(Zero Hedge)—Mercedes-Benz Group and Porsche have both reported earnings, and the outlook is grim. Both German luxury automakers slashed full-year profit guidance, citing a double hit from President Trump’s ongoing trade war and an intensifying EV price war as China floods the world with low-cost vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz warned that full-year revenue will slide below last year’s levels, citing steep U.S. tariff-related headwinds impacting car and van sales. The automaker said it could no longer provide financial guidance with the required level of certainty due to ongoing trade uncertainty. It now expects car sales in 2H25 to remain in line with the first-half performance.
Due to a combination of soft unit sales, weaker-than-expected pricing, and import tariffs, Mercedes-Benz was forced to lower its return-on-sales outlook for its auto division to 4%–6%, down from the 6%–8% guidance issued at the start of the year.
Porsche is under financial pressure from weakening EV demand, declining sales in China, and rising U.S. tariffs. CEO Oliver Blume has warned employees of upcoming cost-cutting measures. The company flagged that its return on sales could drop to 5%, down from a previous forecast of 6.5%, and projected a $1.5 billion hit from U.S. tariffs.
“We continue to face significant challenges around the world,” CEO Blume said. “And this is not a storm that will pass.”
Also on Wednesday, Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings Plc revised forecasts lower, one day after Stellantis NV warned that U.S. tariffs would weigh on Jeep maker’s struggling North American business. Let’s not forget that Volvo scrapped its guidance and reported an impairment of around $1.2 billion.
The series of dismal earnings reports from European automakers comes after the U.S. and European Union on Sunday agreed on a trade deal that will apply 15% on EU autos shipped to the U.S. That marks a drop from 27.5% since April but a massive increase from 2.5% before Trump’s second term.
The Biggest Threat to Your Retirement Is Actually a Very Good Thing
When you look at the headlines today, you’ll see experts in the retirement industry warning about big threats to your financial security:
- De-dollarization and the rise of BRICS
- Soaring national debt
- Unstable interest rates
- Weakened U.S. dollar
All of these are real concerns. But they aren’t the biggest threat to your retirement savings. The true risk isn’t political, monetary, or global.
It’s longevity.
Why Longevity Is the Silent Threat
For most of human history, the problem was the opposite — life expectancy was short, and few people even reached retirement. Today, thanks to medical advancements, healthier lifestyles, and better living conditions, people are living longer than ever before.
And while that’s a wonderful thing, it comes with a financial catch: Your retirement account has to last far longer than you might expect.
- A 65-year-old couple today has a 50% chance that one of them will live to 90.
- Some projections suggest that many of us will live well into our 90s, even 100+.
- This means your nest egg may need to stretch not for 15 years, but 25, 30, or even 40 years.
That’s where the real danger lies: running out of money before you run out of life.
The Retirement Equation Has Changed
While market volatility, debt crises, or central bank policies may feel like the scariest threats, they’re temporary storms. Longevity, however, is a structural shift. Every extra year of life is another year of expenses, another year of inflation erosion, and another year of financial pressure.
If your retirement plan doesn’t account for longevity, you could face tough choices later in life — downsizing, working when you’d rather not, or becoming financially dependent on others.
How to Take Control
The good news? Longevity is a blessing — as long as you’re prepared for it. With the right planning, your retirement savings can work for you instead of against you. The key is learning how to protect your wealth, outpace inflation, and ensure your savings grow even as you live longer.
That’s why our friends at Augusta Precious Metals created a free resource to help you get started:
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This brief report will show you practical strategies to safeguard your retirement from the biggest threat of all — the one that comes from the gift of living longer.
Don’t let longevity catch you unprepared. Take the steps today to secure tomorrow.
