Real estate investment trust are one option for inflation protection

For retirees searching for investment income and protection from inflation, one solution may be real estate investment trusts.

REITs, as they’re called, are companies that own and/or operate properties like office buildings, shopping malls, apartment complexes and warehouses. While they do come with more risk than some other income-producing investments — such as Treasury bonds — they pay dividends and can be strong performers in inflationary environments.

“Generally, REITs tend to do well in times of inflation, just because of their ability to increase rents and then pass that income on to [shareholders],” said certified financial…