It makes me feel kind of old when I hear myself saying, “I remember when that used to cost…” The problem is that I seem to be saying that more often than I used to. When did hamburgers and jeans get so expensive? The other day I went to a new pizza place and thought for sure they made a mistake on the check or that maybe I broke something, because I don’t know how dough, sauce and cheese can be that expensive. Don’t even get me started on cars, houses, and healthcare.
Maybe I’m being nostalgic about “the good old days,” but I don’t think so. Things seem to be getting more expensive faster than I remember. We all still want to go out and enjoy ourselves by having a nice dinner, buying new clothes, maybe even a new car every 4 or 5 years. But when you start watching every dollar, it becomes a little harder to enjoy the things you used to do.
Now, I’m not telling you to go out and spend money like it’s burning a hole in your pocket, but you should have the freedom to enjoy yourself. You’ve worked hard your whole life. Live a little! It becomes easier to do if you have a solid financial plan that accounts for inflation.
Inflation is the thing that gives us the feeling that everything has become so expensive. A financial plan that accounts for inflation gives you the freedom to live the way you do today, without worrying about running out of money tomorrow. Not accounting for inflation in your retirement plan puts you at a serious disadvantage and at risk for depleting your funds on life’s essentials and your current standard of living.
If you’re not sure if your retirement plan is built to defend against inflation it’s time to get a second opinion from a financial professional. You can get a complimentary meeting from most financial advisors to discuss how your current plan deals with future projected inflation. This is one of the silent killers to retirement planning that many people overlook, so make sure you’re covered off.
Go ahead, add some extra cheese and enjoy your $25 pizza. Your inflation-fighting retirement plan can handle the check.
