- Do you have high, excess cash in your business cash account earning close to 0% interest while inflation is recently greater than 6%?
- Do you find traditional alternatives such as CDs or money market accounts similarly unattractive given interest rates 1% to 2% and long commitment periods greater than 1 year?
- Do you understand your other options such as a custom portfolio of U.S. Treasury Bonds yielding more than 4.5%?
“The one thing I will tell you is the worst investment you can have is cash.”
– Warren Buffett
We are living in a state of financial repression that has harsh consequences for savers. Financial repression is commonly known as financial policies that lead to savers earning returns below the rate of inflation. When inflation is greater than the return on your cash, your purchasing power is being negatively impacted. This can go on for decades as the U.S. experienced in the 1920’s and 1940’s.
Consider the following example. Today, $1,000 in a bank account gives you the ability to purchase $1,000 of goods and services. Assume inflation moderates from 6% currently to 4% annually over the next 5 years and your cash is still earning 0%. In 5-years, your cash will still be worth $1,000 but the goods and services will now cost $1,217 and you lost over $200 in purchasing power or greater than 20%.
Now consider the same scenario above but that you have $1 million in cash and you lost $200,000 in purchasing power or even $10,000,000 and you lost $2,000,000. This is a large, hidden tax. Over 10 years in this example, 48% of your purchasing power is lost or $480,000 for each $1,000,000.
Essential Partners works with businesses and individuals facing financial repression and lost purchasing power to help solve this large but hidden tax on cash balances. More cash flow from a higher yield leads to more cash flow to fund your business operations. We invest in a variety of publicly traded securities to earn a return yet can be converted to cash in days. This is particularly important in case the excess cash is needed unexpectedly.
Essential Partners utilizes our founder’s two decades of institutional investment experience to construct portfolios that limit the impact of financial repression and generate higher cash flow to fund operations. For individuals, we also deploy strategies that have true diversification to the core four economic environments.
Please refer to our Insights page for our views on inflation and the core four economic environments.
Investment advisory services offered through Essential Partners, a registered investment advisor. This document contains general information that is not suitable for everyone. The information contained herein should not be construed as personalized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. There is no guarantee that the views and opinions expressed will come to pass. Investing in financial markets involves gains and losses and may not be suitable for all investors. Information presented herein is subject to change without notice and should not be considered as a solicitation to buy or sell any security.