buy 150K 6% inflation 9000 x 10 years 90K + 150K =240K breakeven
Inflation is overstated. With 1980-1982 base period = 100, Jan 2005 = 190.7, Jan 2014 = 233.9. SOURCE: US DOL BLS CPI.
Interesting that the BLS CPI numbers could actually represent hypothetical GT transactions. If you paid $190,700 in Jan 05 (and there were people who paid more back then), adjusted for actual inflation as measured by the CPI, you would have paid $233,900 in Jan 2014.
As recently as 1980, $1M net worth was considered having "made it" in the US (movie "How to Marry a Millionaire," tv series "The Millionaire," expressions "you look like a million bucks"). But even by 1980, a million wasn't what is used to be. Today, you'd need $2.34M to equal $1M buying power in 1980.
Anyone who can consistently beat inflation by a couple of percent is doing fairly well.
/End of buzzkill.