Home Insights Asset allocation Retirement portfolios: Be alert to inflation’s detrimental impact

Although inflation has fallen from its multi-generational highs in recent years, retirees and people approaching retirement should come to terms with the fact that price pressures tend to skew higher as we age. In particular, healthcare and prescription drugs costs have vastly outrun overall inflation, rapidly eroding retirement savings. Investors are likely better suited to incorporate TIPS and a diversified mix of real assets into their retirement portfolios, both of which can help them achieve higher real returns during retirement.

Inflation may have cooled, but the battle against rising costs is far from over for retirees and those nearing retirement. Age-related price pressures, particularly in healthcare and other essentials, tend to accelerate just as retirees begin to rely on their savings. For these individuals, preserving purchasing power isn't just a financial goal—it's a necessity.

The Rule of 72, a handy mathematical shortcut, shows that with 2% annual inflation, purchasing power is cut in half over 36 years; at 4%, in just 18 years. A retiree at age 65 with $1MM saved will see the value of their savings cut in half by age 83 with just 4% annual inflation. This stark reality underscores the critical risk that retirees face, particularly during periods of elevated inflation, that is being compounded by the nature of their expenses: longevity risk.

The possibility of outliving one's wealth should signal investors to prioritize investment strategies that can cushion elevated inflation’s corrosive impact on retirees. Simply put, including inflation-protection-related assets in a retirement portfolio is vital to maintaining real purchasing power over time.

While fixed income is often the cornerstone of capital preservation for investors, it’s not immune to the pressures of rising or high inflation. Instead, holding TIPS and a diversified mix of real assets in a retirement portfolio is practical for preserving purchasing power and extending the lifespan of retirement savings.

For a deeper dive into the impact of inflation on retirement portfolios, read Don’t underestimate inflation’s knack for dampening retirement spirits.

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Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past Performance does not guarantee future return. All financial investments involve an element of risk. Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) are indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and adjust in price (principal amount) in order to maintain their real value. Inflation and other economic cycles and conditions are difficult to predict and there Is no guarantee that any inflation mitigation/protection strategy will be successful.

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