Quote from Scataphagos:
1. Our actual inflation rate for the last 40 years has likely been 6-8%. Government lies about the inflation rate to mask their misdeeds. Another 40 years of 5.6% inflation would be a relative blessing. We would likely all suffer significantly, but it wouldn't be catastrophic.
2. 5.59% comes from 12,000 Present Value, 100,000 Future Value, 39 years, solve for "rate".
Wonder what the "real" inflation rate has been over the years? When the Toyota Land Cruiser first came out 1970(?), they were $2795. I remember because I considered buying one. Today, they are $67,370. That's an 8.28% average annual increase over 40 years.
Some of that is improvement. MOST is merely inflation and buying power destruction.
You're right about the 5.59% annual rate of compounding increase. So, if you're also right about the 6-8% (inflation/destruction) then we are spinning our wheels (pun intended), and/or going backwards (on a basket buy and hold strategy). Does this mean that the only way to possible beat the system is to enter and exit frequently with an upward bias?