As a Monsanto employee earning a good wage, remember when everyday products were much cheaper than they are now? That's a real-life example of inflation, an unavoidable phenomenon that erodes the value of money by pushing prices up over time. If capital isn't being put to work and making a return during inflationary periods, the purchasing power of investor capital is declining.

As a Monsanto employee interested in investing, it is important to consider how investors have a wide range of tools at their disposal to protect their portfolios from inflation. Some prefer inflation-protected bonds, while others swear by commodities such as gold as effective inflation hedges. Investing in stocks has historically been one of the best ways to offset, or even outpace, inflation's degenerative effects on one's savings. For Monsanto employees, it is important to account for this information when planning your finances as to create a portfolio that minimizes volatility and accounts for inflation.

We still have a tremendous amount of interest from advisors looking into commodity funds, ETFs and other inflation protection instruments to protect against potential inflation.

The inflation challenge for retirees is easier to manage when you understand the income streams Monsanto provides. According to publicly available information, Monsanto does not maintain a traditional defined benefit pension plan, making your 401(k) plan and personal savings the primary vehicles for retirement income. Monsanto does not appear to offer a formal retiree healthcare program, so healthcare coverage planning before Medicare eligibility at age 65 is an important consideration. Putting your Monsanto benefits into the framework of a holistic retirement income plan reveals how each piece supports the others.