Is Inflation Impacting Your Retirement?

Thinking about retirement can evoke a range of mixed emotions. You may be looking forward to leisure time, but still have some concerns about whether you'll have enough money to live the life you want without a steady paycheck. Creating a realistic spending plan and planning for economic changes are essential.

Inflation is Inevitable

Inflation — an increase in the prices of goods and services — makes buying food, driving a car, and heating and cooling your home more expensive. Over time, even low inflation can erode your retirement savings. So, as you create your retirement spending plan, account for rising prices in your budget.

Location Makes a Difference

Housing, food, and even gas prices may vary depending on where you live in retirement. Rising prices can affect rents, association fees, and property taxes. While you can't control inflation, you can be realistic about living costs before you decide whether to move or stay put.

Don't Forget Health Care Costs

Healthcare might be one of your biggest expenses in retirement. Even if you're healthy now, your medical costs are likely to rise as you get older. If you're eligible, think about saving money in a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to cover future healthcare expenses.

Surviving Inflation

Adding investments to your portfolio that are less affected by inflation is a good place to start. Here are just two of several investment types to consider.

• Stocks have historically earned returns that outpace inflation. However, stocks from certain economic sectors, such as energy and consumer staples (including household goods, food, and hygiene products), tend to perform better than others during periods of rising prices.

• Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are indexed to inflation. As inflation rises, the principal increases (or decreases with deflation). Interest payments based on the principal are made twice a year. Investors receive either the adjusted principal or the original principal at maturity.

Consult your financial professional to discuss investment selections for your portfolio with at least some potential inflation protection.