Retirement planning tips to stay ahead of inflation

In the course of retirement planning, there are certain things you probably know to think about — your annual budget, the cost of healthcare, and how to withdraw efficiently from your savings. But there's another important facet to focus on — inflation.

Over time, living costs are likely to rise. And even modest increases during retirement could eat away at your savings. That's why it's crucial to have a plan to beat inflation. Here's what yours might look like.

Many people scale back on stocks as retirement draws near to reduce portfolio risk. But one thing you don't want to do is dump stocks completely.

You may not want to keep 80% of your portfolio in stocks. But a fairly even stock/bond split could offer the right combination of stability and continued growth, allowing your assets to outpace inflation and help you avoid losing buying power.

Retirees are often advised to maintain a cash cushion. That way, if there's a stock market downturn, you can leave your investments alone and simply use your cash to cover expenses rather than lock in losses permanently.

But one thing you shouldn't do is go overboard on cash. It's a good idea to maintain…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/