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Vishesh Raisinghani
Updated May 13, 2026
Social Security's 2027 cost-of-living adjustment could hit 3.3%, giving older adults an extra cash bump to combat hot inflation.
If you’re worried this adjustment won't match your everyday costs, consider a gold IRA with U.S. Gold Bureau to help hedge your retirement savings.
To maximize your short-term liquidity right away, you can earn up to a 4.05% variable APY on up to $150,000 by opening a Wealthfront Cash Account.
Social Security benefits look poised for a so-called "Trump Bump" in 2027. If that sounds like good news, it isn't. In fact, some could call it a symptom of President Donald Trump's failed economic policy and geopolitical misadventures.
That's because the Trump bump originates from Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustment or COLA. Every year, the agency adjusts the benefit payments to keep up with cost-of-living increases, and this year inflation is hot enough to justify a larger adjustment.
Here's a closer look at what millions of beneficiaries can expect in the months ahead.
Is the COLA enough?
While the official 2027 COLA announcement is expected in October, early projections are coming in notably higher than the 2.8% raise seniors received in 2026.
The Senior Citizens League currently pegs the 2027 adjustment at 3.3%, while independent policy analyst Mary Johnson predicts it reaching 3.2% — nearly double her pre-Iran war forecast of 1.7%, according to CNBC.
However, these official figures rarely match everyday reality. With global conflicts driving the US national average gas price to $4.51 according to AAA, your purchasing power could still lose ground even after the extra cash hits your account.
For retirees or investors worried about the eroding impact of inflation, gold could help hedge the difference that the government's annual adjustment doesn't cover. Historically, investors have considered this precious metal a safe haven during times of global conflict and economic uncertainty.
This chart shows the price of gold over the past five years. If you want to see whether opening a precious metals IRA is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, download a free info guide.
One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA.
A gold IRA allows you to directly invest in physical gold or gold-related assets within your retirement portfolio, offering the tax advantages of an IRA alongside the long-term security of gold. It’s a compelling option for those aiming to protect their retirement savings from inflation and economic instability.
There are specific rules around gold IRAs — and some states have different tax structures for the sale of gold and silver. It’s important to choose the right dealer and custodian to help you navigate regulatory and taxation hurdles.
Depending on the company, they may offer free IRA rollovers and free precious metals for qualifying purchases.
If you’re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download a free gold and silver information guide.
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U.S. Gold Bureau
Up to $20K in free goldMaximize your liquidity and fixed cash returns
While physical assets like gold provide an excellent long-term macro hedge, safeguarding your wealth during rapid inflation also requires optimizing your liquid savings and short-term cash reserves.
Moving your money to a high-yield account puts your cash to work immediately. A high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your uninvested cash, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your money when you need it.
A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base APY of 3.30% through program banks, and new clients can get an extra 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total variable APY of 4.05%².
That's ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC's March report³.
Additionally, Wealthfront is offering new clients who enable direct deposit ($1,000/mo minimum) to their Cash Account and open and fund a new investment account an additional 0.25% APY increase⁴ with no expiration date or balance limit, meaning your APY could be as high as 4.30%.
With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, you get access to up to $8M FDIC Insurance eligibility through program banks.
For cash that you don't need immediate, day-to-day access to, a Certificate of Deposit (CD) allows you to lock in a high rate upfront. This ensures your earnings stay fixed for a set term, even if market interest rates begin to slip.
For those seeking predictable, reliable growth, a platform like CD Valet can help you find higher-yield options that work for you, whether you’re saving for something soon or building a cushion for the long haul.
CD Valet tracks over 40,000 verified rates from FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions nationwide. Unlike other websites, they show every publicly available rate, ensuring you have a comprehensive view of the market.
To help you save smarter, CD Valet provides free, specialized tools.
- Earnings calculator: See exactly how much interest you’ll accrue by the end of your term. Adjust different rates and terms to see how much you can earn with a 12-month vs. a 24-month CD.
- CD rates map by state: See real-time offers of the best CD rates across the country. Many institutions allow you to open an online account, so you can take advantage of a great CD rate without being located in that state.
Plus, their CD rates are updated continuously so you can shop, compare and open CDs with ease.
Look at the bigger picture
Allocating a portion of your wealth to precious metals, maximizing your cash APY, and locking in high-yielding CDs are excellent tactical defenses against rising costs.
However, defensive individual assets are only one piece of the puzzle.
Proactively safeguarding your long-term purchasing power requires shifting from a collection of separate accounts to an overarching strategy that views all of your financial buckets — from real estate and investments to your cash reserves and 401(k) — as a whole.
That high-level coordination becomes even more critical once your portfolio reaches the $250,000 mark. At this level, balancing inflation hedges, optimizing tax strategies, and structuring long-term income planning can have a massive impact on your ultimate retirement outcome.
Instead of trying to manage a scattered collection of accounts yourself during economic shifts, platforms like WiserAdvisor can connect you with vetted, reputable professionals who specialize in this kind of comprehensive planning.
Simply answer a few questions about your savings, retirement timeline and overall investment portfolio.
From there, WiserAdvisor reviews its network to match you — for free — with up to three vetted, reputable advisors aligned with your specific needs.
You can then schedule no-obligation consultations with your matches to determine who is the best fit for your long-term goals.
WiserAdvisor is a matching service and does not provide financial advice directly. All matched advisors are third parties, and specific financial results are not guaranteed.
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Vishesh Raisinghani
Freelance Writer
Vishesh Raisinghani is a financial journalist covering personal finance, investing and the global economy. He's also the founder of Sharpe Ascension Inc., a content marketing agency focused on investment firms. His work has appeared in Moneywise, Yahoo Finance!, Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine and Piggybank.
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