Michael Ryan

Inflation matters because it shapes purchasing power, investment performance, and long-term security as housing, healthcare, food, transportation, and utilities become costlier over time.
High inflation can pressure fixed incomes and cash savings, yet diversified assets like stocks, Real Estate, and commodities may help some investors adapt.
Moderate inflation is often viewed as healthiest, supporting spending, borrowing, business expansion, gradual wage growth, and portfolio appreciation during stable economic periods.
Low inflation offers predictability, while stagflation combines rising prices with slow growth; both can challenge returns, purchasing power, and retirement confidence for retirees.
Planning across inflation environments means diversifying investments, adjusting withdrawals, and preparing for rising expenses so retirees can better protect long-term security throughout retirement.

Global Inflation Shapes Retirement Planning

Covered call ETFs are drawing early-retirement interest because advertised yields ~12% can lower required capital from ~$2.5M toward ~$1M for income goals.
For a $90K salary replacement, one 58-yr investor illustrates the appeal: higher portfolio yield can shrink the savings target quickly before leaving work.
Traditional income sources look lower by comparison, with 10-yr Treasuries in the mid-4% range and cash tied near 4% to policy rates.
The tradeoff: elevated payouts often rely on option premiums and returned capital, which can limit bull-market participation and expose net-asset-value erosion over time.
Lower initial yields may still support better retirement resilience: dividend-growth income can double over 9 yr, while flat payouts widen gaps over longer retirements.