Your money is falling back if it isn’t moving forward.

Inflation, which affects us nearly constantly, is to blame. The term “inflation” describes the gradual increase in the cost of goods and services that impacts every economic sector.

Over time, inflation can reduce your dollar’s purchasing power and your investments’ profits. However, it is possible to safeguard your money with a bit of forethought and preparation.

The answer is to invest for inflation or, at the very least, to select investments that will provide you with a return higher than the present inflation rate. Here are some tips for investors on guarding against price increases and the best stocks to use as an inflation hedge.

Understanding The Inflation

Rising prices for goods and services throughout an economy over time are referred to as inflation.

The “inflation rate,” determined as a percentage of change in an index of prices (a representative selection of goods and services) from one year to the next, is how we gauge inflation. The consumer price index (CPI) is the most widely used US. Still, economists occasionally use the producers’ price index (PPI) and the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index.

Lower than 2.3% inflation is seen as modest. Between 2.3% and 3.3%, it is deemed inadequate, while between 3.3% and 4.9%, it is considered high. Over 4.9% of inflation is regarded as relatively high.

Inflation is not all bad. Economists prefer a low, gradual increase in prices because it indicates a healthy economy: Businesses are creating, consumers are making purchases, and business, employment, and wages are all on the rise. The US Federal Reserve currently aims for a 2% annual average inflation.

How the purchasing power of money is reduced by inflation

The economy may benefit from low inflation, but it isn’t good for your wallet. A $1 will only be worth 0.95 cents the following year, according to Mark Williams, master lecturer in finance at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, if annual inflation rates reach 5%.

Likewise, it is not the only currency that loses value.

People with bank accounts with low-interest rates lose money during inflationary times because the interest they pay is eaten up by the value drop. In fact, during inflation, the returns on any investment that provides a fixed rate of return or interest will be reduced in real terms.

Therefore, while inflation affects all investors, income-oriented investors are particularly hard hit.

So what kinds of investments are effective at managing inflation?

Mainly, a few asset classes are well-suited to inflation-focused investing.

Investments that give growth or appreciation rather than just income should be chosen as appreciation-oriented assets. 

Natural resources Nominal assets, such as certificates of deposit and conventional bonds, lose value as inflation rises since their prices are based on the fixed interest rates they pay. On the other hand, tangible assets are material possessions with underlying worth. As a result, their value increases along with inflation.

Assets with variable interest rates: If anything has a fixed rate of return, inflation will cause you to lose money. Your money has a better chance of surviving if you invest in assets with changing interest rates since they will grow along with inflation.

1. Real Estate Property

Real estate is both a real asset and appreciation-oriented also. Land and property values typically increase along with inflation, just like commodities do. Real estate investment trusts allow you to invest in real estate even if you’re not yet ready to purchase the actual property (REIT). Although technically securities, these publicly traded property portfolios are influenced by more incredible real estate developments.

Real estate is one of the best ways to hedge against inflation. In addition, a real estate investment can offer you a steady and reliable income stream and provide you with a tangible asset that can be passed down to your children or sold later.

2. Basic Commodities

“During times of extreme inflation, commodities tend to have outsized returns,” says Adem Selita, CEO of the Debt Relief Company. Commodities, which include things like crops, raw materials, or natural resources, are a sort of tangible asset. As a result, their costs increase along with other products or services that depend on them.

Precious metals, particularly gold and silver, have long been an inflation hedge. Unlike the dollar or other currencies, gold and silver have intrinsic value as physical objects. Energy commodities like oil and gas are among the additional inflation hedges.

3. Investments in other sectors

Other physical assets that function well as inflation hedges include fine art, vintage vehicles, and other collectibles. Again, these are genuine items that are valuable to collectors on their own. The value of these things is anticipated to increase over time, producing returns bigger than the inflation rate, notwithstanding the difficulty in predicting their prices.

4. US Treasury Securities with Inflation Protection (TIPS)

The majority of bonds are poor options for inflation protection. The explanation is that these investments pay a fixed interest rate for the duration of their many years or decades. Although their secondary market prices could alter, their interest rate usually is unaffected.

However, certain bonds have interest rates indexed to inflation, such as US Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). This ensures that the value of the interest payments isn’t too severely diminished by adjusting their interest payments to rise and fall with inflation and deflation, respectively.

Tips are incredibly secure investments for cautious investors because the US government backs them.

The Bottom Line

Protecting your wealth requires investing for inflation.

Your funds may be eroded by inflation. Therefore, it’s advisable to avoid retaining too much cash even though having a little on hand is helpful for financial security. If you do, you might discover that it doesn’t purchase as much as it formerly did.

Instead, make your money work for you by making an inflation plan. Then, select an investing strategy that will likely get you a return that, at the very least, keeps pace with inflation. Look for investments that increase over time, have a substantial intrinsic value, or offer variable interest rates.

You can keep the value of your money intact by keeping up with inflation. I could even grow it. Check out our current passive investment opportunity.