Episode Details

Your grocery bill, insurance premium, and home maintenance costs can tell a very different story from the headline inflation rate. Don and Tom explore why rising prices hit households differently, how lifestyle creep quietly absorbs pay raises, and why a diversified investment portfolio matters when protecting long-term purchasing power.

A listener nearing retirement asks whether an annuity or a change to her target-date portfolio makes more sense. Plus, why a fixed bond payment can fall behind an inflation-adjusted retirement spending plan, and what to consider when comparing international funds from Fidelity, Vanguard, and Avantis.

0:44 Christmas trees and the price of everyday life
2:18 Why your inflation may feel higher
5:30 Making sense of CPI and PCE
10:06 Lifestyle creep and long-term purchasing power
14:45 A listener weighs annuities and portfolio changes
26:07 Fixed bond income versus rising withdrawals
28:14 Comparing international funds
33:05 Big-screen bargains and the value of advice

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