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. National health spending jumped 7.5% in 2023, to about $14,500 per person, and private insurance spending rose even faster, 11.5% in the same year. Those pressures are expected to continue, as consumers begin open enrollment and get a sense of the options.
A KFF analysis found that insurers are raising premiums by an average of 30% in states that use HealthCare.gov and by 17% in states that run their own marketplaces.
Property insurance is also getting more expensive. A 2025 LendingTree study found that nearly 1 in 7 U.S. owner-occupied homes —over 11 million households —were uninsured in 2023. At the same time, premiums rose 11.4% in 2024, after jumps of 11% in 2023 and 5.4% in 2022. That’s more than 40% growth since 2019.
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?
The Danger of Standing Still
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.
At The Jeffrey Group, we often ask a simple question: Is your money compounding faster than your costs are rising?
If the answer is no, it’s time to think differently about where you allocate your capital.
Alternative Investments | Using Real Estate to Rebalance the Equation
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.
And if history is any indication, this is a moment worth paying attention to.
Ignore Conventional Wisdom About Real Estate Investing
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.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, you don’t need a corporate balance sheet to participate; you need a strategy and the proper guidance. I established my company to help investors navigate these opportunities with purpose, aligning each investment to long-term income goals and overall “Financial Harmony.”
I’ve been introducing my clients to local investment opportunities right here in South Carolina because these trends are elevating the market:
- Residential Real Estate: Demand for housing is accelerating, with opportunities in new developments, rental communities, and mixed-use projects.
- Industrial Expansion: Logistics and advanced manufacturing are expanding, opening doors in warehouse, distribution, and supply-chain infrastructure.
- Commercial Development: A growing workforce is supporting new retail, office, and hospitality investments.
- Workforce Development: Investments in education and training, especially in the high-paying fields of advanced manufacturing, are supporting our local economic growth.
Taking Back Control
You can’t stop inflation or market volatility, but you can control your asset mix.
Real estate and other alternative investments aren’t just “add-ons” that are out of reach for the “regular” investor. They’re the levers that can help investors regain control of their financial future.
Inflation isn’t optional. Planning is.
Jeff Herman is an investment advisor at Greenville-based The Jeffrey Group. He can be reached at [email protected] 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. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Alternative investments may be speculative, involve a high degree of risk, and may not be suitable for all investors. Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Fortress Private Ledger, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC”