The SPDR Gold Shares Fund (NYSEMKT: GLD), for instance, has been an easy and effective way to hedge against inflation since they debuted back in 2004. You're forced to make drastic cuts to your planned monthly budget because your IRA distributions will deplete your principal much faster than you had originally anticipated. Instead, the smart-money move is instead simplifying your portfolio with more passive investments like index funds that are designed to mirror the broad market's returns.