Donald C. Reutemann CFP®, RPA, AIF®

(518) 612-1054

Investment Read Time: 1 min

Inflation and the Real Rate of Return

The real rate of return is an important personal finance concept to understand.

It’s the rate of return on your investments after inflation. The real rate of return indicates whether you are gaining or losing purchasing power with your money.

So if inflation checks in at a rate of 6%, does that mean any investment with less than a 6% rate of return is losing purchasing power?

That’s where it gets a little complicated.

In theory, any investment with less than a 6% rate of return may lose purchasing power. But there are other factors you want to consider as well. For example, are inflation rates likely to continue their current trend, or are they transitory effects of broader market changes?

In the end, the real rate of return is only one factor to consider when building a portfolio. Your time horizon, risk tolerance, and goals are the primary drivers.

A financial professional can help you better understand market conditions and build an investment strategy that manages the potential loss of the purchasing power of your money.

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG, LLC, is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright FMG Suite.

 

Related Content

Leaving Your Lasting Legacy

Leaving Your Lasting Legacy

Want to do more with your wealth? You might want to consider creating a charitable foundation.

Do You Owe The AMT?

Do You Owe The AMT?

If you want to avoid potential surprises at tax time, it may make sense to know where you stand when it comes to the AMT.

5 Smart Investing Principles

5 Smart Investing Principles

Principles that can help create a portfolio designed to pursue investment goals.

 

Have A Question About This Topic?







Thank you! Oops!

SECURE Act 2.0: An Overview

The second iteration of the SECURE Act brings forward several changes to the world of retirement.

How Retirement Spending Changes With Time

It can be difficult for clients to imagine how much they’ll spend in retirement. This short, insightful article is useful.

Why Regular Rebalancing Makes Sense

Without your knowing, your investment portfolio could be off-kilter.

View all articles

Social Security Taxes

Estimate how much of your Social Security benefit may be considered taxable.

A Look at Systematic Withdrawals

This calculator may help you estimate how long funds may last given regular withdrawals.

Bi-Weekly Payments

This calculator estimates the savings from paying a mortgage bi-weekly instead of monthly.

View all calculators

Investment Strategies for Retirement

Investment tools and strategies that can enable you to pursue your retirement goals.

Managing Your Lifestyle

Using smart management to get more of what you want and free up assets to invest.

Principles of Preserving Wealth

How federal estate taxes work, plus estate management documents and tactics.

View all presentations

Safeguard Your Digital Estate

If you died, what would happen to your email archives, social profiles and online accounts?

Consider These 3 Things Before Driving Off the Lot

There are a few things to consider when buying or leasing your next vehicle.

The Cycle of Investing

Understanding the cycle of investing may help you avoid easy pitfalls.

View all videos