Inflation can be defined as:
The rate at which prices increase on a trolley of goods, or on a specific product or service.
Therefore, if the current inflation is 4%, it will refer to the rate at which the trolley of goods in South Africa has increased in price over the past 12 months (if it is measured year-on-year). Sometimes the rate is also shown as the rate for a specific quarter, or half year. One therefore needs to make sure, when quoting an inflation rate, of the term for which it is applicable.
Example: If an item cost R100 one year ago, and the inflation rate was 4% for the past year on that specific item, it means that the current price of that article will now be R104. Another factor one needs to understand as far as inflation is concerned, is the compounding effect it has. If the inflation rate is again 4% in the next year, the price will not go up with R4 as in the first year, but it will go up by 4% of R104. The new price at the end of year two will now be R108-16.
Most people understand the benefit of compounded growth over time but fail to understand the destruction of compounded inflation over time.
Rule of 72
A simple method of calculating the impact of an inflation rate over time, is by using what is referred to as the Rule of 72. This means that if you divide 72 by the expected inflation rate over time – let’s assume 6% – the answer will give you an indication of the half-life of your investment’s purchasing power. In this example, the answer is 12 (72 divided by 6), so your purchasing power, if you have no growth, will halve over 12 years. Therefore, after 12 years, your R100 will only buy R50 worth of goods and services, and after another 12 years, only R25. It is therefore imperative that your portfolio has a return in excess of inflation.
Retirees and inflation
So, where does this leave people who are retiring?
While you are still in the wealth accumulation phase, your portfolio should be structured in such a way to allow growth assets, which can outperform inflation consistently over time, to build up wealth. However, many clients reaching retirement are so scared of volatility, that they elect to rather stay in low-yielding instruments. This choice often destroys purchasing power eventually, and although inflation is often not a tangible thing, people slowly but surely get drawn into a situation where they struggle to make ends meet.
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Source: (FA News, 2021)
