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The traditional 60/40 portfolio (60% stocks and 40% bonds) was once the golden standard for investing. Historically, this structure relied on a 

negative correlation between stocks and bonds

 to manage volatility. However, in today’s high-inflation, high-rate environment, both asset classes often move together, undermining diversification benefits.

In his 2025 annual letter to investors, Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, advocated for a 50/30/20 model (50% stocks, 30% bonds, and 20% private assets).

This shift reflects a broader recognition that private markets offer essential diversification, alpha generation, and inflation resilience.

The Power of Private Markets for Retirement Resilience

Private markets, including private equity, private credit, real estate, and infrastructure, are increasingly critical components of modern retirement portfolios. In an environment where traditional public assets face persistent headwinds, private markets provide differentiated sources of return, lower correlation to listed assets, and enhanced downside protection during crises.

At The Family Office, we recognize that private market investments require careful selection and rigorous due diligence. Rather than focusing purely on headline returns, we prioritize global diversification, risk mitigation, and access to top tier opportunities across private equity, private credit, real estate, and infrastructure. Our investment approach aims to enhance portfolio resilience, achieve steady income, and deliver sustainable long-term outcomes for investors navigating uncertain markets.

The Power of Early Private Market Investing

When it comes to retirement planning, time is the greatest asset investors have. Early investment in private markets amplifies the power of compounding, offering the potential to transform moderate starting sums into substantial retirement assets. Unlike cash savings, which simply preserve nominal value, high-quality private investments provide access to differentiated growth opportunities. Starting early maximizes the potential benefits of the illiquidity premium, strengthening the foundation for long-term financial security.

Scenario Analysis: The Impact of Early Private Market Investing

When considering retirement planning, it is essential to account for both growth potential and the erosion of purchasing power over time. Inflation and rising costs gradually reduce the real value of money, meaning that $500,000 today will not have the same purchasing power in 10, 20, or 25 years.

The following illustrative scenario showcases the compounding impact of early investment in private markets:

(Calculated using the compound interest formula A = P(1 + r)^t with r = 10%)

While $500,000 held in cash would preserve its nominal value, its real purchasing power would steadily decline in an inflationary environment. By contrast, early private market investing can help mitigate inflation’s impact, unlock long-term growth potential, and enhance future purchasing power.

 to estimate your projected retirement income, simulate scenarios, and take the first step toward a more secure financial future.

Building a resilient retirement portfolio requires foresight, discipline, and the right strategic partners. At The Family Office, we empower investors with tailored private market solutions designed for today's volatile environment.

Our team is ready to help you design a portfolio that meets your long-term retirement goals and adapts to an ever-changing market. 

Redefining Retirement: Why Private Markets Are the Future of Wealth Preservation

In the March announcement and subsequent press conference, Chairman Jerome Powell’s stance was a familiar one. The Fed was prepared to increase or decrease rates in response to higher inflation or a weakening labor market, should either arise. If there was a bottom line to his position, it was one of cautious optimism, based on the fact that the U.S. economy was ‘still solid’.

The Fed meeting minutes show a somewhat more divergent picture, with officials still apparently digesting the Trump administration’s unpredictable tariff maneuvers with Canada and Mexico. The Fed’s revised forecast reflects this unease, showing higher inflation (2.5% ->2.7%) and lower growth (2.1%->1.7%) compared to December’s forecast.

Following a series of high-profile tariff announcements on “Liberation Day”, the administration’s strategy of applying negotiation pressure has introduced additional volatility to the markets. In a repeat of the March strategy, the majority of tariffs were subsequently put on hold, apparently to give affected countries time to come to the negotiating table.

Keeping one’s opponents off balance appears to be a core part of Trump’s ‘art of the deal’ and, judging by the markets, which have described an inverse parabolic arc in reaction to the news, it is certainly achieving its goal.

Powell, in a question-and-answer session on April 16, was clearly not in a position to stay silent. While acknowledging the continued stability of the economy, he foresaw that the U.S. would likely soon be ‘moving away’ from achieving the two goals of lower inflation and stable employment, thanks to the recent changes in trade policy.

President Trump’s response, in which he hinted that Powell should cut rates or risk termination, and the subsequent softening in tone, were exactly in line with his tariff strategy.

At 4.2%, unemployment is still low by historic standards, implying that the economy is in good health, so far.

 The latest inflation data also shows no cause for alarm, although it’s also not clear that there is cause for celebration yet.

The Headline CPI figures show a substantial drop, with annualized inflation declining from 2.8% to 2.4% - the lowest reading since 2021

 Core PCE - arguably the most important measure from the Fed’s perspective - resumed its decline in March after a slight bump in February, trending down to 2.6%.

This is encouraging, although still some way above the 2% target.

Big picture, a lot of progress has been made since 2022, but the recent data suggests this progress has somewhat stalled in the last six months.

Critics of President Trump’s trade moves, Powell included, believe that the sudden moves on tariffs risk edging the U.S. economy towards a stagflationary environment, where growth slows as inflation rises. The worst possible outcome from the Fed’s perspective.

Add further uncertainty on immigration, fiscal policy, and regulation into the mix, and you have the current situation: a lot of angst, at risk of crystallizing into real economic pain.

Being a successful investor requires knowing when to follow the crowd and when to hold firm. Consequently, the success of an investing strategy often comes down to how one behaves at times of general market stress, when emotions are running at their highest.

It is easy to be swayed by headlines and trenchantly worded editorials, but it is also good to bear in mind that there are far fewer people who understand the current situation than those who claim to, and that no one can predict geopolitics with 100% accuracy.

When nothing is clear, it is best to avoid grasping for certainty. The waiting game, while not easy, is statistically a more successful approach, especially if you are starting with a solid, long-term-oriented financial plan.

Periods of heightened uncertainty reaffirm the importance of maintaining a diversified investment approach, including exposure to less correlated asset classes, to navigate the unpredictable terrain ahead.