How do I get to keep, in today’s dollars, what I’ve earned ?
You don't, you convert it into hard value assets that always rise in the aggregate in dollar value. Paper is crap, and just a promise. Turn as much of it as you can into gold, silver, copper, guns, long life durable goods, airable land, ammo, etc...
I've put some of my stock earnings into stainless steel...S&W stainless. Just last week I noticed that the S&W 686+ I purchased in 1999 for $437 now seels for $830. The same has happened with the Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Stainless..$439 now sells for $830. The firearms arms have appreciated while having intrinsic value beyond a blob of precious metal. I live in an area where a good rifle can put food on your table without the need to travel great distances.