In a World of Elevated Costs, Here’s How Savers Can Take Back Control

For savers, retirees, and those close to retirement, the day of reckoning has come as healthcare and property insurance premiums come up for renewal. No matter where you fall on the income spectrum, the sticker shock is real.
Healthcare costs are climbing at the fastest pace in more than a decade. Property insurance is also getting more expensive. For those who are newly retired or close to retirement, these are reminders that even the most carefully built financial plans can get blindsided by forces outside your control.
So, how do you take back control?
Too many investors treat “playing it safe” as a strategy. In reality, leaving too much cash in low-yield accounts is one of the riskiest moves in an inflationary environment. You may not see the loss on a statement, but you’re feeling it every time your insurance premium rises, your grocery bill expands, or your healthcare deductible resets.
When volatility and inflation make traditional portfolios feel unreliable, alternative investments, particularly in real estate, can restore balance.
Real estate has historically offered a hedge against inflation because rents, land values, and demand tend to rise with prices. It also creates opportunities for steady cash flow, tangible collateral, and tax advantages that stocks and bonds can’t always match.
Real estate investing isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy or institutional players anymore. With the rise of fractional ownership platforms, private credit funds, and income-producing real estate partnerships, access to alternative investments has never been easier.
You can’t stop inflation or market volatility, but you can control your asset mix.
Jeff Herman is an investment advisor at Greenville-based The Jeffrey Group ( jeff@thejeffrey.group and www.thejeffrey.group). This material is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or investment strategy.