Inflation: The Silent Killer

Scott Sullivan |
Categories
Retirement

You’ve probably noticed it — the price of groceries, gas, or even a simple cup of coffee creeping higher. It’s not your imagination. That slow, steady rise is called inflation, and it quietly erodes what your money can buy over time.

We often call it the “silent thief.” You don’t see it stealing, but you feel it — most often when your budget doesn’t stretch as far as it used to.

Why Inflation Matters in Retirement

Inflation doesn’t hit all at once. It works in the background, year after year. And in retirement, that can create a serious challenge.

Unlike your working years, you don’t have a regular paycheck that grows with cost-of-living raises. If your income stays the same while prices rise, your purchasing power slips away.

This is why we treat inflation not as a side note, but as one of the core risks in your retirement plan — right alongside longevity and market volatility.

How We Build Protection Into Your Plan

Inflation risk looks different depending on your RISA® retirement style — the way you naturally prefer to manage risk and income.

  • If you lean Safety-First, we prioritize steady, guaranteed income sources that help cover essential expenses — Social Security, pensions, or annuities that include cost-of-living adjustments. These are your “income anchors.”

  • If you prefer a Probability-Based approach, we may use long-term growth investments that help your portfolio keep pace with inflation, even as prices rise.
     

  • For many retirees, a blended approach works best — combining the reliability of guaranteed income with the flexibility of investments designed for growth.

This mix ensures you have what you need today and the ability to adapt tomorrow.

Your Shield Against the Silent Thief

Inflation isn’t something to fear — it’s something to plan for.

Your retirement strategy should anticipate rising costs and build in ways to adjust, whether through income that grows over time or assets that can act as a buffer when prices spike.

If you’re unsure how well your plan protects your future purchasing power, let’s review it together. A short conversation can help confirm that your retirement income strategy matches your comfort, confidence, and RISA® profile.

Click here to schedule your 15-minute Retirement Fit Call.
 
Let's make sure your retirement journey is as secure and fulfilling as you envision.