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Tom Meaglia, ChFC®, AEP®,

CLU®, CRPC®, MSFS

Chartered Financial Consultant

Investment Advisor Representative

Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor

CA Insurance Lic. #0567507

 

Meaglia Financial Consulting

2105 Foothill Blvd., #B140, La Verne, CA 91750

 

Toll Free: 800-386-3700

Bus:         909-593-6105

Cell:         818-681-8600

Fax:         909-593-6120

 

Email: tom@meagliafinancialconsulting.com

Website: www.meagliafinancialconsulting.com

May/June 2023

All About Inflation

Doubting African-American person in denim jacket looks at sales paper receipt total holding pack with food products on escalator

You don’t have to see government statistics to know that the cost of just about everything is going up. All it takes is a weekly trip to the supermarket or your favorite department store to know that, after several years of low inflation, the purchasing power of your money is declining.


The CPI
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) measures inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI tracks changes over time in the average price of a “basket” of goods and services in eight major categories: food, housing, apparel, transportation, health care, education, communication, recreation and other goods/ services.


How It Happens
Inflation occurs when prices go up and the dollar’s purchasing power goes down. An increase in demand or a decrease in supply fuels inflation. Manufacturing and supply chain issues over the past couple of years have contributed to shortages of certain materials, resulting in higher production costs. As production costs rise, so do prices.


Inflation’s Impact

Mild inflation can be good for the economy, since consumers tend to spend money, rather than put off purchases for later. But once inflation escalates and takes hold, prices rise and consumers stop spending.


The Federal Reserve raises interest rates to help control inflation. As rates increase, people who have variable interest rate debt, such as credit card debt, adjustable-rate mortgages, and home equity loans or lines of credit, will pay more.


Inflation and Investments
Some assets, including Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS), floating-rate bonds, real estate, and certain stocks and commodities, may provide a hedge against inflation. Stock prices often rise as companies adjust to meet higher supply chain and production costs. However, stocks may experience increased volatility and price fluctuation.


Inflation and Retirement Savings
Current retirees are likely to see the value of their pensions and savings decline as inflation increases. They’ll spend more of their income to pay for the same lifestyle they’re used to. People who are still working and saving for retirement will need to set aside more money in their retirement accounts, as the amount they’ll need to save for a comfortable lifestyle keeps increasing. Your financial professional can help you determine a new target amount.


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Thomas Meaglia is an Investment Adviser Representative of Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC, dba, Fusion Capital Management, a registered investment adviser that only conducts business in jurisdictions where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Registration as an investment adviser is not an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators and does not mean the adviser has achieved a specific level of skill or ability. The firm is not engaged in the practice of law or accounting.
Insurance and annuity products are not sold through Fusion Capital Management. Fusion does not endorse any annuity or insurance product, nor does it guarantee any insurance or annuity performance. Annuity and life insurance guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. If you withdraw money from or surrender your contract within a certain time after investing, the insurance company may assess a surrender charge. Withdrawals may be subject to tax penalties and income taxes. Persons selling annuities and other insurance products receive compensation for these transactions. These commissions are separate and distinct from Fusion's investment advisory fees.
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