Inflation, The Silent Killer of Your Money
Inflation has long been a problem since currency was created. It’s an intangible attribute of the money we make and spend. Inflation, simply put, is the cost of goods and services increasing over time. Take the cost of a United States Postal Stamp. On July 13, 2026 U.S. stamps increased once again. That means to mail your cousin in Omaha a birthday card, you are going to pay $0.82. As long as it is standard size and you don’t add too much to the envelope.
This time last year stamps were $0.78. That’s a 5.13% increase. Not to mention the cost of stamps were raised in 2024 from $0.68 to $0.73. The year 2012 stamps sat at $0.45 each. And for those of you like me that were born last century, as my oldest child likes to remind me, stamps cost $0.20 each in 1981.
We could dive into how inflation has attacked food, gasoline, housing, etc. but I won’t bore you with those details. Rather, I’d like to offer a solution to help combat the silent killer of your money. Investing. I’m not talking about Wolf of Wall Street scary things no one has ever heard of. I’m talking about a money market account with a certified and fully licensed advisor, like myself. Money markets are paying much higher rates at investment firms than most local banking institutions. Your local bank or credit union can offer great options for you. BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! There are additional, conservative, options that only a licensed financial professional can provide. While these options are not conservatively keeping up with the inflation rate of stamps, they will get you much closer than hiding that money under your mattress or in a super low yielding savings account.
At the end of the day, you must be your own advocate for your money and work with someone you like and trust. Be sure you are working with a fully licensed advisor. Check out your person here, www.brokercheck.com, to determine the licenses which they hold, if they have any disclosures, judgements or liens, and their employment history. You have worked hard to build your assets. The person you choose to manage those assets should have the ability, resources, and ethics to meet all of your needs and expectations.
