The Leading Business Education Network for Doctors, Financial Advisors and Health Industry Consultants

Understanding Purchasing Power Risk

[By Julia O’Neal; MA, CPA]

Purchasing power risk refers to the effects of inflation and disinflation on the future purchasing power of the income and principal from an investment.

Seeking “Total Returns” 

The typical physician investor seeks an investment that at minimum returns the same number of dollars as originally invested.  In addition, he or she hopes to achieve current income flow and/or capital appreciation on the security due to favorable results at the underlying company.

This is called “total return.”

Although a physician or other investor may realize a positive nominal (actual) return, however, once the effects of inflation are factored into the return, there is a chance that the real return could be negative.

For example, if it takes 20 years for an investment to return 75%, during which time the price level has risen 100%, the investor is receiving a smaller amount of purchasing power than was originally invested.  

Assessment 

• Over the very long term, common stocks have provided an effective hedge against inflation.
• Over shorter periods of time, however, physician investors have been disappointed in stocks as a hedge against inflation, as the rate of inflation has often exceeded the gain in common stock prices.

And so, are you a long-term physician-investor; and how long-is long-term, anyway? 

Channel Surfing the ME-P

Have you visited our other topic channels? Established to facilitate idea exchange and link our community together, the value of these topics is dependent upon your input. Please take a minute to visit. And, to prevent that annoying spam, we ask that you register. It is fast, free and secure.

Conclusion

Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

• PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
• HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
• CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
• ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
• FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
• INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
• Dictionary of Health Economics and Finance
• Dictionary of Health Information Technology and Security
• Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care

Filed under: Investing | Tagged: Investing Basics |