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As far as sage billionaires go, BlackRock chairman and CEO Larry Funk belongs in the same bucket as Warren Buffett.
Fink’s firm has hit a record $14 trillion in assets under management by the end of 2025 (1), so when he shares economic wisdom, it usually pays to listen — whether it’s good news or bad.
And in June 2025, when President Donald Trump’s tariff measures began to accelerate, he issued a dire warning at the Forbes Iconoclast Summit.
“If the tariffs are instituted in the next five months, I think we will see much higher inflation,” Fink said, as reported by the Wall Street Journal (2).
It seems he was right on the money.
According to the Tax Foundation (3), Trump’s tariffs would raise average taxes by $1,000 per US household by 2025. And while the Supreme Court struck down the president’s legal authority to impose many of these tariffs in February 2026, Trump has imposed more import tariffs since then (4).
The worst thing is that the effects of these tariffs will still be felt in 2026. For example, the Tax Foundation estimates that Trump’s remaining primary tariffs would increase US households by $400 in 2026, while his additional tariffs would add another $200 to $600.
Still, the latest inflation data is lower than Bloomberg economists’ estimates (5).
While this may seem surprising in the midst of rising prices, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) suggests that this is because tariffs are a one-sided tax on imported goods (6). The CEI explains that inflation is a persistent increase in prices—not just price increases—tariffs are not necessarily reflected in inflation data.
Beyond tariffs, inflationary concerns are rising due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Oil prices rose after Iran’s supreme leader was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026. And as energy prices rise, the cost pressure on American consumers will increase.
Whether or not Fink’s inflationary warnings from tariffs alone are true, rising prices and economic instability are serious threats to your financial well-being. Inflation can be especially dangerous for retirees with limited incomes.
Here’s what you can do to protect and grow your money in this new era.
Social Security is the foundation of retirement for most Americans.
In fact, the Transamerica Institute reports that more than half (53%) of retirees plan to use these benefits as their primary source of income throughout their retirement (8).
By January 2026, that means retired workers will rely on an average of $2,071 per month in benefits, according to the Social Security Administration (9).
But is that enough on its own? Funk also weighed in on the question.
“Social Security is a wonderful foundation for retirement,” Fink said in a 2024 interview with Bloomberg (10). “But if that’s all you have in retirement, you’re going to be living in poverty, below the poverty line. Because it’s supplemental, it doesn’t mean you have it in retirement.”
In other words, Social Security benefits are likely not sufficient on their own—they should be treated as supplements. So, instead of relying solely on the government, one way you can protect your wealth is to build your own nest egg before retirement.
Doing just that will put you ahead of the 30% of Americans who have no retirement savings, according to 2026 survey data from BlackRock (11).
Read more: I’m almost 50 and have no retirement savings. Is it too late to catch up?
Read more: Non-millionaires can now invest in this $1B private real estate fund starting at just $10
When it comes to finick advice and planning for retirement beyond Social Security, it’s not easy, and it’s natural to have a lot of questions. You’ll want to be clear about how much you should be saving each month and how to make sure you have a healthy income after you leave your career behind.
However, it can be challenging to find these answers on your own.
If you want expert advice on your retirement planning, seeking out a financial advisor is a smart first step, and there’s good evidence to back it up. According to Northwest Mutual’s 2025 Planning and Development Study, 74% of American millionaires are willing to work with a financial advisor, compared to only 34% of the general population (12).
This stark gap suggests that professional guidance is the key differentiator between Americans who have built long-term wealth and those who have not. This can be because a professional advisor doesn’t just help you plan for your future – they also support you in reaching the finish line.
But it’s not always easy to find the right counselor for you.
Finding a financial advisor that fits your specific needs and financial goals is simple with Vanguard.
The Vanguard Hybrid Advisory System combines the advice of professional advisors and automated portfolio management to ensure that your investments work to achieve your financial goals.
With a minimum portfolio size of $50,000, this service is ideal for clients who have already built a nest egg and want to grow their wealth with a variety of different investments. All you have to do is set up a consultation with a Vanguard consultant, and they will help you set up a suitable plan and stick to it.
Once you’ve come up with a plan for a secure retirement with your advisor, you’ll be able to make investments that align with your goals.
