For millions of Social Security beneficiaries, there’s both good news and bad news for next year.
The good news is that payments could be on course for a big hike in 2027. The bad news is that this hike is a result of the surge in inflation caused by President Donald Trump’s economic policies and war in the Middle East.
In other words, older Americans and retirees are due for a “Trump Bump” in 2027 just to offset the loss in purchasing power they’re experiencing in 2026.
Priority Gold
Diversify your retirement fund with a precious metals IRA
Arrived
Hassle-free real estate ownership for as little as $100
Fundrise Flagship Fund
Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fund
WiserAdvisor
Get matched with 2 or 3 experts based on your needs Combating inflation
Since the mid-1970s, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has automatically adjusted benefits each year through a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), designed to prevent inflation from eroding their purchasing power.
The 2026 COLA was 2.8%, but independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst Mary Johnson has forecast a 4.7% COLA for 2027, which would be the fourth-largest in the last 25 years.
If that forecast holds, it would be the fourth-largest COLA in the past 25 years. But it’s still only a forecast, and the official figure won’t be announced until October.
But here’s the catch. A higher COLA isn’t really a bonus. It’s designed to help Social Security benefits keep up with rising prices.
And Social Security isn't the only place where inflation can eat into your wealth. Whether you're retired or still working, you may want to consider assets that can help preserve purchasing power.
Gold, for instance, has long been viewed as a hedge against inflation. Unlike fiat currencies, it can't be printed at will by central banks, and its value isn't tied to any single country or economy.
That scarcity, combined with its history as a store of value, is why investors often flock to the metal during periods of inflation, economic turmoil or geopolitical instability.
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.
Gold prices have more than doubled over the past five years, hitting multiple record highs along the way and outpacing the S&P 500 over the same period.
A gold IRA allows you to directly invest in physical gold or gold-related assets within your retirement portfolio, pairing the tax advantages of an IRA with gold’s track record as a long-term store of value.
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.
Some companies also offer incentives, such as free IRA rollovers or free precious metals. With Priority Gold, for instance, you can get up to $10,000 in free silver on qualifying purchases.
If you’re curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download a free gold IRA information guide.
Priority Gold
Diversify your retirement fund with a precious metals IRA Hedge your portfolio with real estate
Real estate can offer a similar hedge against inflation — but with some added cash flow from rental income.
And you don’t need to be a millionaire to get started: Fractional ownership through platforms like Arrived has greatly democratized this asset class in recent years.
The Vanzant
Single Family Residential
The Smokey
Vacation Rental
The SuiteSpot
Vacation Rental These are a few examples of properties from Arrived. Check out the full list of single family residential homes and vacation rentals currently available.
Backed by world-class investors, including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.
To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation.
Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100.
For a limited time, when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match.
Arrived
Hassle-free real estate ownership for as little as $100 Another option is private real estate funds.
For instance, the Fundrise Flagship Fund¹ is a $1.2 billion private real estate fund that lets you invest in an expertly crafted strategy without needing hundreds of thousands of dollars. You don’t need to be an accredited investor, and you can get started with as little as $10.
With 4,700+ single-family homes and 2,500+ residential units owned by the Fundrise Flagship Fund, you get exposure to institutional-style scale and diversification.
215 Interchange
Las Vegas, NV
Pine Ridge
Fountain Inn, SC These are a few examples of properties powering the Fundrise Flagship Fund. For a full list of the Fundrise Flagship Fund's portfolio properties see the Flagship Fund website.
After you place your first investment, the Fundrise Flagship Fund will work to find and add new assets to your portfolio over time and send you transparent updates along the way.
It only takes a few minutes to sign up now and become a real estate investor today.
Fundrise Flagship Fund
Buy real estate through Fundrise's $1 billion private fund Another option for investors
For risk-averse investors, a robust Certificate of Deposit (CD) could also be worth seeking out. CDs offer a chance to lock in interest rates for multiple years, so that you can reliably grow your wealth regardless of what’s happening in the rest of the economy.
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.
Plus, their CD rates are updated continuously, so you can shop, compare and open CDs with ease.
CD Valet
Earn higher returns than a traditional savings account Getting some help
Picking the right investments and balancing tax implications isn’t easy, but the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Hiring a professional financial advisor could be the savviest money move you make, especially if your nest egg is worth $250,000 or more.
Managing withdrawals, minimizing tax exposure and ensuring long-term sustainability often requires greater coordination and strategic planning. In these cases, working with a financial advisor can help reduce costly mistakes.
If you have a portfolio of $250,000 or more, platforms like WiserAdvisor can connect you with vetted professionals who specialize in this kind of 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
Get matched with 2 or 3 experts based on your needs 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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