family and loved ones. Last year on the 4^th, you may not have worried about market downturns or cost-of-living increases, but with market volatility and inflation threatening retirement plans this year, it’s important to make sure you know your options when it comes to protecting your wealth, earning income, and knowing the difference between both.

Keeping Your Income at Pace with Inflation     

Income is the basis of how we cover our costs of living. But when inflation causes prices to rise, the fixed income you may have been receiving or planned to receive in your retirement might not stretch as far as you thought. Unfortunately, you can’t stop inflation, but you can prepare by talking to your financial advisor to see how you can adjust your income streams.

A common strategy used by retirees to adjust their income to match inflation is incorporating I-bonds into their portfolios. I bonds, or Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), pay out interest distributions based on current Consumer Price Index data, which tracks inflation. For some, these can be a great way to maintain income on pace with inflation. Another investment vehicle to ask your financial advisor about is annuities. An annuity is an insurance-based financial product designed to provide you with guaranteed income.

However, income isn’t the only thing to be aware of when it comes to weathering inflation and market volatility.

Protecting Your Wealth

Protecting your wealth can be a different challenge than earning income. If you’re looking to protect your wealth from taxation, transferring your investments into a vehicle that gives you taxable income may be counterproductive. There are better ways to store and protect your wealth without paying income tax on it.

If you’re more concerned with wealth protection than covering costs of living, consider talking to your financial advisor about including new asset classes into your portfolio. Although past performance doesn’t indicate future results, there are certain wealth-protecting strategies that have served retirees well during inflationary or volatile periods. Ask your advisor about commodities such as coffee, grains, or oil as inflation and volatility protection. In addition, precious metals such as gold and silver are also asset classes that have historically worked well for retirees in volatile markets.