The truth is, Social Security is likely to meet your retirement needs. To live the retirement life you want, you need to maintain a separate source of funds to supplement your benefits. One way to achieve this is by regularly contributing to a retirement account.
With market volatility increasing, those nearing retirement may want to put their hard-earned dollars into stocks. This is where alternative assets can offer inflation-hedging benefits to protect your retirement fund.
The traditional hedge against inflation is gold. Unlike fiat currencies, precious metals cannot be printed in unlimited quantities by central banks. And because its value is not tied to any one currency or economy, gold can provide protection during periods of economic uncertainty.
This unique feature has earned it the reputation of a “safe haven” asset. In uncertain times, investors flock to it.
Given the current geopolitical instability, it is perhaps not surprising that the price of gold is up nearly 80% over the past year – sitting at around $5,100 per ounce as of March 9, 2026 (13).
One way to invest in gold for your retirement that also provides significant tax benefits is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets in a retirement account, which combines the tax benefits of an IRA with the protective benefits of gold investments, making them an attractive option for those potentially hedging their retirement funds against economic uncertainty.
For more information, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on eligible purchases.
While it may be tempting to save your money during periods of economic uncertainty rather than investing in opportunities, Fink says people are at risk of saving too much.
In a 2023 shareholder letter, he noted that hoarding cash instead of investing it is part of the “silent crisis” that retirees are facing (14).
“If they keep their money in the bank instead of investing in the market,” Fink wrote, “they won’t generate the income necessary to retire with dignity.”
While tariff inflation affects the economy, be careful with where you put your money. Just make sure to take a step back to make sure you don’t miss opportunities.
One investment opportunity that is worth considering is real estate.
Many Americans are considering buying investment property for income in retirement, although the current stagnant market — and the work associated with finding and managing tenants — can make buying a property less attractive.
Entering the home equity market can be another way to take advantage of real estate, without the headache of becoming a landlord.
With home values high and homeowners shying away from new debt, investors have a different approach.
If you are not an established investor, crowdfunding platforms such as Arrival allow you to enter the real estate market for as little as $100.
Arrival offers you access to SEC-qualified investment shares in rental homes and vacation rentals that are structured and evaluated for their appreciation and income potential.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrival makes it easy to fit these properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your income level.
Their flexible investment amounts and simple process allow both accredited and non-accredited investors to benefit from this inflation-hedging asset class without any additional work on your part.
Another way you can diversify your retirement? Multi-family real estate.
This type of investment opportunity can offer a stable, reliable cash flow for your retirement. This is because your income is not dependent on a single tenant, so a vacancy or missed payment will not put your income at risk like with a single-family rental. Another area to explore is industrial properties, which can offer a unique slice of the real estate vertical.
If diversification into multifamily and industrial leasing appeals to you, you may want to consider investing with Lightstone DIRECT, the new investment platform from Lightstone Group, one of the largest private real estate companies in the country with over 25,000 multifamily units in its portfolio.
Since they cut out the middlemen – brokers and money laundering intermediaries – accredited investors with a minimum investment of $100,000 can get direct access to basic quality multi-family opportunities. This streamlined model can help reduce fees while increasing transparency and control.
And with Lightstone DIRECT, you invest in single-asset multi-family deals alongside Lightstone – a true partner – as Lightstone puts at least 20% of its capital into each offering. All Lightstone investment opportunities undergo a rigorous, multi-step review before being approved by Lightstone principals, including founder David Lichtenstein.
How it works is simple: just sign up with your email, and you can call a capital formation specialist to evaluate investment opportunities. From here, all you have to do is verify your details to start investing.
Founded in 1986, Lightstone has a proven track record of strong risk-adjusted returns over market cycles with a historical net IRR of 27.6% and historical net equity of 2.54x since 2004. All told, Lightstone has $12 billion in assets involved in industrial management.
As such, even if multifamily rentals don’t appeal to you, Lightstone can serve you well as an investment vehicle for other real estate verticals.
Get started today with Lightstone DIRECT and invest in gaming with experienced skin experts.
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Black Rock (1), (11), (14); The Wall Street Journal (2); Tax Foundation (3); White House (4); Bloomberg (5); Competitive Enterprise Institute (6); New York Times (7); Transamerica Institute (8); Social Security Administration (9); Markets (10); Northwest Mutual (12); Gold Price (13)
This article provides information only and should not be used as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
