Will You Outlive Your Money, or Will Your Money Outlive You?

Retirement is supposed to be relaxing. You should be playing golf, watching Price Is Right, and pretending to be busy so your kids don’t ask you to babysit. Instead, you’re watching the stock market like it’s a rollercoaster you didn’t agree to ride, checking grocery prices like a Wall Street trader, and wondering if your 401(k) is going to make it longer than you do.

And just to keep things interesting, President Trump is back in office, shaking up the economy like a snow globe. So, let’s break down the Top Three Things retirees are worried about right now—and more importantly, how to stop stressing so much.

1. Outliving Your Savings (a.k.a. The Retirement Hunger Games)

The goal of retirement is simple: have enough money to last. The problem is, nobody tells you how long you’re going to last. You spent your whole life saving, investing, and saying no to that second boat. And now, all you can think about is, "What if I live too long?" (Which is a weird fear, by the way. Every other stage of life, we’re trying not to die.)

With modern medicine, people are living longer than ever. You used to hit 65, retire, and, you know…not stick around much longer. Now, you retire and then live another 30 years. You’re in your 90s trying to explain to your great-grandkids what a landline was.

How Trump’s Policies Are Stirring the Pot

• Tax cuts might help the economy and investment returns, which is great… unless they lead to deficits that mess with Social Security. Then, suddenly, you’re not worried about the market—you’re worried about your check showing up in the mail.
• There’s also talk of reforming entitlements, which sounds suspiciously like “cutting them.” 

How to Worry Less

✅ Get a guaranteed income stream. Annuities are like your favorite lazy river—slow, steady, and won’t let you drown.

✅ Don’t withdraw too fast. Think of your retirement savings like a bag of chips—you don’t want to finish it before the movie’s over.

2. Inflation (Or Why a Costco Hot Dog Is the Last Affordable Thing on Earth)

Inflation used to be something economists worried about. Now it’s something you feel personally attacked by every time you go to the store.

Prices are up. Way up. Your retirement budget that made sense in 2019? Yeah, that’s adorable.

How Trump’s Policies Play Into It

• Trade wars, tariffs, and tax policies? These things mess with supply chains and can make prices even higher. So if you were hoping the price of eggs would go down, sorry, they’re now a luxury item like caviar.
• On the bright side, deregulation might help businesses and keep some costs in check. But let’s be real—your grocery bill isn’t feeling that relief just yet.

How to Worry Less

✅ Invest in stuff that fights inflation.

✅ Keep some cash, but not too much. Inflation makes money in a savings account lose value, kind of like that treadmill you bought during the pandemic.

3. Market Volatility (Or the Financial Rollercoaster No One Signed Up For)

Remember when retirement accounts just grew steadily and nobody panicked? Yeah, that was nice. Now, every time the stock market dips, retirees everywhere clutch their chests like they’re in a soap opera.

What’s Happening Under Trump?

• The market loves tax cuts but hates uncertainty, and we’ve got plenty of both.
• Trade wars, Federal Reserve drama, and economic policies could make stocks bounce around like a caffeinated toddler.
• If you’re watching your portfolio every day, stop. That’s like checking your weight every three hours—it’s only going to stress you out.

How to Worry Less

✅ Diversify like a buffet. Don’t bet everything on one thing, unless that thing is nachos.

✅ Follow a withdrawal strategy. The goal is to make your money last, not panic-sell when the market drops.

✅ Turn off financial news for a bit. Seriously. You don’t need that stress. Read a book, take a walk, or just sit quietly and judge your neighbors’ lawn decorations.

Final Thoughts

Retirement is a long game. Yes, inflation is crazy, the market is unpredictable, and government policies are always changing. But you know what? You’ve made it this far. You survived decades of ups and downs. You adapted when gas was under a dollar, and you adapted when it hit five bucks.

So take a deep breath, get a plan, and enjoy retirement. And if all else fails, just remember: worst case scenario, you move in with your kids and become their problem.

If you have any questions or want to discuss your specific situation, we are here to help.